The medal-winning wines from The Global Rosé Masters 2026

If you want to know who is making the best pink wine right now, then read on to see the medal winners from this year’s Global Rosé Masters, taking in the latest vintages of famous brands, as well as lesser-known names, and one new celebrity-backed label, called Cuvée Rock n’ Roll.

The following results are taken from what is the UK’s largest rosé-only blind-tasting competition, featuring the highest calibre of pink wine experts, from longstanding Global Masters judges Jonathan Pedley MW and Patricia Stefanowicz MW, as well as the leading authority on rosé, Elizabeth Gabay MW.

And don’t think this is a tasting just for the great rosés of Provence. Not only does the competition take in all styles of pink wine, sweet and sparkling included, but all sources, with some of our top medal winners coming from a wide range of regions, from Central Anatolia in Turkey, to Stellenbosch in South Africa, along with a range of places in Spain and Italy, as well as Australia and Portugal. We even had a few Silver medals awarded to still rosés from the UK – an increasingly fine source of pale pink wines.

Grand Masters

As for the greatest expressions, notably they came from two areas. One was sparkling, where pink Champagne proves that it’s possible to craft something refreshing, complex, age-worthy and pretty, if pricy. And, our ultimate sparking rosé – crowned The Grand Master – was from a relatively new name in Champagne: Les Cinq Filles, for its outstanding Rosé de Saignée, using nothing but Pinot Noir from the critically-acclaimed 2012 vintage.

The other pinnacle pink wine was still – and barrel-aged. The use of oak in the fermentation and maturation of rosé was once deemed controversial, but nowadays, the idea of fine rosés, made with some wood influence – like a great white or red wine – is becoming more accepted and popular. However, some manage the difficult balance of marrying berry and citrus fruit flavours with the creamy taste and textures from oak better than others. Interestingly, the Grand Master is the name that kick-started the trend: Garrus, by Château d’Esclans.

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Benchmark expressions

Other notable rosés from this year’s competition included the new Queen Rosé, made with the input of band member Roger Taylor – who loves pale pink wine from Provence – and has dubbed his Gold-medal-winning expression: Cuvée Rock n Roll.

Then there were some outstanding rosés from Spain: in particular Ysios from Rioja and Chivite from Navarra.

As for the benchmarks, it should be said how well the rosés of the d’Esclans portfolio fared. Aside from the aforementioned top scorer Garrus, be it the brand-leading Provençal label that is Whispering Angel to the producer’s higher-end offerings, with varying degrees of oak influence, from Rock Angel to Les Clans, all the wines gained a Gold medal or Master – an impressive achievement, and secured despite tough competition not just from Provence and the south of France, but almost everywhere where serious rosé is made.

Scroll down to see the results in full, grouped according to style, starting with sparkling and finishing with high-end, oaked rosés. 

Dry Sparkling Rosé (12g/l or lower)

Sweet Sparkling Rosé (12g/l+)

Still Unoaked Dry Rosé (4g/l or lower)

Still Unoaked Dry Rosé (4g/l or lower, continued)

Unoaked Still Medium Dry Rosé (4g/l to 12g/l)

Unoaked Still Sweet Rosé (12g/l+)