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The best rosés under £15 for summer 2023

21 June 2023 By Patrick Schmitt

We have sifted through the results of our major annual pink wine tasting – The Global Rosé Masters – to bring you the best drops for less than £15, be they from France or Italy, along with Austria and Moldova. So read on to see our eclectic selection of fine, affordable rosés for summer 2023.

Le Bijou de Sophie Valrose

Producer: Bijou
Region: Languedoc Roussillon
Country: France
Vintage: 2022
Grape varieties: 45% Cinsault, 40% Grenache, 10% Caladoc, 5% Syrah
ABV: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3g/l
Closure: Screwcap
Approx. retail price: £10
Medal: Gold

A brilliant and affordable fine, dry, pale rosé from Southern France made by Bijou, this was one of our best-value wines of the competition. It’s packed with crisp red berry flavours, complemented by notes of ripe pear, even a touch of peach, then some pomegranate too, before finishing with a refreshing touch of orange zest. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

Sanziana Pinot Grigio Rosé

Producer: SC Cramele Recas SA
Region: Banat
Country: Romania
Grape varieties: 85% Pinot Grigio, 15% Merlot
Abv: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 5.6g/l
Vintage: 2022
Closure: Screw Cap
Approx. retail price: £7.99
Medal: Gold

Owned by three families, including Englishman Philip Cox and his Romanian wife Elvira, Cramele Recas wineries are located in the western hills of Romania near Timisoara. This fresh and pristine rosé shows very pale peach-pink colour and white peach, nectarine and red berry fruit with soft spices and floral overtones. Medium-dry (5.6g/ r.s.), the palate has a core of slightly jammy fruit balanced by crisp acidity. With good persistence, the wine is lovely as an aperitif or with light tapas. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

NJOY Pinot Grigio Blush

Producer: Salcuta SRL
Region: Stefan Voda
Country: Republic of Moldova
Vintage: 2022
Grape varieties: 100% Pinot Gris
ABV: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 4.2g/l
Closure: Screwcap
Approx. retail price: £14
Medal: Gold

An exciting find in a world of rosé, this wine hails from Moldova, and uses the pink-tinged Pinot Grigio to yield a fine and fruity expression. Pale salmon pink, it’s clean and zesty, with flavours of blood orange and pink grapefruit, with a touch of stone fruit too, and then some bitter lemon on the finish. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

Gran Feudo Garnacha Rosé

Producer: Bodegas Gran Feudo
Region: DO Navarra
Country: Spain
Vintage: 2022
Grape varieties: 85% Garnacha, 15% Tempranillo
ABV: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 0.4g/l
Closure: Cork
Approx. retail price: £10
Medal: Gold – Global Masters Rosé Tasting 2023

It was satisfying to see that Spain’s best-selling rosé was a leader when blind-tasted against the global competition, and proves that this good-value, high-production pink wine is on song. Pale bubble-gum pink, it differs in appearance from the more common poached salmon hue of Provençal rosé, and stylistically too, it’s not the same. Using Navarran Garnacha and a touch of Tempranillo, there’s lots of juicy strawberry flavours, even a touch of cherry jam, then a bone-dry, lime-zest finish, meaning this is an easy-drinking, fruity and refreshing drop. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

Domaine Royal de Jarras, Tête de Cuvée Gris de Gris, Bio

Producer: Domaine Royal de Jarras
Region: Sable de Camargue
Country: France
Vintage: 2022
Grape varieties: 100% Grenache Gris
ABV: 12%
Residual Sugar: 2g/l
Closure: Cork
Approx. retail price: £15
Medal: Gold

A consistent top performer in our Global Rosé Masters, this organic rosé from the Camargue uses old vine Grenache Gris from this sandy, Mediterranean region to yield something that’s delicious, refreshing and mouth-filling. Very pale it may be, but there’s a lovely weight to this wine, even a creaminess, with pear and peach flavours, balanced by a touch of grapefruit zest, and then a fine chalky grip on the finish. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

Ca’ de Rocchi, Chiaretto di Bardolino DOP, Campo delle Rose

Producer: Tinazzi
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Grape variety: 90% Corvina, 10% Rondinella
Abv: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3.5g/l
Vintage: 2022
Closure: Cork
retail price: £11.99
Medal: Gold – Global Masters Rosé Tasting 2023

From the hilly vineyards in Bardolino comes this fresh-tasting, ‘modern’ Rosato. Produced using the ‘quick, cool and gentle’ techniques, the wine exhibits a medium vieux rose colour and aromas dominated by red berry and red apple fruit with an accent of crushed yellow rose petals. Nicely balanced, the palate has crisp acidity and moderate weight and good length. A hedgerow accent on the finish suggests that this is a wine for light Asian dishes, such as Pad Thai. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

L’Arpège de Mercués

Producer: Château de Mercués
Region: Occitanie
Country: France
Grape variety: 100% Malbec
Abv: 14.0%
Residual Sugar: 0.3g/l
Vintage: 2022
Closure: Cork
retail price: £13.95
Medal: Gold

Based in the département du Lot, Georges Vigouroux produces sensational wines near the ancient city of Cahors in a 13^th century castle (with slightly more modern equipment.) This rosé could be sitting on a castle wall, high and dry above the River Lot. The wine, pale salmon in hue, is just dry and packed with red cherry and raspberry fruit and a custard cream overlay. Light-bodied, the wine has brisk acidity and lovely fresh fruit carrying through to the finish. A wine for Wimbledon with ripe strawberries and cream. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

Syrosa, Maremma Toscana Rosato DOC

Producer: Rocca di Montemassi
Region: Toscana
Country: Italy
Grape varieties: 100% Syrah
Abv: 13%
Residual Sugar: 2g/l
Vintage: 2022
Closure: Cork
retail price: £14.00
Medal: Gold

Located in coastal Maremma near Grosseto, the Castello Rocca di Montemassi produces this delightful wine from Syrah and the local Sangiovese. Like the castle itself, the wine has simplicity, and elegance. Very pale peach in colour, the wine is just dry with crunchy red berry fruits and a hint of white pepper. Light-bodied with bracing acidity, excellent definition, and a sappy, savoury finish, the wine is a perfect match for seared salmon steaks with a drizzle of lemon-lime sauce. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

Burgenland Cuvée Rosé In Bloom

Producer: Hannes Reeh GmbH
Region: Burgenland
Country: Austria
Vintage: 2022
Grape varieties: Blaufrankisch, Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 1g/l
Closure: Screwcap
Approx. retail price: £12.50
Medal: Gold

A pretty pale coral pink rosé from Austria’s dry, sunny Burgenland that combines native central European grape Blaufrankisch with Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s delicate, bone dry and refreshing in style, with a core of white cherry and ripe pear, and a long, mouth-watering finish with a crisp, green apple-like bite. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

Primitivo Rosé

Producer: Stanlake Park Wine Estate
Region: Puglia
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2022
Grape varieties: 100% Primitivo
ABV: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 4g/l
Closure: Cork
Approx. retail price: £15
Medal: Gold

Hailing from the historic home of Italian rosé – Puglia – this wine uses Primitivo to produce an intense pink drop with notes of pomegranate, red cherry and plums, with a touch of crunchy redcurrant too. A fruity, as well as crisp and refreshing rosé of class. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

Cecilia Beretta, Freeda Rosé Trevenezie IGT

Producer: Pasqua Vigneti e Cantine S.p.a.
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2022
Grape varieties: 60% Corvina, 30% Cabernet, 10% Carmenere
ABV: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3.42g/l
Closure: Cork
Approx. retail price: £13
Medal: Gold

A blend of native Italian grape Corvina with Bordeaux varieties Cabernet and Carmenere, this is a little bit different to the more common Pinot Grigio rosati from the Veneto. The result is a complex wine with notes of fresh peach, and white-fleshed cherry, with a touch of orange blossom too, and a lingering, fresh finish featuring a note of crunchy cranberry. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

Alceño Rosado

Producer: Bodegas Alceño
Region: DOP Jumilla
Country: Spain
Vintage: 2022
Grape varieties: 85% Monastrell, 15% Syrah
ABV: 12.95%
Residual Sugar: 3.12g/l
Closure: Cork
Approx. retail price: £12.50
Medal: Gold

Founded in 1870 by wine merchant Pedro Luis Martinez in this southeastern area of Spain, the winery produces an excellent range of wines, largely based on the local Monastrell grape. Medium cherry-coloured, the wine shows strawberry and pomegranate fruit. Almost jammy, the palate has brisk acidity, medium alcohol and a whisper of tannin in support. A clean and fresh, fruit-packed crowd-pleasing wine. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

De Bortoli, Rosé Rosé

Producer: De Bortoli Wines
Region: Victoria
Country: Australia
Grape varieties: 40% Sangiovese, 17% Shiraz, 26% Merlot, 13% Sauvignon Blanc and 4% Grenache
ABV: 13%
Residual Sugar: 0.9g/l
Vintage: 2022
Approx. retail price: £14.99
Medal: Master

From a mélange of seemingly incompatible grape varieties grown at high altitude in the King Valley in northeast Victoria comes this rosé. Showing a lovely pale peach-pink colour and plenty of strawberry, cherry, apricot, and peach fruit, the palate has crisp acidity, buttery texture, and just a hint of tannin to balance the flavours. Stone and spice nuances accentuate the lingering finish. The wine is delicate and elegant with good underlying structure. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

En Mémoire De Sophie Valrose

Producer: Bijou
Region: Côteaux Varois en Provence
Country: France
Grape varieties: 60% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 10% Syrah
ABV: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3g/l
Vintage: 2022
Approx. retail price: £12.99
Medal: Master

Sophie Valrose is named after a woman who worked in the Languedoc vineyards in the late 19 thcentury. She fought for women’s rights and earned better working conditions for the largely female vineyard crews at the time. This wine, made from bush vine grapes grown on schist soils in the hills, and alluvial clay soils closer to the coast, is a tribute to the renowned heroine. Pale pink-peach in colour, the wine exhibits gentle peach, golden apple and pomegranate fruit with orange zest overlay. Dry, the wine has medium acidity and a creamy texture leading to a lingering finish. A stylish wine to pair with salade niçoise or other Provençal dishes. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

Top 10 rosés of 2023

All the medal-winning wines from The Global Rosé Masters 2023

About the competition

With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Rosé Masters provides a chance for your wines to star. The 2023 competition was judged on 4 May at Park Row, London, employing experienced judges. The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stood out as being outstanding received the ultimate accolade – the title of Rosé Master. This report features the medal winners only. Please visit The Global Wine Masters website for more information, or, to enter future competitions – giving you the chance to feature online and in print – please call: +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com