FRESH fun and a little bit niche, rose wines are the justified summer favourite.

Spurred by the demand for Provencal rose wines abroad (exports continue to grow), more and more producers are releasing them in wider bottle format too; a boutique, half bottle of rose looks just as desirable as a magnum, or to excite a larger crowd, try a double magnum.

But you’ll have to be quick off the mark. From the banks of Bordeaux to the Loire Valley, to the olive groves of St Tropez, France is the world’s dry rose specialist and most of the designer magnum labels such as Chateau Miraval (owned by Hollywood’s power couple Brad and Angelina) have sold out.

Indeed, Berry Brothers cite a Bordeaux rose – Chateau Giscours – as one of their favourites, especially in magnum form, but this has now sadly gone.

The good news though, is that Le Rose de Giscours, Chateau Giscours 2013, Bordeaux, France, (£11.50, www.bbr.com) is still available in standard form for rose lovers with a smaller thirst. A deep coral pink, there are strawberry and raspberry aromas with melon and apricot flavours and sage and thyme elements lend plenty of freshness to the savoury finish of this classy wine.

Meanwhile, Domaine Michel Girard Sancerre Rose 2013, Loire, France (£13.99, virginwines.

co.uk),will surely convince sceptics that rose can be a serious wine. The colour of cantaloupe, it’s precise and clean with a core of orange blossom and white peach underpinned by strawberry and cherry fruits with a mineral filled, pure finish.

Certainly, rose’s image is both its strength and it’s weakness, and well-made rose requires the winemaker’s skill and technique to get the most out of the fruit to create the delicate, fragrant and refreshing taste that even red wine lovers can be seduced by – remember, the colour varies depending on how long the skin of the red grape remains in contact with the juice.

Equally delicious, Domaine de Rimauresq Provence Rose 2013, France (£14.99, virginwines.co.uk) is super fresh and the pastel colour has no bearing on the concentration of fruit; there’s invigorating tangerine and cherry flavours with notes of watermelon, subtle strawberry and a hint of smoke and spice define the finish.