5 Provence Style English Rosé

Pale, crisp and refreshing. Inspired by Provence, grown in England.

We’ve tried dozens of rosés to find the most exciting Provence style English rosé. That’s because, nothing says summer like a glass of rosé in the garden or at the beach.  Warm breeze, bright blue skies and a bottle of pale pink liquid deliciousness. Today, one in ten bottles of wine sold is rosé* and Provence style rosé is leading the way. By that we mean dry, pale pink rosé with delicate fruit flavours such as summer berries and peach. It’s no wonder there are a growing number of producers making Provence style English rosé.  Join our mailing list for more English wine inspiration.

Marasby has picked five Provence style English rosés to try this summer.  They all have a nod to the Provence style but maintain distinctly English characteristics.

We’re shouting it out loud. Don’t drink Whispering Angel this summer. Drink one of these.

1.Simpsons Railway Hill Rose 2022: A Supremely Elegant Provence Style English Rosé.

Railway Hill is made from 100% Pinot Noir grown in the Kent north downs by the extremely experienced Ruth and Charles Simpson. It is a perfect balance of refreshing crispness with a creamy finish. It comes in a beautiful bottle with a natural cork closure and is the prettiest shade of pale pink.  Railway Hill will grace your table as well as anything from Provence.

Read more about the Simpons Wine Estate in Simon Huntington’s producer profile.

Taste: Watermelon and crushed strawberries with a delightfully smooth texture.  Great for all occasions and particularly wonderful with food. Read our 22 food and English rosé pairings for inspiration.

Buy:£19.50 p/bottle, Simpsons Wine Estate

2. Gusbourne Rosé 2022: A Masterclass In Provence Style English Rosé.

Gusbourne, like Simpson Wine Estate is a serious player in the English wine world. With multiple awards for their still and sparkling wine, they bring the same level of expertise to the newly released Gusbourne Rosé. This Provence style English rosé is pale in colour and unashamedly decadent. Made for those delicious moments when the sun comes out.  Bring this to lunch and your host will love you.

Taste: Sun warmed strawberries and refreshingly crisp.  Perfect with small plates and an English charcuterie board.

Buy:£25.00 Gusbourne Wine

3. folc Rosé 2022: Don’t Drink Whispering Angel, Drink This.

folc founders Elisha Rai and Tom Cannon are on a mission to create a rosé brand equal in quality and reputation to Whispering Angel. One that is inspired by Provence but reflects the unique characteristics of England. And they are well on the way: it’s beautifully presented and sublimely sippable. folc rosé is an absolute must if you are looking for a Provence style English rosé.  Read the folc story in our winery profile.

Taste: Light, fresh, dry and elegant, with delicate notes of peach and strawberries. This Provence style English rosé is ridiculously moreish and a brilliant aperitif.  Pair with vongole pasta or pan-fried plaice.

Buy: £19.99 Folc

4. Greyfriars Rosé 2022: Provence Style Rosé With An English Twist.

Greyfriars Rosé is a Pinot Noir dominant blend of grapes harvested from their beautiful Surrey vineyards. It has classic Provence rosé vibrancy, with notes of distinctly British summer fruits. It comes in a stylish bottle that would look right at home on any table in the South of France. The 2021 vintage sold out quickly so when the 2022 vintage is released in July, don’t delay.

Taste: A pretty, light pink rosé with notes of red berries and a zesty finish. Perfect for summer outdoor eating or try with a lightly spiced stir fry.

Buy: £15.99

5. The Grange Still Pink 2022.

The Grange in Hampshire is best known for its multi-award winning English Sparkling Wine. Most recently a gold medal at the IWC 2023 Awards for its Blanc de Noirs White from Black. Still Pink is their first still wine and is a limited-edition release of just 2,000 bottles. It is only available at the cellar door, so if you are in the area make sure to pop in and pick up a few bottles.   Independent English Wine Awards and Decanter 2023 silver medal.

Taste: The palest copper pink with aromas of seasonal English strawberries. Made from 100% Pinot Noir Still Pink has hints of Hampshire’s characteristic chalky minerality. Perfect for a light supper. Pair with seasonal fish dishes or spicy stir fry.

Buy: £15.00, Cellar door

And finally …

At the time of writing all our recommended English and Welsh rosés are available via recommended stockists, but like many of our wines are made in small quantities and may sell out, so don’t delay.

England is the world’s most exciting cool-climate wine region, yet 99% of the wine we drink is still imported. Show people that you’re part of the 1% leaning into local, sustainable and delicious English wines with a Marasby limited edition Join The 1% tote bag and discover more amazing wines with the Marasby Club.

* CIVP, sources “Rosé Wines World Tracking”, IWSR, Wine intelligence