Delicate Rosé

Good rosé should be dry, delicate, fragrant and refreshing - never sickly or sweet. If you pick the right rosé wine, you'll find that it is delightful to drink on a warm summers day, with a crisp, strawberry and herb flavour.

The Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon regions in France are some of the best known for rosé wines, but Bordeaux, Navarra (Spain), and Portugal all produces some good examples. However, the Loire's Rosé d'Anjou tends to be sweet and dull, and is best avoided; Cabernet d'Anjou is usually drier and more refreshing.

The best grape for rosé is Grenache, but it's by no means the only one. South Africa makes a wonderful crisp, fruity wine using Pinotage, whilst California's blush wines are usually produced with Zinfandel.

For less than £5, try:

• Château La Gravette Rosé, Minervois (Languedoc-Roussillon): A bouquet of vanilla flowers and stewed strawberries follow through to a light and fresh palate.
• Château Méaume Rosé (Bordeaux): Made from the free run juice of predominantly Merlot grapes.
• Dumisani (South Africa): Pinotage grapes have been blended from 3 different regions to produce this crisp, dry, fruity rosé, with rich strawberry and candied aromas and flavours.
• Beringer White Zinfandel (California): Fresh red berry, citrus and melon aromas and flavours rounded out with hints of nutmeg and clove.

For around £5 to £10, try:

• Château Guiot Rosé, Costières de Nîmes (Languedoc-Roussillon): An elegant wine with an intense aroma of juicy fruit, and refreshingly persistent flavours.
• Château Saint Roch-les-Vignes , Rosé de Provence (Provence): A delicious rosé showing soft spice and attractive fruit.
• Ochoa Navarra Rosé (Spain): A dry rosé, with a fragrant bouquet, and pleasant, slightly restrained fruit with a very clean, fresh finish.