The competition took place at the Bumpkin Restaurant in London’s South Kensington on 17 May and was judged blind by a panel of expert tasters, comprised by Patrick Schmitt MW, editor-in-chief of the drinks business; Antony Moss MW, WSET Director of Strategic Planning; Jonathan Pedley MW, wine lecturer and consultant; Christine Parkinson, group head of wine for The Hakkasan Group; Clive Barlow MW, wine trainer and consultant; Clément Robert MS; Elizabeth Gabay MW, Provençal rosé specialist; Dee Blackstock MW; Beverly Blanning MW and Patricia Stefanowicz MW.

ALPHA ROSÉ 2016 SPARKLED AMONG HIGH-END ROSÉS ALONGSIDE THE LEGENDARY -AND VERY PRICEY- CHÂTEAU D’ESCLANS, GARRUS, 2015; CHÂTEAU LA SAUVAGEONNE LA VILLA, 2016; BY OTT, 2016 BY DOMAINES OTT, ETC.

The nine rosés to make the list come from a range of terroirs, though they are all European and, for the most part, French – especially from Provence.

In his article on the drinks business “9 rosés to try before you die”, Patrick Schmitt MW describes Alpha Rosé as “delicate aromatically, but [with] an appealing oily feel in the mouth, with summer berries, some peach, and a touch of red apple too.”

Here is Schmitt’s detailed review of Alpha Rosé: “With its minimalist label and beautiful bulbous clear glass bottle showing off the pale rosé inside, this is a pink wine designed to make an upmarket visual statement. Neither the fact that it comes from Greece, nor that it’s made with the country’s native Xinomavro grape, are stated on the front of this elegant package, perhaps because it’s thought that such information might detract from its top-end positioning. However, for the professional, both these facts make the wine an interesting arrival on to the luxury rosé scene, which is, of course, dominated by products from Provence. And having tasted it without knowledge as to source region or constituent grapes, it is a wine that sits alongside its French rivals in terms of quality. As for style, it is delicate aromatically, but has an appealing oily feel in the mouth, with summer berries, some peach, and a touch of red apple too. Fruity and balanced, this is a lovely dry rosé, and a brilliant option if you find yourself in the eastern part of the Med.”