I’m Aldi’s wine expert – you’re all drinking rosé wrong
Many drinkers are unsure what rosé is actually made from. (Image: Getty)
Brits are making a string of mistakes when it comes to drinking rosé this summer, a wine expert has said. New research commissioned by Aldi found that while one in five Brits (22%) say they always put ice in rosé, around half say they never put do, suggesting millions still see it as something that should be avoided. Sam Caporn MW, wine expert at Aldi, thinks they may be missing a trick.
She said: “Adding ice to rosé is not the crime some wine drinkers think it is, especially on a hot day. “The chic way to enjoy rosé on the French Riviera is en piscine, which literally means ‘in the swimming pool‘.
“While this does not involve an actual pool, it refers to serving rosé in a large, goblet-style glass with plenty of ice cubes.
“The cold temperature makes it incredibly refreshing on a hot day and can soften the wine’s acidity, giving it a smoother feel.”
Aldi launches limited-edition Rosé Swatch keyring (Image: Aldi)
The advice comes as Aldi has seen sales in some bottles shoot up by 100% year on year, according to the retailer. But while rosé is booming, the research suggests many Brits are still confused about how to choose and serve it.
Nearly one in three UK adults (31%) admit they have turned down a glass or bottle of rosé because it was not the right colour, and this equates to more than £103 million worth of rosé being rejected every year.
More than half say colour is an important factor when selecting a bottle of rosé, while almost one in four admit they always choose based on shade. Some drinkers are especially picky, with 13% rejecting rosé because it was too pale, many have turned down a glass for being too dark. And, some have even admitted they have wanted to refuse a glass because of its colour, but accepted it out of politeness.
Brits are also divided over how rosé should be served. Drinkers believe the perfect temperature is 6.9C, with most saying a bottle should be chilled for between one and three hours before serving. And many drinkers are unsure what rosé is actually made from.
More than half incorrectly believe rosé is made by mixing red and white grapes together, while some think it comes from “rosé grapes”. And when it comes to glassware, not everyone is sticking to the usual wine glass.
The findings come as rosé cements its place as one of Britain’s favourite summer drinks, with two-thirds saying summer is the season they are most likely to drink it. The average drinker expects to get through 20 glasses this summer alone, spending an average of £6.40 on a glass or £15.60 on a bottle.
But choosing the right bottle for someone else can be a minefield.
To help solve Britain’s rosé shade dilemma, Aldi has launched the limited-edition Rosé Sip Swatch, a pocket-sized shade guide to help shoppers identify their perfect pink.
Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi, said: “Our research shows people have surprisingly strong opinions about the colour of their rosé, with many admitting they have rejected a perfectly good glass simply because it was not the shade they were hoping for.
“The Rosé Sip Swatch is a fun way to take the guesswork out of choosing rosé while encouraging shoppers to discover that every shade has something different to offer.”
To be in with a chance of winning, shoppers need to email their full name to Aldiroseswatch@aldi.co.uk
