What is rosé wine?
First of all, contrary to popular belief, it is important to note that rosé wine is not a mixture of white and red wine. Its elaboration requires a lot of know-how.
There are three types of rosés:
- The rosé of maceration: this type of rosé is made from a harvest of black grapes put in vats up to 24 hours before the beginning of fermentation. The berries release the pulp, skin, seeds and juice of the grape. During this short vatting period, the anthocyanins (pigments) and aromas contained in the grape skin impregnate the juice and give it its color. The must is then pressed to separate the solid part (skins, seeds) from the juice, which is then fermented at low temperature (18 to 20°C) to preserve the aromas as much as possible.
- Pressing rosé: this technique consists of pressing the whole bunches or de-stemmed grapes directly after the harvest. Once the juice is harvested, it is put in a tank and fermentation begins. In this case, the rosé has a lighter color than the maceration rosé.
- The bled rosé: it is obtained from a harvest put in tank as for the maceration rosé. However, this harvest is intended to produce red wine. After a few hours of maceration, a part of the juice contained in the vat which has already taken on a pinkish hue is released to be vinified separately. As for the rest of the harvest, it is left in the initial vat to produce red wine.
Rosé producing regions
France is the great country of rosé, both in terms of production and consumption. Even if the rosé of Provence remains the reference in the heart of the French, there is not only one type of rosé. Indeed, it is produced all over France. Here is a small tour of the producing regions!
Provence is specialized in the production of rosé. Even if this region produces ambitious reds and remarkable whites, it is known for its rosés which represent more than 80% of its production. It ranks first for AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) rosés, which represent about 40% of national production.
In the Languedoc, rosé production represents 13% compared to 40% in Roussillon.
Rosé wines offer multiple varieties: the wines are colorful, full-bodied and full-bodied in the Rhone Valley and in Roussillon while they are full-bodied and pale in Provence.All these vineyards benefit from a Mediterranean climate and have adopted the same main grape varieties, which are only suited to these sunny and windy regions.
They are blended in AOC and vinified alone in IGP (Protected Geographical Indication).
– Grenache, from Spain, gives rosés roundness, fullness, alcoholic strength, notes of red fruit, peach, apricot and spices. It is often the main grape variety in the Rhone Valley.
– Cinsault offers a lightness that is very successful in rosé wines. In IGP, it is often vinified alone.
– Syrah offers structure, aromas of red or black fruits and spices.
– Mourvèdre, which only thrives on really warm soils, gives particularly structured wines, with aromas of ripe fruit, violets and spices.
– Carignan succeeds on hillsides with small yields. It finds its place in rosé because it brings structure.The rosé market in the world (data from the World Rosé Observatory)
According to the World Rosé Observatory, despite a slight decline in 2019 (- 1%), global consumption of rosé wine is growing over the long term.
In 2019, rosé consumption thus reached 23.6 million hectoliters. This figure is up 23% compared to global consumption in 2002.
Global rosé production seems to have decreased in 2019, more markedly than consumption (-7%). However, since 2003, global production has fluctuated between 23 and 26 million hectoliters per year.
In 2019, the global production of rosé wine does not cover the needs of the markets, after a year 2018 returned to positive. However, since 2012, the tension on the upstream is increasing. If the gap between global rosé production and consumption was even more marked in 2017, due to the lack of availability of French rosé, in 2019, it is a greater drop in production in several countries, compared to consumption, that explains this scissor effect (mainly in Italy, South Africa, Germany, Australia, Argentina and the United States). On the other hand, France’s record “improves” in 2019.
No notable changes among the “top 3” rankings for each of the 4 indicators monitored (consumption, production, imports, exports) are to be reported in 2019.
Australia, which was previously a net exporter of rosé wine, becomes a net importer.
On the export side, the average price of rosé sold in the world continues to rise: + 29% since 2015, or an average price of € 1.57 per 75 cl bottle in 2019. France is far ahead and confirms its status as a producer and exporter of premium rosé, with an average price of €3.75 per 75 cl bottle in 2019.
Rosé wine flows from Spain to France remain the most important, although their share in global trade has decreased. Thus, they represent 20% of global trade in volume, but only 5% in value.
In 2019, France and the United States represent the largest market for rosé wine with respectively 29% and 14% of global consumption. In the same year, France consumed the most rosé (35%) compared to 15% in the US.
France is also the largest importer in volume (29%) behind Germany (14%) and the United Kingdom (10%).France and the United States also produce the most rosé. In 2019, France produces 34% of the rosé consumed in the world against 17% for the United States.
World consumption of rosé
Also in 2019, the French are ranked in the top of the largest consumers of rosé with 15.1 liters per capita followed by Uruguayans (9.7 liters) and Cypriots (5.2 liters).
One in three bottles of wine consumed in France is rosé. The French drink an average of 8.1 Mhl per year!How to taste rosé wine ?
To fully appreciate the aromas of rosé wine, it must be served according to the rules of the art! Temperature, glass and accompanying dishes must be carefully selected.
The aromas of rosé wine depend essentially on the wine-making method (maceration or pressing) and the grape variety (Cabernet, Grenache, Syrah…) which give it a variety of aromas in the mouth such as fruit, candy, floral notes, or warm and woody spices (cinnamon, vanilla…).
After opening, your bottle of rosé can be kept in the refrigerator. However, it should not be consumed too late because after 4-5 days it may lose its body and aromas.
We often hear that it is recommended to drink most rosés within a year of bottling. Contrary to popular belief, a bottle of rosé will retain all its quality if it is kept in a wine cellar or a room at room temperature, ideally between 8°C and 10°C.
Many rosés are better after a year or two of storage, and some can even age for a few years. This is known as “gastronomy rosé”.
Before tasting, simply place it in the refrigerator or in an ice bucket and take it out ten minutes before drinking so that it reaches an optimal temperature.You will have understood that rosé wine has conquered the world and especially the hearts of French people! You now have all the keys to choose and appreciate it.
We wish you a good tasting on La Route des Gourmets!