Light, fragrant, and refreshing. Rosé is the ultimate summer wine. Naturally, New Zealand Rosé Day 2023 will be celebrated at the height of summer on February the 5th.
The eighth edition of the popular wine holiday is fast approaching and now is the perfect time to get your pink party plans in order. Celebrate with a rosé-liscious lunch at your favorite winery restaurant, some New Zealand made pink bubbles at your local wine bar, or throw a Rosé party or tasting at home for family and friends. All Rosé lovers are invited to join in and share their pink wine moments via #nzroséday and #nzrosé.
Table of Contents
How it all started
My friend Emily Camblin and I started the collaborative initiative of leading Kiwi Rosé producers back in 2016 under Sip NZ as a way to raise awareness of New Zealand made Rosé. Since then, New Zealand Rosé has come a long way and wine lovers can now choose from a wide variety of styles, sweetness levels, and price points, with the premium Rosé category experiencing a significant increase over the years.
Often wine can be intimidating but the Rosé category has allowed consumers to be able to try new and different varieties and styles without the stigma of choosing something “wrong” per se”.
5 reasons to celebrate New Zealand Rosé Day
1 Celebrate the peak of summer
NZ Rosé Day is celebrated in the peak of summer and celebrates the long Waitangi weekend in style. A pink picnic and a glass of chilled Rosé are the perfect way to spend a relaxing Sunday in New Zealand’s beautiful backyard.
2 NZ Rosé keeps rising
Rosé is the fastest growing wine style in the country and sales have doubled in recent years.
But New Zealand made Rosé is not only popular at home. The locally made pink drink is now the fourth largest New Zealand wine export. 7.9 million liters have been exported globally in 2021, double that of 2018 when New Zealand exported 3.6 million liters of Rosé, and 10 times that of 2010 at just 0.56 million liters according to NZ Winegrowers statistics.
According to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, the Rosé category is forecasted to grow by almost 70 percent from 2020 to 2024.
3 Support local
Rosé lovers in New Zealand have found a taste for lighter, drier, more savory styles such as those you would find in Provence, and Kiwi wineries are responding to consumer preferences by successfully crafting Rosé wines inspired by iconic French estates.
4 Perfect Pink Pairings
Rosé is incredibly food-friendly and pairs with a variety of dishes and cuisines. Invite family and friends over for rosé o’clock, a pink long lunch, or Rosé dinner party on the day.
5 There’s a style for everyone
New Zealand wineries are producing a delicious line-up of top-quality Rosé wines that are fruit-forward, crisp, and sophisticated. Wine lovers are spoilt with a wide variety of styles, sweetness levels, and price points now, with the premium Rosé category experiencing a significant increase over the years.
Check out my Rosé wine guide, Rosé party guide, and Rosé quotes as well to find out more about this trending wine style.
Make sure to also visit the Top NZ Food & Wine Festivals and my Pinot Noir food pairing guide.