Rosé the Day Away With These Delicious Wines

While there aren't any hard-and-fast rules about what varietals you can drink when, in recent years rosé wine has undoubtedly become the official drink of summer. There's just something about the light, bright wine that's just right for lounging poolside. Plus, it pairs perfectly with summer cookout fare like fish and caprese salad. Not to mention, the subtle pink hue just screams summertime fun.

But if you're scanning store shelves at your local wine shop, Target, or Trader Joes, how do you know what rosés are worth your time—and which ones are better left right where they are? There are three appellations that are strictly for rosé wines, says Erik Segelbaum, HUNGRY’s Sommelier: Tavel in the Rhône Valley, Rosé de Riceys in the Champagne region of France, and Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo in Italy. In these areas—and in a few other select locales, like Provence—the grapes are harvested with the explicit mindset of making rosé wine, says Cheron Cowan, beverage director at Maialino Mare. Because of that, bottles from these regions tend to be a good bet. (In many other places, rosé tends to be an afterthought, he explains.)

That's not to say there aren't plenty of other quality rosés from around the world, though. Whether you prefer dry or sweet, there are great bottles coming from Oregon, New Zealand, Spain, and a variety of other places in between. And you don't have to spend a fortune, either. There are tons of premium, but inexpensive wines—we're talking less than $15 or $20.

Ready to grab a wine glass and rosé all day? Sommeliers and beverage directors say these are the best rosé wine brands out there.