My very first sip of rosè was when I was about twenty years old and gaining some familiarity with wine. As a fledgling wine-drinker, I was lucky to have a father who was deeply interested in wine and who, subsequently, became a large importer in Ireland; a mantle happily picked up and worn by my brother to this day. So I have always had expert hands to guide me through my wine choices.  To be honest, I thought that first rosè was pretty ordinary compared to most of the red and white wines I was being introduced to simultaneously. As a result, I decided to give pink wine a miss and it was some years before I drank it again with any enthusiasm.

Visiting France on a regular basis, I always enjoyed a glass or two of chilled rosè, particularly on trips to Provence, but never became excited about…