It’s all coming up rosés...

[May 01, 2026]

The (wine) news is in: in the UK last year, rosé wine saw an increase of +3% in volume and 5% in value. That’s £882 million generated with sales of pink – against a fall for red and whites, it looks like rosé is very much bucking a trend.  

Laithwaites’ Wine Director Liz Smith agrees: “Our sales of rosé are stronger than ever and figures show that our customers are reaching for it all year round, which is definitely a trend. But more interesting is the really steep increase in sales of our bright, fruity rosé category – up 75% in the last year. We’re also increasingly seeing customers venturing beyond Provence for their lighter styles in search of value.”  

So today Laithwaites is inviting you to explore rosé beyond France, taking trips to Sicily, Greece, South Africa and New Zealand where there are some fruity, zesty and super exciting wines for your summer table.    

W/O Nero d’Avola Rosé 2025, Sicily – RRP £14.99 

W/O means a wine made without compromise and that’s certainly the case for this new vintage Sicilian Rosé which Laithwaites describes a “tingly fresh rosato”. The grapes are organic from Marsala and Salemi on the island, where soils tend to have a high clay content, giving this mineral zing to the wine.  

The W/O range is bottled in 100% recycled ‘wild’ glass (which was a UK first on launch 3 years ago) and this aromatic pink is just delicious with seafood.  

Melpoby Muses Estate Greek Rosé 2024, Greece – RRP £14.99

Looking for a taste of Greek sunshine at home this summer? Well, you can with this fresh and fragrant rosé from a family estate in the Valley of the Muses, on the slopes of Mount Helicon near Athens. Today the estate is run by brothers Nikos, Stelios and Panayiotis Zaharias who are continuing the family business.  

The wine is blend of Syrah with all its peppery spice, and the lemony freshness of Greece’s pink-skinned Roditis Alepu variety. Conjure up holiday memories with, of course, a crisp Greek salad.  

Raspberry Bush Rosé 2025, South Africa – RRP £11.99

The pink partner to Laithwaites’ No 1 bestselling white, this is a fruity South African rosé also from Bon Courage in Robertson.  

Described as “lip smacking” buyer Laithwaites, it’s made with South Africa’s signature Pinotage grape for the juicy, raspberry-fresh flavour that inspired the name. After a cool fermentation to keep maximum freshness, the wine had just enough skin-contact for its delicate pink colour – 18 months then spent in French and American oak barrels has softened out any unwanted tannins. Berry freshness all the way.  

Lobster Shack Rosé 2025, South Africa – RRP £12.99

It’s a Sauvignon… and it’s a rosé. That’ll be because it’s made by leading South African winery Flagstone who have added a drop of Pinotage to give all the juicy fruit a wine named Lobster Shack deserves.  

Now, just what should you pair this limited-edition pink with…  

Waitui Marlborough Rosé 2025, New Zealand – RRP £12.99

In a similar vinous vein, this new pink number from down under blends Sauvignon Blanc with Malbec and is made by family-owned Marlborough Valley Wines. The team here has mastered the art of creating wines that are naturally lower in alcohol (canopy management, site selection etc.) and so this delightful drop comes in at just 9.5% ABV.  

So transport yourself to Waitui Bay in the Marlborough Sounds which has inspired this wine’s name, and enjoy its juicy orange and lemon flavours. Delicious with grilled fish al fresco.  

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Press enquiries: ali@vintwinepr.com

About Laithwaites Wine

Laithwaites Wine was founded in 1969, when Tony Laithwaite drove a van of Bordeaux wine to England to share with family and friends.  Laithwaites has since grown to become one of the UK’s largest wine merchants, yet remains family-owned and still gives pride of place to smaller producers.

The Laithwaites wine team tastes over 40,000 wines a year before selecting the best buys for customers. Laithwaites offers 1,200 wines from 26 countries, ranging in price from £4.99 up to £1,200 a bottle and all covered by a 100% guarantee of enjoyment. 

They also offer an extensive gifts range, complimentary Wine Advisor service, and host a range of events. Laithwaites Wine is the only UK wine merchant to win the Service Mark accreditation from the Institute of Customer Service and has twice been awarded Online Retailer of the Year.

Laithwaites is delighted to be one of ten leading retailers which have signed up to the 'SWR Bottle Weight Accord'.  Founded in 2021, the Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) is the only global independent multistakeholder roundtable in wine.  

Jancis Robinson is a founding member and with now more than 100 members from around the world, the SWR has become the centre for collaborative action across the wine supply chain.