For years, rosé was the wine people ordered at restaurants but rarely admitted to buying by the case. That era is firmly over. Australia is now the world’s fastest-growing rosé market, rising 13 per cent annually over the past five years – and the wines themselves have never been better.
The proof arrived this week when a $25 bottle from the Barossa Valley was named Australia’s Rosé of the Year at The Real Review’s Top Wineries of Australia 2026 Awards, one of the country’s most rigorously judged wine competitions.
The winner was Chaffey Bros Wine Co.’s 2025 Not Your Grandma’s Rosé – a wine that has spent more than a decade quietly building a following, and has now been officially declared the best in the country.
The Real Review named the 2025 Chaffey Bros Wine Co. Not Your Grandma’s Rosé as its Rosé of the Year. A Barossa blend of old vine grenache and mourvèdre – from vines ranging from 60 to over 80 years old – with a small addition of Eden Valley gewürztraminer for aromatic lift, the wine was chosen not only for its outstanding quality in flavour, texture and finish, but for the detail, regional character, vine age and exceptional value.
Winemaker Daniel Chaffey Hartwig said the wine has always been built around a simple idea: treat rosé with the same care you’d give any serious wine.
“We’ve taken a style people often underestimate and treated it with the attention to detail that it deserves,” he said. “To see it recognised at this level is incredibly rewarding.”
Award judge Melissa Moore described it as a wine that “proves serious winemaking and a sense of humour are not mutually exclusive – vibrant, textural and moreish, this is rosé that overdelivers at every level.”
At $25, it is available via the Chaffey Bros website and selected retailers nationally.
Respected wine critic Huon Hooke, principal wine writer at The Real Review, said rosé has evolved from an afterthought into a serious, high-quality category. And the numbers back that up. Australian rosé is exported to 82 markets worldwide, and the country has climbed from 27th to the 10th largest rosé market globally since 2014.
For those who dismissed rosé as too sweet or too simple, today’s generation of Australian winemakers has an answer: bone dry, textured, food-friendly wines built on serious grape varieties like grenache, mourvèdre and pinot noir, made with the same care as the country’s best reds and whites.
Whether you’re new to rosé or already a convert, here are six bottles worth seeking out – starting with the two other finalists from this year’s Real Review awards.
De Salis Rosé Pinot Noir 2024, Orange NSW — around $30 One of the three finalists for the Real Review’s Rosé of the Year, this is a deeply complex, barrel-fermented pinot noir from the heights of Orange. The high-altitude Orange region produces wines with striking freshness and structure, and this one is no exception. A step up in complexity for those who want something a little more serious with dinner.
Pt Leo Estate Rosé Pinot Noir 2025, Mornington Peninsula — $44 The third finalist in this year’s awards and the one worth knowing about even if it nudges above the $25 mark. Made from estate-grown pinot noir at the Gandel family’s vineyard on the Western Port Bay side of the Mornington Peninsula – the windier, cooler position away from Port Phillip Bay – it delivers cherry, undergrowth, fine acidity and silky tannins, and works beautifully with food, particularly charcuterie and lighter game meats. A treat for a special occasion.
Yalumba Y Series Rosé, South Australia — around $14 From one of the Barossa’s heritage producers, this fresh release is a reliable crowd-pleaser with vibrant pale salmon colour and a refreshing aroma of strawberry, watermelon and rose, followed by a crisp, clean finish. Excellent value and widely available at most bottle shops.
De Bortoli La Bohème Rosé, King Valley Victoria — around $20 De Bortoli brings their winemaking expertise to the King Valley with this elegant rosé. Light pink in colour, it features bright flavours of fresh strawberry, red berries and subtle herbs – Italian-style sophistication with an Aussie accent. A lovely lunchtime pour.
Audrey Wilkinson Rosé, Hunter Valley NSW — around $22 From the historic Hunter Valley, Audrey Wilkinson crafts a refined wine with delicate strawberry, rose petal and citrus notes. The savoury minerality adds complexity, while fresh acidity keeps it lively and food-friendly. One of the Hunter’s most underrated producers.
Dalfarras Rosé, Nagambie Lakes Victoria — around $18 A beautifully balanced rosé with red berry fruits, subtle florals and refreshing acidity. Made by the team behind Tahbilk, this is an elegant, easy-drinking wine at a price that makes it easy to keep a few bottles in the fridge at all times.
The best news of all? You don’t need to spend a fortune to find something genuinely wonderful. As this year’s awards proved, the best rosé in the country costs $25 – and plenty of excellent options sit well below that.
Prices are approximate retail and may vary by retailer and state.