Doran Vineyards Rosie D Grenache Noir Rosé 2025 Voor Paardeberg, Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa 75cl

Doran Vineyards makes its wines in the Voor Paardeberg, an inland stretch of the Western Cape near Paarl where the land shades into the Swartland. Started as a labour of love by Irish-born Edwin Doran in 2010, the estate is now guided by his son Tom, and farms its vineyards the natural way, sharing the land with grazing animals and wild fynbos.

Rosie D is a single-variety rosé from Grenache Noir, a grape that lends itself beautifully to pale, delicate pink wines. Picked early and fermented cool in stainless steel, it is deliberately kept fresh and dry, with the alcohol dialled back to a gentle ten percent. The idea is simple: a rosé you can happily pour by the glass on a warm afternoon without a second thought.

The 2025 vintage is being talked about as one of the Cape’s finest in years. Cool, dry weather and well-watered soils let the grapes ripen slowly and keep their natural acidity, which is exactly what a fresh, delicate rosé needs. Picked at the right moment, the 2025 Grenache came in bright, crisp and full of primary fruit.

The nose is all fresh red fruit, raspberry and strawberry, with a floral note of rose water and a squeeze of citrus. The palate is light, crisp and dry, the low alcohol making it feel especially easy and refreshing, the finish clean and zesty. Serve it well chilled as an aperitif, with salads, grilled fish or summer nibbles. Drink it young while it sparkles.

Jamie Goode of Wineanorak scored the 2025 a well-earned 88 points, praising its bright, fresh fruit and gentle, lower-alcohol style. If you like a pale, dry Provence-style rosé but want something a little lighter on its feet, this fits the bill nicely. Keep a bottle chilled for warm-weather lunches, garden gatherings and lazy afternoons with friends.