Rosé is wine made from red grapes that has had minimal contact with the grape skins to yield a blush, copper, salmon or pink color. Rose's can be made form any number of red grapes, from lighter-styled, such as Grenache to a more robust style of red, such as Cabernet Sauvignon. While a rosé could be a blend of white and red wines, most of the finest and most famous rosés are made exclusively from red grapes; of course; the color of the wine can only come from red grapes. (note that for a Rosé sparkling wine, white wines are often part of the blend with red wines).

Rosés range from very dry to medium sweet; the most sought after are dry, as these pair better with more foods, such as red meats and poultry. Generally, a rosé is light to medium bodied with flavors of strawberry, pear and cherry; these should be consumed in their youth for their freshness. There are a handful of rosés that can age for up to five to seven years, but this is rare.

While rosé is seen as a textbook summer sipper, the richest, driest examples can be enjoyed with dinner at any time of the year; these are clearly not simple "pink" wines. While they do not represent a large section of the market, rosés are starting to become more popular with the public, as they become familiar with the qualities of these wines.