Rosé Is More Than Just a Pretty Color

Why the shade in your glass tells you less than you think — and what to look for instead

When I personally think of summer, my first instinct is always: let's get a bottle of rosé.

And somehow, everyone agrees. Rosé has been the unofficial drink of summer for years now, and I'm fully on board. It's cold, it's refreshing, and it's beautiful. As a kid, when someone asked my favorite color I'd say "pink, pink, and pink" so maybe I was always destined for this. And maybe I’ve always been a bit extra.

Rosé is basically the summer sundress of the wine world. Effortless. Simple. A staple.

But somewhere along the way, I think we started assuming the color tells us everything we need to know. And that's where things go a little sideways.

The Color Myth

Pale pink? Must be light and dry. Dark pink? Must be sweet and have a little more body.

Not necessarily.

Rosé has a bit of an identity crisis because we judge it almost entirely by appearance. But the color is only one piece of the story. What actually has a bigger impact on what's in your glass? The grape variety, the region, and, most importantly, how the winemaker chose to make it.

A Pinot Noir rosé often leans lighter and more delicate because Pinot Noir is a naturally thin-skinned grape, known for bright red fruit. It's usually made via maceration - just a few hours of skin contact before pressing and separating the juice - which gives it that pale, barely-there pink.

A rosé from Tavel in southern France, typically made with Grenache and other Rhône varieties, can be darker, more structured, and even improve with a little bottle age. That comes from longer skin contact or the saignée ("bleeding") method, both of which extract more color, tannin, and flavor.

Same category. Completely different personalities.

What to Ask Instead

Rather than guessing based on the shade of pink, try asking: What grapes are in this? Where is it from? Do I generally enjoy wines from that region?

Those answers will tell you far more than the color ever could.

Why Rosé Actually Works

Rosé isn't popular because it's pink. It's popular because it's incredibly versatile. It can be crisp enough for oysters, relaxed enough for a picnic, refreshing enough for a rooftop, and interesting enough to hold its own over a long dinner. I always say it's the best wine for Thanksgiving precisely because it pairs well with everything and offends no one.

It's a wine that doesn't ask much of you. Just chill it, pour it, and enjoy the people around you.

The Real Drink of Summer 2026

So this summer, let’s drink plenty of rosé. But more than anything, drink more of whatever makes you happy - more dinners that turn into late nights, more bottles shared with friends, more reasons to raise a glass, and yes, more shades of pink, pink, and pink.