The Best Rosés To Drink Outside

Warmer weather ushers in one of the biggest trends in the wine industry, popularly known these days as "rosé season". Now, we think it's perfectly fine to drink rosé all year long, but the market is most saturated in the spring and summertime. With so many rosé options you might be wondering where to start, but we've got you covered.

A chilly glass of rosé practically begs to be enjoyed outside. Whether you're soaking up the sun on the sand or grilling on a rooftop in the city, rosé is always a fantastic choice. The first consideration when choosing a wine to enjoy outside should be convenience. With that in mind, we've selected delicious rosés that fall into four convenient packages.

The first category is bottled wines with screw-tops, so you never run the risk of getting to the park, only to realize you've left your corkscrew at home. The second is canned wine. Cans are perfect lightweight options for taking camping or on a hike, or anywhere glass isn't allowed. The third convenient option is sparkling rosés, which typically come with popping corks and instantly elevate any outdoor gathering. Finally, we take a look at a few larger format boxed wines for when you're ready to serve a larger group, mix up some rosé sangria, or simply don't want the hassle of buying multiple bottles of wine. Bring on the sunshine!

Crack open a bottle of Yes Way Rosé and pretend you're in sunny Provence, even if you've never been to France. This crisp and dry rose wine is a Grenache blend that comes in a delicate peachy-pink hue and is made on-location in the south of France. Provence is known for its rosé production, so it's no wonder that you'll find a high-quality and accessible wine made in this region. 

Talk about terroir — a wine like this is practically made on the Mediterranean, making it the perfect pairing with freshly grilled seafood, fruits and veggies, and creamy French cheeses. "[It's] a classic Provençal-style rosé that reveals an elegant bouquet of strawberry, citrus, and stone fruit," says the Yes Way Rosé website. It's perfect for a beach house cookout and a sunny day in the salty air. Grab a spot on the sand and raise a glass to the French Riviera.

If you're the kind of person who judges a book by its cover and still expects a quality read between the pages, then this rosé is for you. The label practically jumps off the shelf, decorated with brightly-colored flora and summertime fauna on a coppery-pink backdrop provided by the wine itself. Once you pour yourself a glass you can expect a full-flavored rosé, as complex and festive as the label. 

"The aroma is elegant with fine clean fruit notes of pears and apples but with a luxurious ripeness," say the winemakers at Wolffer Estate. If you're in the New York City area, you may already be familiar with this wine and its eye-catching label, but be sure to try the newest vintage for the full experience. Every bottle is a quick trip to the Hamptons, without the high rents or long car rides.

It's likely that you've heard of Winc, the wine subscription service that's geared towards a younger audience — that's as opposed to other wine subscriptions, which tend to be geared towards more mature collectors. We're here to drink wine and we're here to drink it now. Luckily, you don't have to be a Winc subscriber to get your hands on a bottle of Summer Water, although in the past Winc has offered a special club membership specifically for this rosé (via Bustle). 

"Coming from Napa, this rosé is made from completely pinot noir grapes [...] A good bit of acidity here, but with a plush mid-palate," says Victoria James, award-winning sommelier of Cote and Piora in NYC in The Cut. The perfectly pink easy to drink rosé is meant to cool you off on hot summer days, doing whatever it is that summertime throws your way.

Come for the fluffy sheep on the label, stay for the sweet and refreshing strawberry and red fruit notes. What can we say? It's a cute bottle that comes with a relatively inexpensive price tag. We think it's especially nice by the pool, mixed into a batch of frozé, or even nice on a hot day in the countryside. 

"The Little Sheep of France Rosé is elegant, with notes of red summer berries and delicate floral notes. Smooth, and beautifully balanced with fruit-forward flavors and hints of grenadine that lead into a refreshing, enjoyable finish," writes Empire Wine. This rosé comes from France and is made with sauvignon blanc, which should appeal to those looking for a familiar grape. The Little Sheep also makes a classic white Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay as well as several reds from New Zealand. They may be newcomers to the wine world, but the popularity of The Little Sheep wines is growing rapidly and not just because of its adorable label.

This affordable blend from the Côtes-du-Rhône is a Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault blend with a slightly darker pink hue on the rosé spectrum than some of the other wines we've covered. While the flavor is packed with juicy red berries, the wine itself skews dry, according to reviewers on Vivino. The wine's producer, Cellier de Dauphins, has been making wine since 1967 and offers a spectrum of classic Côtes-du-Rhône wines, including several vintages of rosé. 

"Cellier des Dauphins is now the first producer of organic wines in the Rhône Valley. Since its creation, Cellier des Dauphins has been devoted to the protection of the environment, the terroir, and the transmission of ancestral skills," reports Wine.com. Organic and biodynamic wines are on the rise, with sommeliers making room on their wine lists for more eco-friendly wines. Enjoy this wine alongside some sustainably raised seafood or grilled heritage pork chops at your next cookout.

Glass bottles aren't allowed everywhere you may want to spend time outside, including some beaches and parks. If alcoholic beverages are allowed, you'll need to find an alternative way to carry them. Winemakers these days have caught on to the canned wine trend and have begun canning some of their most popular wines as a result. 

Underwood wines by Union Wine Company out of Oregon is one of those popular wines, with canned options that can be found in grocery and wine stores across the country. Recognizable by the simple and direct label, Underwood writes, "It's hard to keep your pinky up when you're drinking wine from a 375 mL can." They'd be right. They've created their entire brand around de-fancifying wine culture, even launching the hashtag #pinkiesdown as part of the effort. Underwood recommends enjoying their canned rose "sitting in a hot tub after a good day of riding or heading where other wines dare not travel," which sounds pretty fantastic to us.

One look at the beautiful artwork on this can and we couldn't resist trying this wine. Crafter's Union Rosé is a brand that originated in Australia and New Zealand but has since jumped across the Pacific to produce canned wines out of California. The canned wines available stateside include this gorgeous rosé, a brut rosé, brut, pinot grigio, and a red wine blend, each as attractively packaged as the next. After all, isn't feeling beautiful and glamorous part of the allure of a chilly and glistening glass of rosé? 

Crafter's Union described the canned rosé as, "[c]risp and fresh with enticing aromas and flavors of fresh-cut flowers, strawberries, watermelon, and white peaches." If that doesn't make you want to crack open a can and lay in the grass, we don't know what will. "Pair it with a fresh summer salad or try it with tangy goat cheese at a picnic in the park," they recommend if you're looking to add some summery snacks to your repertoire.

Besa mi Vino exclusively makes two canned wines with some of the highest ethical standards of any wines on the market. Both the rosé and the white wine produced by Besa are made from organic grapes, with completely vegan winemaking techniques. As the website explains, "We'd rather leave animals out of our wine. That's why we use refining agents like bentonite to naturally refine the good stuff." That means that, unlike other wines, animal-derived products like gelatin and isinglass aren't part of Besa mi Vino's mix.

The wines are also gluten-free and made without added sugars. For those sensitive to sulfites found in preserved foods, Besa claims to use the least amount of sulfites possible to maintain the integrity of the wine. If all of this sounds amazing to you, you can even subscribe for monthly shipments of Besa's wines to always be prepared for a beach day.

BABE Rosé is here to cater to the crowd that spends long summer weekends in Montauk and never waits for a seat at brunch. You know who you are. As much a part of pop culture as your favorite show on Bravo, BABE was created by celebrity Josh Ostrovsky and friends. The idea began in 2015 with Swish Beverages and has since been purchased by Anheuser-Busch (via CNN). 

Widely available, this effervescent rosé is said to pair perfectly with just about anything you can cook up this summer. "Babe is a light sparkling Rose with notes of honeydew, cantaloupe and earthy undercurrents. It's viscous and rich, making it perfect to enjoy with fried summer foods, pizza, grilled chicken, grilled fish, burgers, barbecue and even a salad nicoise," describes BevMo. So don't worry about being delicate with this option. If the rosé really does it for you, you might be interested in others BABE wines, like its Red or Pinot Grigio, as well.

Our final canned rosé selection comes from Una Lou Rosé, based in Northern California. Conceived by husband and wife team, Lia Ices and Andrew Mariani and named for their daughter, Una Lou is a pinot noir-based rosé. The winemakers describe the wine tasting notes as, "white peach, jasmine, [and] wild strawberry," and source their pinot noir from three local vineyards. You can almost feel the mist rising off the Northern California cliffs, right? 

In addition to being crafted with care, Una Lou donates a portion of the proceeds to organizations that focus on agricultural and food-based education for kids and young adults. The organizations that they support include the Edible Schoolyard and The Center for Land-Based Learning (via Una Lou). Available in stores in several major cities, Una Lou is also available in several formats for purchase online through their website.

As with all cans of wine, remember when buying and drinking that one 12-ounce can is actually two glasses of wine. Most cans come in four or six-packs, with some occasionally available in larger cases.

It might not seem like taking a bottle of bubbly to an outdoor event would be a convenient idea. It's so fancy after all. But the truth is, a bottle of sparkling wine is one of the most convenient bottles of wine to travel with because the pressure-sensitive corks are pulled from the bottles instead of using a corkscrew. Additionally, the fizzy nature of the wine helps to clear the palette, making it an excellent accompaniment for the often heavy backyard barbecue-style foods. Short ribs and sparkling rosé? Yes, please.

One of the easiest places to start on our sparkling rosé journey is with the Sofia Brut Rosé from Francis Ford Coppola Winery. Appealing to both red and white wine drinkers, this rosé is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes that will please almost everyone. The peachy-pink wine is named after famed director Francis Ford Coppola's only daughter, Sofia, who is also a highly acclaimed director. While we may know her for her work on movies such as "Lost in Translation" and "Marie Antionette," it's clear from this gorgeous lineup of wines that she's still Francis Ford Coppola's beloved daughter. 

Underwood wines consistently strive to redefine how we drink wines. Opting to strip away any snooty wine culture that might scare some people off, Union Wine Company presents Underwood as a collection of wines that are only as sacred as the company you enjoy it in on the adventures you take it on. 

The Underwood Rosé Bubbles does just that with a casual bottle of sparkling rosé, presented simply with a beer bottle-style pop-top and an understated bottle design. Inside you'll find a clean and crisp rosé with red fruit and watermelon tasting notes. And for those who are curious, even those "snooty" wine enthusiasts are into this bottle. Wine Enthusiast awarded this rosé a notable 90 points in 2020. Not too bad for a wine built for trekking through the woods. Also, if you're packing light, this rosé is also available in the popular can format.

Italian food lovers are probably already familiar with the slightly chilled and gently sparkling Lambrusco that hails from the Emilia-Romagna region. One of the most popular Lambrusco brands sold in the US is Lini 910 Lambrusco, which has been making wines since 1910. according to Winebow. Lucky for us, Lini also produces a rosé version of their incredibly popular Lambrusco, which is robust enough to stand up to the famously hearty cuisines of its home territory. 

"[I]ts remarkable versatility also makes it a wonderful match for a wide variety of cuisines, including Asian, Mexican, and classic American. Many top sommeliers reach for Lini wines to pair with oysters. And many claim it's the ultimate BBQ wine," Winebow writes. So you can feel comfortable bringing a bottle or two of this gently sparkling rosé to your next outdoor event, regardless of what's being served — but especially if there's going to be a meaty lasagna or baked ziti present. 

Veuve Clicquot isn't just sparkling wine, it's champagne. And if you're not already familiar with the differences, you'll encounter the first major difference at the cash register. With that said, yes, champagne is expensive but this is a reasonably priced option for a special splurge. The iconic orange and black label of Veuve Clicquot has probably caught your eye every time you've passed by it, and the rosé champagne is just as attractive. 

According to Veuve Clicquot, the rosé champagne is blended with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Meunier grapes for a perfectly balanced wine that is reflective of its traditional Veuve Clicquot blend. If we're being honest, we actually like the rosé version better than the original. Maybe it's the ripe strawberry notes or the way that it fizzes across the tongue. Or maybe it's just because it's fancy and pink. Either way, an evening spent on the back porch enjoying a nice salmon dinner by candlelight with someone you love feels like it deserves a special rosé.

Not every occasion is going to call for pulling out all of the stops, especially if you're expecting to serve as many people as you can at the best price possible. When and if you find yourself in that situation, we highly recommend you take a look at Yellow Tail's Pink Bubbles. This sparkling rosé skews sweeter than other rosés, but not overwhelmingly so. 

According to Total Wine, this rosé is defined by "[a]romas of strawberries and spice [that] radiate from your glass. Flavors of sweet cherries and tropical fruits are complemented by a crisp finish." What's not to love? With a price that absolutely cannot be beaten, keep this sparkler in mind for your next outdoor brunch. Also, this bottle has a special advantage: a plastic twist-off cap that can actually be replaced between pours to preserve as much of that bubbly goodness as possible.

Over the past few years, we've seen the rise in smaller and more intimate weddings and celebrations. Many people are passing on the large expensive events with hundreds of guests, in favor of smaller backyard gatherings with a dozen or so close family members and friends. In these cases, it's a little easier to spend up on higher-quality food and wine to treat guests at the reception. This Brut Rosé Champagne from Charles Heidsieck is made for just such occasions. 

Keith Beavers of Vinepair describes the Brut Rosé Champagne as, "Mature, focused champagne with strawberries and clotted cream on the nose. There is a welcome elegance on the palate with a delicate perlage...and a creamy mouthfeel with the added aromas of ginger and fresh-baked puff pastry." Even the description sounds dreamy, with a lovely image of enjoying some delicate pastries and delightful wine with friends.

Perhaps we're just surprised that Target hadn't thought of this concept a decade ago. Because it makes perfect sense that Target would sell a box — no, a cube — of wine at an almost unbelievable price, all while providing us the convenience of a new pair of shoes, toilet bowl cleaner, and a LEGO set for another kid's birthday next weekend, all on the same shopping trip. Enter Wine Cube.

According to Bustle, the Wine Cube is available in 10 different wine varieties, including rosé. For those of you doing the math, this 3-liter box actually holds a whopping four bottles of wine, which is a busy backyard cookout's dream come true. It kind of feels like the stars are aligning when you can buy an above-ground pool, swimsuit and flippies, lawn chair, and umbrella at the same place you pick up the wine for the weekend.

Okay, so there's boxed wine, and then there's French boxed wine. The Les Alliés Rosé is already a highly-rated rosé in bottle format, with Vivino calling it "Among [the] top 6% of all wines in the world (2017 Vintage)." That alone is pretty impressive, so it was wise of the producer to provide us with a 3-liter boxed format to ensure that we've got a full supply of rosé on hand during the rosé season. 

Conveniently, this wine is popular enough to be found on FreshDirect in a few locations, where it's described as, "A focused rosé, boasting a firm, spicy aroma and delicate dried berry and cherry flavors that linger with creamy notes." The prospect of having your box of wine delivered to your doorstep for ultimate convenience almost can't be beaten. For those of you already dedicated to boxed wines and those considering it, Les Alliés Rosé should be next on your list to try.

You'll probably recognize House Wine Rosé from your local wine shop since the bottles, cans, and boxes are all fairly ubiquitous and reasonably priced. This is a no-frills wine that leans a little sweeter, making it the perfect choice for a larger-format rosé sangria at your next outdoor gathering, or wine ice cubes to keep your rosé cold on an especially hot day. Likewise, mix up a batch of your favorite sangria recipe and store it in the fridge (sans fruit) to have on hand whenever you want a refreshing sip throughout the week. 

House Wine describes their rosé as "A fresh summer cocktail of watermelon, strawberry, and raspberry flavors." Of course, the point of having a box of wine is to have maximum volume for more than one person, but if you find you really like it, the rosé is also available in cans, bottles, and a bubbly option.

Similar to the Les Alliés Rosé, this boxed rosé is already popular in bottle format while available at a nice price in a 3-liter boxed format serious rosé enjoyment. La Vieille Ferme Rosé has been popular for years, even garnering an 87 point accolade from Wine Spectator in 2014 and featuring as one of their "Wine of the Week" selections. "Plump white cherry and strawberry notes lead the way in this rosé, while a stony edge lines the finish, adding contrast and length. Drink now," they write. 

And who are we not to take the advice of experts? So put any preconceived notions aside that you may have about boxed wines and give one of these gems a try. Remember that a delicious chilly rosé in the sunshine is most amazing shared with your closest friends and family, regardless of the price tag or the bottle it comes in. Here's to summertime!