Drinking champagne is synonymous with class and prestige, and rose champagne just enhances that feeling. Over the past decades, rose has been rising in popularity. So which rose should you be drinking? Which bottles and brands are the best rose champagne?
What is Rose Champagne?
To find out which is the best rose champagne, we first have to determine what is rose. Rose champagne is just like any other champagne, just that it is distinguished with a slightly red colour. Annually, only about 5 percent of champagne produced is rose. The key difference between champagne and rose is the addition of red grapes when making this bubbly.
With its pale pink colour, the gorgeous beverage presents fascinating flavours to the palettes. The excitement it gives off to those who drink is limitless, you might even see people pop a bottle any other day on their Instagram stories.
To further explore rose, read ‘Rose Champagne – Pretty in Pink’.
Best Rose Champagne in the World
The soft, fruit-forward flavour of rose champagnes go brilliantly with almost everything that you can think of. This is one of the reasons that it is gaining popularity across the world. Its attractive aesthetic is a plus for a special feeling. In any case, here is a list of the top rose champagnes in the world that will give your taste buds exquisite flavours.
Ruinart Rose
The first ever rose champagne to be produced and sold in the market, Ruinart launched their greatest perfection in the year of 1764. Coming with peach colours, the Ruinart Rose still maintains its glorious history and taste.
The champagne is made with 55% of Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay, which merges into a crisp and lightly tannic flavour. There is even a subtle warm spice to it on the finish.
However, it costs approximately $2,012, which makes it more suitable for collectors or for very rare occasions.
Chandon California Brut Rose
Only costing a mere $19.99, this bottle is definitely for everyone because of its high affordability. The bottle is presented in a delicate and dainty pink colour, maintaining a premium yet vivacious attitude.
The champagne itself comes with strong strawberry flavours balanced with a light minerality, making it fresh and crisp.
Moet & Chandon Rose Imperial
The iconic Moet & Chandon Rose Imperial is made from the three main champagne grapes – Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay.
A rich pink colour, the champagne has a long, elegant finish and texture with vibrant red fruit notes. The floral nuances of rose and subtle notes of menthol and pepper pairs really well with fruits and aged cheeses. At the price of approximately $58, Moet & Chandon Rose Imperial is pretty affordable for most champagne lovers.
Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé
This particular bottle of rose champagne is designed to look classy with an all-black look paired with silver on the tip. The fine and frothy bubbles that are included elevates the refreshing and light flavour that attends to brut drinkers.
At a price of approximately $80, it is within the more affordable ranges of rose that can be enjoyed easily. This is a good bottle to start off with if you are looking to explore rose flavours.
Bollinger Brut Rosé
The Bollinger Brut Rose is rich in flavour, with hints of rose and strong scents of red berries. Everything about the champagne shouts elegant, and it comes with a non-vintage French design that applies to the needs of modern wineries. The enhanced flavours are sufficient enough as an alternative for dessert.
Perrier-Jouët Blason Rosé Brut NV
This rose is made out of similar ingredients like the Ruinart Rose, but it comes with an addition of 25% pinot meunier. The pinot meunier is a type of red grape that has the ability to create a velvety mouthfeel to the already berry and ginger-tinted champagne.
Sold at an average price of $89.00, it is not difficult to obtain a bottle of the Perrier-Jouët Blason Rosé Brut NV.
Krug Brut Rosé
Most rose champagnes are young wines, meaning that they do not require long fermentation processes to have bursts of flavour. However, this unique blush takes a different tone that adheres to tradition, having to rest in the lauded Krug cellars for 5 years.
The fermentation process helps to bring out the fragrance of red berries and oranges while making way for a long-lasting and creamy taste.
Since it takes a longer time to hit the market, the prices on these are higher as well, with prices up to $360.00 per bottle.
Veuve Clicquot Brut Rosé
Famous for its classic yellow labels on their bottles, this rose champagne is yet another one of Veuve Clicquot’s products. If you are in love with their brand logo, this is a must for your repertoire. The champagne has gentle spices to its taste, alongside red berry and grapefruit notes, showing richness in flavour. The refreshing taste is ideal for tasting at any time of the day without having to worry about incompatibilities.
G.H.Mumm Grand Cordon Rosé
With a price of approximately $70.00, this champagne has a unique look to it that is molded to induce the red silk sash that used to be decorated on Mumm champagne bottles back in the 1800s.
The bottle itself is worth every penny, while the flavours are boldly acidic, accompanied by red berry notes and a hint of mineral finish. With all the flavours coming together, the fresh aftertaste and the overall acidic flavour represents modern champagne.
Segura Viudas Brut Rosé
Known as the Spanish cousin of champagne, this is one of the bottles that aren’t made in France itself. Originally produced for promotional purposes of the indigenous Trepat grape varietal, the champagne comes at an unbeatable price tag at only $9.99!
As Spanish wineries began to replace Trepat grapes with traditional French grapes, this champagne maintained the usage of Trepat grapes, giving it a lush, red fruit palate with a spicy edge.
Mirabella Brut Rose Franciacorta
When it comes to champagne, Prosecco is often referred to as the most famous of all as Italy’s sparkling style. However, Franciacorta is actually the champagne of Italy, and not Prosecco.
The blushing Italian sparkler is presented in a dry and nuanced flavour profile, with well-balanced acidity. The champagne also comes with a warm hint of baked bread and crisp, all flavours available at once with an average price of $28.
Difference Between Rose Champagnes and Champagnes
The main difference between rose champagne and champagne is because of the price and colour.
Price
Rose champagnes are normally more expensive compared to normal champagnes, as it requires extensive effort and is more time-consuming. This increases the cost of production, thus increasing the sales price.
With limitations such as cost and production difficulties, the total percentage of rose champagne sums up to less than 5 percent from the overall productions. This is why the prices are slightly higher than normal champagne bottles. They are produced in lower quantities, so it is more difficult to acquire them.
Colour
Like it’s name, the pink champagne, rose champagne is often pink or deep rose in colour due to the pigmentation from red grapes.
Food that Serves Well with Rose Champagne
Rose Champagnes portray a wide array of versatility that allows for pairing with different types of dishes. No matter what you are having, you can easily pair them up.
Raw Meat
Although this might seem like an unusual pairing, it is the details in the flavour that works best for this pairing. Fatty meats tend to have high oil content within them, which is where the fruitiness of rose champagnes really shines.
Meats in raw states often remain juicy, while cooked meat can be quite dry on the opposite. The acidity it presents is the ideal pair with raw meat to cleanse the palate between bites. On the other hand, it can be a bit harsh on the taste buds if paired with cooked meat, but once you figure out the pairings correctly, you will be inviting yourself into a whole new world.
Red Meat
Certain vintage rose champagnes come with a robust texture and flavour profile that pairs well with strong meats such as spiced lamb or ‘nduja.
For the perfect pairing, try lamb seared and served pink with lemon, mint and pink peppercorn sauce. The smoky spices complement the subtly smoky notes of the champagne, creating a mix of flavours that aren’t too complex.
Oily Fish
Food that is too bitter, too salty, too acidic and too distinct should be avoided when pairing with rose champagnes. The best pairing options would be raw salmon or tuna, where the delicately fruity taste of the champagne complements the sourness of the pickled gingers paired with the main course.
Lightly grilled tuna or oak-smoked salmon and zingy pickled cucumber are also ideal pairings for rose champagne because of their slightly smoky taste.
Red Fruit
With rose champagnes being made out of mainly pinot noir, the red fruit notes are highly compatible with desserts that have berries and forest fruits. These rose champagnes pair extremely well with fruit salad filled with fresh red berries.
Similarly, some flavourful champagne like the Ruinart Rosé is the ideal match to a range of red fruit desserts. Its aroma of freshly gathered cherry, raspberry and wild strawberry complements the dessert quite well.
Shellfish
If you are having mussels, a striking champagne on the palate would be quite the pair to have. The unctuous texture and appealing saline quality of shellfish makes certain rose champagnes feel like they are made to pair well together.
Another way of perfecting the dish is to fill the mussels with a stuffing created by chefs, who suggests combining sausage meat, parmesan, breadcrumbs, chopped parsley, orange flesh and a thin slice of bay leaf.
Wrap up
There is a whole range of rose champagne that you should try. To easily get your hands on a bottle of the best rose champagne, join a champagne club as the sommelier can acquire one for you. Pair your rose with your food and deeply enjoy all the flavours that will resonate.