I have a real soft spot for rosé, it was a gateway into wine that was tasty and accessible. It is versatile and fun, perfect for any ocassion (particularly if it comes in a magnum!)

So what actually is rosé wine?

It is made with red grapes and the skin contact is very short (think in hours rather than days!) It picks up some colour but does’t go full on red wine. A variety of red grapes are used to make rose but the most common are:

• Cinsault

• Pinot Noir

• Grenache

• Syrah

There is a whole spectrum of rosé depending on the grape, the terroirs and the winemaker. It is sometimes associated with being sweet and / or cheap but there are so many styles out there to explore.

Rosé is fantastic with food, check out these 5 pairing suggestions:

1. Spicy fried chicken: Pick a sparkling rosé and the acidity can cut through the richness of fried chicken. Got money to splash? Go all out and get a rosé Champagne! If you want something different - check out traditional method sparkling rosé from UK, US, South Africa or Argentina.

2. Thai curries: The acidity in rosé can balance out the heat of spicy Thai curries, whilst the fruitiness can complement the complex flavors of lemongrass, coconut, and galangal. Try with green curry or massaman curry.

3. Fish Tacos: The fruitiness can complement the flavours of tacos, especially the fresh and tangy toppings like pico de gallo, lime juice, and avocado.

4. Strawberry Cheesecake: A sweeter, fruitier rose would make a great pairing. The wine's acidity can also help cut through the richness of the cream.

5. Junk boats: Technically more of an experience pairing than a food pairing but nothing beats a glass of cold, refreshing rosé whilst lying on a float.

Which pairing would you pick?