QuerceRosa – a brand new Tuscan Rosato by Castello di Querceto
Regular readers will be familiar with Castello di Querceto, an historic winery and founder member of the Chianti Classico DOCG, based near Greve-in-Chianti. Their wines have appeared previously on these pages; in 2025 with their Chianti Classico Annata and Riserva wines and in 2022 with their two Chianti Classico Gran Selezione wines. Rather than repeat information about the winery and its considerable reputation, I refer you to those articles for the details. Now it’s the turn of their new Rosato wine, called QuerceRosa.
QuerceRosa will arrive in the UK this autumn. As we’ll see, this is a significant debut by a brand new Rosé wine which will be as much at home on Christmas dining tables as it would be on the patio in the heat of summer. The Castle of the Oak Forests makes great wines at all levels, so my expectations were high. Have they been met?
The Rosé market context
This being a brand new wine, it’s worth including a little commercial context for the Rosé market, globally and in the UK.
Firstly then, here’s a quote from the OIV in 20231. “In recent decades, the global wine industry has witnessed a notable transformation in consumer preferences, marked by a significant shift in the production and consumption patterns of wines across different categories: red, white, and rosé. This evolution reflects changing tastes and market dynamics, influenced by cultural shifts, economic factors, and emerging trends in the beverage sector. In the last twenty years, rosé wine has grown significantly in terms of both demand and supply at the world level. Global production has seen an increase of 25% between 2001 and 2021.” Meanwhile, global red wine supply and demand have significantly decreased in the last twenty years. Between 2001 and 2021 red production declined by 25%. White wine also grew significantly, driven in particular by an increase in sparkling wine demand.
Meanwhile in the UK, the WSTA2 shows that Rosé wine sales continued their surge in 2025, with volume up 3% to 129 million bottles, and value up 5%. Perhaps as importantly for the future, the Rosé category is transitioning from a summer seasonal drink to an all-year-round choice. Furthermore, Red wine sales volumes declined by 6% and white wine sales volumes fell 4% in the same 12 month period.
So the trend is clear – Rosé wines are still offering commercial growth opportunities in a wine market that continues to decline.
In this context a brand new pink wine from a respected Chianti Classico DOCG producer is a big deal. What a pity then that it can’t be a Chianti Classico as that remains a red wine only appellation.
And about Chianti Classico
I’m not here to criticise Chianti Classico DOCG per se for not having a Rosato category. Since they became an independent DOCG in 1996, the Gallo Nero brand has gone from strength to strength and they have introduced a new and successful premium red category in Gran Selezione. I won’t be alone in stating that many of my favourite bottles are Chianti Classico, regardless of whether they are Annata, Riserva or Gran Selezione. Moreover, the Chianti Classico commitment to quality isn’t in doubt.
But Chianti Classico DOCG has no authorisation for Rosato wines. Maybe it’s because there’s been so many other changes in their drive to higher quality, or maybe Rosato is still viewed as inferior, or just that it would by its nature command a lower price. Or maybe, as shown by the Supertuscans, a wine being labelled an IGT is seen as no barrier to sales. I’m sure that the Consorzio would also be quick to point out that their sales are growing, too, bucking the current red wine trend.
But I can’t help speculate that Chianti Classico would still benefit commercially from adopting Rosato for recognition in export markets like the UK. After all, the vine varieties are already there and there needs to be no expensive lengthy maturation. This suggestion will be thrown into focus anew as Chianti DOCG, (Classico’s “near neighbour”) now has a new Rosato category, where their existing and new IGT Rosato wines can be reborn as DOCG. Meanwhile, many other Italian denominations have successfully added Rosato as well.
Quality counts
Twenty years ago, there were far fewer rosé wines made than there are today. The early growth in this category was unfortunately too often accompanied by inferior quality. Making a rosé usually means applying white winegrowing processes to red grapes. In theory, that’s straightforward. But rosé wine making means dealing consistently with natural colour and tannins, as well as adopting different vineyard techniques, not least harvesting earlier. All that takes skill and experience, which takes a while to acquire and perfect. For me, only in the past five or so years has the boom in many new rosé wines been met by an equal rise in quality. Those regions of the world where Rosé was traditional, say in Provence, had a clear lead in quality, at least at the top wineries. Now there are exceptional rosé wines available from many different climes.
And so we come to QuerceRosa, labelled only as a humble Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT. Fortunately it’s from Castello di Querceto, and it joins their four other Colli della Castello Centrale IGT red wines. It’s so new that it’s not even listed on their website yet! Their aim was to produce a rosé that has (quote) “an intense colour, generous fruit and a style that is unmistakably Chianti.” Hence the relevance of the contextual comments made above.
Bottle and Label
The interest starts with the bottle and the label. Unusually in the rosé market, the bottle chosen is deliberately dark brown in colour. This offers protection against light strike. Yes, the colour of Rosé is always important, but for me, buying a bottle of wine in pristine condition is essential, so this darker bottle is very welcome. Too many pink wines spoil by exposure to light through clear glass, (and the cork then wrongly gets the blame) so this is a plus point for me.
Then there’s the pink label, where, “the ancient oak tree overlooking the castle has always been a symbol of Querceto. For QuerceRosa, we imagined it in bloom with roses, a playful image that reflects the wine’s youthful, contemporary and dreamlike spirit.” I like this attractive design a lot. Now for the contents.
QuerceRosa, Rosato Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT, 2025. 12%
QuerceRosa
Technical
QuerceRosa is a blend of 75% Sangiovese with 25% Syrah. The grapes are sourced from selected Querceto vineyard parcels on the hills of nearby Dudda, between 350 and 500 metres above sea level. These high-altitude vines benefit from a consistently cool climate. They were harvested in early September.
At the winery, there’s carefully managed skin contact during grape pressing, particularly for the Syrah. That’s essential to ensure the wine is pink rather than red, and to ensure that the grape tannins from the pips and skins are restricted in the press juice. In addition, the Syrah gives the wine its distinctive deep cherry-pink colour, as Sangiovese tends to be quite pale. The two grape varieties were vinified separately in stainless steel tanks at a cool 15 °C, allowing each variety to retain and express its aromatic identity. Maturation was then for six months in stainless steel before blending and bottling under a cork closure.
Tasting
Firstly, please don’t overchill this wine, as you will miss out on so much. 12℃ is fine. Ice-cold will kill all the nuances of aroma and flavour that make this Rosato distinctive. The colour is bright and clear, a remarkably intense deep-cherry pink. Aromatically, you’ll find strawberry and red berry fruits. The palate is vibrant and lively, with precision acidity balancing moderate alcohol and providing sufficient structure. The red fruit reprises, with a hint of roses and something darker, like pomegranate. This is Summer Pudding in a glass. There’s no obvious tannic presence, just enough to help with a silken texture. There’s a final mineral sensation on a persistent dry and fresh finish to round things off.
It’s drinking perfectly now, yet has sufficient structure to doubtless hold over the next two or three years, possibly longer. So unlike many rosé wines, there’s no rush to drink – it’ll still be just as good next summer.
Food
For me, QuerceRosa is a gastronomic wine, complementing a wide range of cuisines and occasions. It certainly isn’t only for serving on a summer day, though that would be very pleasant! This wine was an excellent pairing for roasted fennel and pine nut Polpette. Salumi/Charcuterie are also splendid companions, or try grilled or baked veggies. Those that enjoy roast pork should try it with Porchetta. On a personal note, I’m looking forward to drinking QuerceRosa on Boxing Day, when the remaining cold cuts and left-overs will be a perfect match. Rosé in the depths of winter? No problem with this wine.
UK Stockist and price.
UK distribution will be by importers Schenk, with a guide retail price of £15.00. So good value too. I’ll confirm individual stockists and prices as soon as these become available.
And Finally
I encourage all wine lovers to try rosé wines outside the summer season and to pair them with food. QuerceRosa is a perfect example that taps into those emergent trends. Would it taste any better if it were a Chianti Classico DOCG? Of course not, but in my opinion it would aid UK recognition. As for my expectations of QuerceRosa? Consider them exceeded.
Location
Castello di Querceto
Via Alessandro François, 2
50022 Greve in Chianti
Firenze
Toscana
Italy
What3Words location
Notes
- OIV: the International Organisation of Vine and Wine.
- WSTA: the Wine and Spirits Trade Association.
As for the harvest in 2026 at Castello di Querceto, here’s an early insight.