How is French rosé different from other rosés?
The French have strict standards for how rosé can be made. While many New World wine-producing countries make rosé by blending white and red wine, the French do not.* And while wine producers in some parts of the world may call their sweet pink wine rosé, in France rosé indicates dry. * In early 2009, the European Commission proposed new rules that would allow rosé to be made from a mix of white and red wines. Following protests from French wine producers, the European agriculture commissioner withdrew the proposal in June 2009, thus preserving the quality and character of traditional rosé.
