Happy Thursday, friends! Although summer is winding down, there is still time to enjoy all that the warmer months have to offer. And that includes rosé! Today, Richard and I are sharing the best summer rosé under $30.

For those of you who don’t know, Richard is quite the wine enthusiast. He has been collecting and study just about every kind of wine for several years. Richard has a real appreciation for wine and although he enjoys drinking a glass, I think he takes just as much pleasure in smelling and tasting the wine. He loves identifying the notes and characteristics that makes each wine special. He is at about 500 bottles and counting in our wine cellar — wine enthusiast is an understatement! 

The Best Summer Rosé Under $30

A few months ago, I asked Richard if he wanted to contribute to a blog post. He was hesitant at first. You see, when we first got married (2 years before starting ABM) we thought about creating a blog together. I would share food recipes and he would share wine. It all seemed like a good idea until we realized he was going to be too busy with work to contribute on the wine side of the blog. Shortly thereafter, I decided to start ABM. I don’t think he has ever forgiven me haha! But he was a good sport and helped pick the best summer rosé under $30. Here are a few of our favorites:

BY.OTT Rosé 2018: $25

We are always intrigued by wineries that have a “second label”. Many of the higher end wines make this second label at a more affordable price. It’s almost like the winery gives you a glimpse of what they are able to create with a lower price tag. BY.OTT rosé is Ott’s second label, but it acts anything but second. (For comparison, Ott’s first label rosé is around $50 while this second label is $25.) BY.OTT is a delicate and fruity rosé with notes of white peach, one of my favorite summer fruits. While this rosé is fresh and crisp, the fruity notes are mixed with a bit of zest and sweet spices (think cinnamon). While this is the most expensive rose in today’s round-up, BY.OTT is definitely worth the splurge. Especially if you want to get a sense of what a higher end rosé may taste like.  

Gerard Bertrand Cote des Roses Rosé 2018: $17

If I were to pick my favorite French rosé, it would most definitely be Cote des Roses. You may remember I shared a rosé popsicle recipe a few summers ago and I used this wine. You can see the recipe here. Honestly, what drew me to the wine in the first place was the beautiful bottle. It might be difficult to see from these pictures, but the bottom of the bottle is in the shape of a rose. I have a few bottles saved back because I would love to take them to a glass cutter and make them into glasses! If the bottle doesn’t grab your attention, this rosé certainly will. A super light and fresh rosé, the notes are best described as floral and grapefruit. A quintessential summer rosé priced at only $17, this is by far my best buy. This rosé also pairs well with food, especially shellfish or a spicy dish.

Chateau d’Esclans Whispering Angel Rosé 2018: $20

One of the most famous rosé wines, Whispering Angel is always a great choice if you are looking for a consistent, great rosé. It’s a super dry, smooth and easy to enjoy wine. With notes of citrus, rose petals and the signature strawberries and cream, this really is a great value wine. While Richard is more of the wine connoisseur than myself, I think we both agree that Whispering Angel can be appreciated by the palates of both the beginner and the expert. Side note: if you love Sugarfina’s Rosé All Day gummy bears as much as me, you may find it interesting to know that the gummies are infused with Whispering Angel!

Pollak Vineyards 2018: $24

A rosé round-up would not be complete without sharing a rosé from our very own state! As I have mentioned in a previous posts, Virginia wine is really making a name for itself. And one of our favorite Virginia wineries is Pollak Vineyards. I shared a review of Pollak Vineyards and talked about our horseback riding experience in this post a few months ago. Pollak’s rosé is made using cabernet franc grapes. Virginia has earned an international reputation in growing the cabernet franc grape, so it only seems right to use it in this rosé. We had the opportunity to taste this rose while visiting the vineyard and the first flavor that came to mind (smelling and tasting) was strawberry rhubarb. A spicy and acidic rosé, this rosé is my favorite rosé in Virginia. No fear if you are not living in Virginia: you can purchase this rosé on Pollak’s website. They ship to most states!

….

What is your favorite rosé to enjoy in the summer? I’d love to hear in the comments section below. Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful rest of the week and weekend. See you back here on Monday!