Chapel Down English Rosé
Chapel Down’s still rosé, light and easy to find.
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English wine
The English rosé wines we would buy
England’s still rosés are pale, dry and fresh, and most are made from Pinot Noir. They are good value and made for summer.
Which one to choose
- Easy to find: Chapel Down English Rosé, light and the best value of these.
- All Pinot Noir: Simpsons’ Railway Hill, delicate, from the North Downs near Canterbury.
- Something different: Westwell Pink, from the experimental winery at Charing.
- Prefer bubbles? England is better known for sparkling rosé, from Balfour, Nyetimber and Gusbourne.
Prices and stock are checked every week. Prices are for a single 75cl bottle.
Rosé
England’s still rosés are pale, dry and fresh, and most are made from Pinot Noir.
Westwell Pink
A pale, dry rosé from the experimental winery at Charing, fermented in barrel and steel.
Visit Our guide to Westwell
Still or sparkling?
England is better known for sparkling rosé than still. Balfour Brut Rosé from Kent was the first English wine to win a gold medal and a trophy at the International Wine Challenge, in 2007, and almost every leading sparkling estate now makes one. Still rosés are a smaller but growing group: pale, dry and light, and good value next to the sparkling wines.
Most English rosé is made from Pinot Noir, often with some Pinot Meunier, and gets its colour from a short time on the grape skins. Expect strawberry, redcurrant and citrus, with the fresh acidity that runs through all English wine. Serve still rosé well chilled, around 8 to 10°C.
Where to taste English rosé at the vineyard
- Balfour, KentThe home of Balfour Brut Rosé, at the Hush Heath estate near Staplehurst. Our guide to Balfour
- Bolney, SussexIts Cuvée Rosé 2016 won the English Sparkling Vintage Rosé Trophy at the International Wine Challenge 2026, and it makes a still rosé too. Our guide to Bolney
- Court Garden, SussexA family estate near Ditchling making a sparkling Rosé and a still Ditchling Rosé. Our guide to Court Garden
- Silverhand, KentCertified organic still wines, including a still rosé, and Silver Reign Rosé, a sparkling wine made only from Pinot Noir. Our guide to Silverhand
- Denbies, SurreyRose Hill still rosé and Whitedowns Rosé sparkling, both sold at the estate. Our guide to Denbies
- Gusbourne, KentA sparkling Rosé in its core range and a small amount of still English Rosé, which often sells out. Our guide to Gusbourne
Questions people ask
Is English rosé dry?
Most are, in a pale, crisp style closer to Provence than to sweeter rosés. Check the label or the shop’s description if you prefer something softer.
What grapes are used for English rosé?
Mostly Pinot Noir, England’s main red grape, sometimes with other red varieties. The juice spends only a short time on the skins, which gives the pale colour.
What food goes with English rosé?
Summer food: salads, grilled fish, charcuterie and picnics. It is also good on its own on a warm afternoon.
Is English sparkling rosé better than still rosé?
They do different jobs. Sparkling rosé is made like Champagne and aged for years, so it costs more and suits a celebration. Still rosé is lighter, cheaper and made for drinking young on a summer afternoon.
When should I drink English rosé?
Still rosé is best within a year or two of the vintage, while it is fresh. Sparkling rosé keeps longer, especially vintage bottles.