Pretty in Pink: A Story of Form Over Function

Why marketing aesthetics might be ruining the flavour of your Rosé

Rosé wine, though suffering from a relatively poor reputation, has had a tremendous surge in popularity over the past decade, and deservedly so. It has been transformed from a casual summer drink to a stylish and versatile option embraced by a much broader demographic, with an increasing appreciation for its ability to pair with food and its broad range of flavour profiles. I love a good glass of Rosé, but despite the increased market awareness of how good a drink it can be, I must admit to struggling to find examples on wine lists that are superior to similarly priced white wines. I suspect I know why that might be.

Let me ask you this: when was the last time you saw a bottle of Rosé in a dark bottle? Think about it. I bet it's been a while, and if you have, it was probably a rather expensive one. Though pretty, showing off how pink and fresh-looking the wine is, the clear bottles invariably used for the majority of Rosé wines expose the wine to what is known as light strike. If the w…