Off-Dry Rose

A small amount of sugar, kept in check by acidity. These are gentle, fruit-forward pinks of strawberry, raspberry and rose petal, softer and rounder than a bone-dry Provence rosé and considerably more forgiving. Cabernet d'Anjou and Rosé d'Anjou from the Loire, where the style has been made seriously for generations and the best examples can age for a decade, alongside a handful of others where the grower has left a little sweetness by design rather than by accident.

Alcohol is usually modest, which makes them easy company. Serve cold at 8°C to 10°C, and try them with spiced food, cured ham, pâté, summer puddings and fresh berries. They also convert more sceptics at a party than anything else on the shelf.