Pink Champagne
It’s tough to beat pink Champagne for adding a touch of romance to the occasion.
What is pink Champagne?
Pink Champagne (also known as rosé Champagne) is a sparkling wine made in the Champagne region of France.
It’s created using the same traditional method as Champagne, with primary fermentation in tanks and secondary fermentation in bottle. But it’s signature pink hue comes from its contact with red grapes or the addition of red wine to a white base.
How is pink Champagne made?
Pink Champagne can be made in one of two ways: through blending or skin contact.
- Blending is typically the most common method. Winemakers add a small amount of still red wine to Champagne.
- Skin contact, or the saignée method, is where grape skins are left very briefly in contact with the juice, imparting colour and flavour.
Characteristics
You’ll find it in every shade of pink – from blush to copper to a deeper raspberry tint. Whatever the shade, pink Champagne always delivers elegant, lively bubbles and mouthwatering flavours. Think fresh strawberries, cherries and citrus with sweet hints of brioche and spice.
Contrary to popular opinion, pink Champagne isn’t sweeter than white Champagne. It’s characteristically fresh, with bright acidity, and comes in various styles – from ultra-dry Brut Nature to sweet and satisfying Doux.
Looking for the perfect bottle?
Here are my top picks for pink champagne:
- Champagne Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé Brut – a bottle of the world-famous Laurent-Perrier Rosé will truly make an impression. With its fine mousse and lively flavours of strawberries, raspberries and ripe cherries, this is an elegant classic that will make your Valentine’s Day feel extra special.
- Champagne Bollinger Rosé Brut – a truly splendid Champagne to share with your Valentine. Expect rich, savoury notes, layers of floral red fruits and a wonderful freshness.
- Champagne Château de Bligny Grand Rosé Brut – luxurious and indulgent, with a superb balance of creamy richness, ripe tangy berry fruit and toasty complexity.
What foods to pair with pink Champagne?
Thanks to its gentle red fruit character, zesty acidity and lively bubbles, pink Champagne is incredibly versatile. That means you can pair it successfully with virtually any dish.
Classic matches include seafood, oysters and lobster. If you fancy something a little less conventional, pair with fish and chips. Yes, really. Just trust me on that one. You could also match it with roast lamb or grilled honey glazed salmon.
And for dessert, go for a classic fruit cocktail, Eton mess or a delicious dark chocolate mousse. Honestly, the pink Champagne food matching possibilities are endless.
Pink Prosecco
If you’re looking a more budget-friendly tipple for Valentine’s Day, then I’d suggest Pink (rosé) Prosecco.
How is Pink prosecco made?
Pink Prosecco is made by blending Glera and Pinot Noir grapes. The result is a delicious, fruit-forward sparkling with a lovely pink hue, and flavours ranging from fresh red fruits to floral notes.
And Pink Prosecco is a relatively new entrant in the world of sparkling wine, earning its prestigious DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) status in 2020. This designation guarantees quality and authenticity and is awarded only to wines that meet strict production and geographic requirements.
Wondering what to choose?
Here are my top picks:
- Alessandro Gallici Prosecco Anniversario Rosato 2024 – gorgeously berry fruited, with appealing ripe peach fruit and aromatic citrus notes on a fine stream of bubbles.
- Il Papavero Rosé Prosecco Brut 2024 – elegance in a bottle, with fine bubbles and hints of crisp red apple, citrus fruits and summer berries.
What foods to pair with pink Prosecco?
Pink Prosecco is light and fruity – and great to match with a range of foods.
If you’re choosing a romantic candlelit dinner, you can’t go wrong with light pasta dishes or something spicy like Thai or Indian foods. The good news? Pink Prosecco will match either perfectly.
For dessert, opt for strawberries and cream to match pink Prosecco’s red berry hints, or a refreshing raspberry sorbet.
Cava
This sparkling Spanish rosé wine is proof that great sparkling wine doesn’t have to be expensive. It comes from the Penedès region in Catalonia – just outside of Barcelona – where it’s known locally as cava rosado.
Cava rosé is made using the exact same method as Champagne, methodé traditionelle, and delivers the same elegance – without the premium price tag.
Rosé styles of Cava are incredibly popular, thanks to their lively, tantalising bubbles and bright strawberry and raspberry notes.
New to Cava?
Here is my top pick: ¡H! Barcelona Hola Organic Cava Brut Rosé – a superb cava rosado with beautiful strawberry and raspberry aromas, fresh citrus notes and fine bubbles.
What foods to pair with rosé Cava?
This Valentine’s Day, enjoy your rosé Cava as the Spanish do – with a mouthwatering spread of tapas dishes. I’m talking everything Manchego cheese, albondigas, patatas bravas, serrano ham, olives and gambas al ajillo.
Crémant Rosé
Treat your Valentine to something a little different this Valentine’s Day … the unsung hero of French wine – Crémant rosé. It’s crafted outside of the Champagne region but is still made using the traditional method. The result? Delicate bubbles, an abundance of juicy fruit and citrus flavours.
Fancy something different?
Here are my top picks:
- Roche Lacour Crémant de Limoux Rosé – a fine, distinguished fizz … and the sibling to our best-loved non-vintage fizz of all time. It’s wonderfully crisp, with fresh strawberry notes and a dash of peppery spice.
- Kew Gardens Crémant de Loire Rosé Brut NV – an elegant sparkling wine made in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Expect delicate red fruits with a fresh citrus character.
What foods to pair with Crémant Rosé?
Crémant is known for its bright acidity and bubbles – making it a fantastic match for seafood like oysters and prawns.
But it also goes well with light dishes. If you’re having more of a low-key Valentine’s dinner, it would be great alongside cheese or charcuterie boards.
English Sparkling Rosé
English Sparkling rosé thrives in vineyards around southern England. It’s crafted using the same traditional methods as Champagne, offering vibrant acidity and beautiful fruit flavours.
Ready to mix it up?
Here are my top picks:
- Harrow & Hope Brut Rosé 2021 – a fine English fizz with bright berry and lemon flavours and a hint of toasty complexity.
- Wyfold Vineyard Rosé 2020 – an extra dry sparkling rosé from Oxfordshire which bursts with summery flavours of strawberry and lemon, and has a clean mineral core. Delicious!
What foods to pair with English Sparkling rosé?
Delicate bubbles, red berry notes, bright acidity … English Sparkling rosé will make a great addition to any romantic dinner.
The minerality of English Sparkling rosé would be a superb match for grilled prawns or lobster, while the berry notes in the wine would be enhanced with roast duck. Of course, it would also go great with aged Cheddar, goat’s cheese or Brie.
But, if you’ve got more of a sweet tooth, I’d recommend a pairing with a white chocolate mousse. It’s creamy and delicate, but won’t overpower the wine. Shop all English Sparkling rosé
How to serve pink Sparkling wine
No matter the style of pink sparkling wine you choose for your Valentine’s Day celebration, it deserves to be properly served.
So, chill it down for two-three hours in the fridge – and pour when it’s between 3-7°C. Whatever you do, don’t freeze it. This can cause the wine to expand and the bottle could explode.
Well, I’ve given you my top Valentine’s Day wine suggestions to help make sure your day sparkles. All you have to do is choose the right bottle for you. But one thing’s for certain, where you’re toasting with pink Champagne, pink Prosecco or something different, a glass of fizz is the ideal way to celebrate.
