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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!