10 great rosés and sparkling wines to enjoy this summer from under €10

These 10 fantastic but inexpensive bottles are perfect for summertime and perhaps even after, writes Leslie Williams

Rosé outsells red wine in France and sales have increased considerably in Ireland in recent years

Summertime and rosé just seem to go together, and this is particularly true in Ireland where rosé sales struggle when the sun isn’t shining. Rosé outsells red wine in France and sales have increased considerably in Ireland in recent years, however there was a drop-off in 2023 due to less than ideal summer weather.

I’m happy to drink rosé even in the depths of winter as it is a fine match for spicy food as well as for barbecue flavours, not to mention anything with lots of garlic (perhaps the reason they drink so much of it in Provence).

I’ve stuck with inexpensive rosé suggestions for this and remember that the multiples will all have rosé sales for summer. For example SuperValu has Kylie’s Rosé (which I like) for €10. O’Briens have 25% off rosé including Whispering Angel for €20.76 (usually €27) and Dom. de l’Ostal (owned by Lynch Bages) for €13.

Finally, if you want a treat and to see just how good rosé can be pick up a bottle of Domaine Tempier Rosé (€45 - MacCurtain Wine Cellar, WineOnline.ie) — honestly one of my favourite wines — there is always one in my cellar/cupboard (it ages well). In fact, why not go whole hog and get a copy of Lulu’s Provençal Kitchen if only for her 3 aïoli recipes — Lulu Peyraud was the matriarch founder of Dom. Tempier, and died in 2020 aged 102.

Rosé

1. Weinhaus Kalkstein Pinot Noir Rosé, Pfalz, Germany €9.20

Dunnes Stores

From limestone and loess soils in the Pfalz this has pomegranate and berry fruit aromas, pleasing textures and tang on the palate, fruity and fresh and a touch of residual sugar balanced by acidity. Also watch for Laurent Miquel Pére et Fils Cinsault Rosé for €8.

2. Petit Bourgeois Pinot Noir Rosé, Loire, €15

O’Briens

Once again O’Briens have done the wine drinking nation a service and reduced rosé by 25%. This is from the Sancerre house of Henri Bourgeois and is an old favourite (normally €18). Ripe strawberry and red currants on the nose, soft berry fruits on the palate but with crisp, brisk acidity and a crunchy red-apple skin finish.

3. Sonrojo Rosada, Navarra, Spain, €19

MacCurtain Wine Cellar; Brindle; Lilith; Baggot St; 64 Wines; GreenManWines.ie;

The Spanish like a darker hue to their rosé but the wines are almost always bone-dry so fear not.

This is 100% Garnacha from old vines with raspberry fruits and a touch of boiled sweets on the nose, lively red fruits and a supple juiciness on the palate and enough heft to cope well with, say, grilled lamb.

4. Domaine La Colombette Grenache Rosé, Languedoc, €13.95

O’Donovans; No.21 Off-Licences; Vintry; Independent NOffLA shops nationwide; theallotment.ie;

Winner of the NOffLA Rosé Gold Star Award last year (I was a judge!). A proper bargain — pale and dry in the Provence style but from the Ardèche in the Languedoc.

Floral and fresh with strawberry fruits, stoney and clean on the palate with a touch of chalky freshness and a dry finish.

5. Delibori Bardolino Chiaretto Classico 2023, Veneto, Italy, €16

DrinkStore.ie; Nectar Wines; Sweeney’s; D-6 Wines; Vintry.ie

Chiaretto is a new rosé word to learn (Kee-Aretto) — it comes from the hillsides around Lake Garda and uses the same grapes as Valpolicella, Bardolino or Amarone. Bright cherry and floral aromas, lively and supple with crisp acidity and pink grapefruit edges. There are other Chiaretto around such as Campagnola Chiaretto from Forrestal Wines (forrestal.ie), and even Aldi stocks one.

Fabulous Fizz

I find it impossible not to be happy with a glass of fizz in my hand. These days of course there is very fine sparkling wine from dozens of other wine regions most notably Corpinnat— the breakaway group of former Cava producers in Penedès.

Fizz works at breakfast, lunch and dinner, it really is the most versatile of wines. The big trend is for Grower Champagne and I feature one here. Grower Champagne is where the grower makes the wine rather than sell to the Grand Marques — it tends to be more textured with lower dosage (less sugar) — a style I’ve come to prefer. Watch for RM (Récoltant-Manipulant) on the back label or RC (Récoltant Coopérateur) where the Co-Op makes the wine for the grower. Big brands (and many smaller ones) will have NM for Negociant-Manipulant) and Co-Op brands ‘CM’.

Suggestions here include a favourite Pet-Nats and watch also for Oníric PetNat (Urru), Albert di Conti (Bradleys) and Judith Beck (LeCaveau). I also include a Prosecco, essential for strawberries or for making Aperol or Campari Spritz or Bellinis, and of course a couple of Cava.

6. Marco Barba ‘Barbabolla’ 2022, Veneto, Italy €21

MacCurtain Wine Cellar; Lilith; Green Man W,ines; Baggot St; 64 Wine; Drinkstore.ie

This producer has almost cult status among natural wine enthusiasts — a project of three young friends who grow their grapes biodynamically (also watch for their still wines). The Soave grape Garganaga is the mainstay here — expect lime and sweet pear aromas with a lively tangy crisp palate.

7. Masottina Prosecco Frizzante, Italy - €16-17

Ardkeen; Matsons; Martins; Independents; StationToStationWine.ie

I visited Masottina a few years ago and was hugely impressed by their wines. Their full-fizz Spumante is excellent and worth the extra few quid but their Frizzante is also very good (frizzante is half the tax of Spumante). Bright pear and apple fruits, taut and fresh with good lemon peel acidity and lingering peach notes. Also good for Aperol Spritz.

8. Canals Nadal Cava Brut Nature Reserva, Penedès, Spain, €20

O’Briens

There are not enough Cava producers making zero-dosage Brut Nature style wines, so good on O’Briens for introducing this. A family-run estate this spends three years on lees (four times as long as some Cava). Fine streams of tiny bubbles, citrus and dried pear aromas, fruity crisp palate with zesty lemony freshness.

9. Alta Alella ‘Laieta’ Gran Reserva Organic Brut Nature Cava, €48

Quintessential Drogheda; Ely Wines Maynooth, shop.elywinebar.ie

This is imported by the incomparable Ely Wine Bars who celebrate 25 years in business this year, a fantastic achievement. This is the top of the range Alta Alella but prices start at €28 for their Pet-Nat and the Reserva Rosé is €33. The Gran Reserva is virtually perfect, rose petals, floral and cherry aromas, layered and textured with creamy apple fresh acidity.

10. Salima & Alain Cordeuil ‘Origines’ Champagne, France, €86

MacCurtain Wine Cellar; Eleven Deli; Green Man Wines: BlackrockCellar.com

I’m a complete convert to Grower Champagnes (look for RM on the bottle) where the producer is in control from grapes to bottling, this is exemplary.

From 65 year old Chardonnay (65%) and Pinot Noir this has preserved lime aromas mixed with violets, pears and nuts.

Full flavoured with soft pear fruits and almonds accented with lemon zest. Delicious.