Culture | World in a dish

How Provençal rosé became the summer tipple par excellence

When temperatures rise, wine-drinkers think pink

Summer picnic on the beach at sunset. Young woman with glass of rose wine.
Image: Getty Images

WHEN temperatures reach 26°C (78.8°F) in Britain, a few things happen. People strip off their clothes and flock to parks and swimming pools. And they buy rosé. According to Majestic, Britain’s largest wine retailer, 26°C is the exact point at which sales of the pink stuff outpace those of red and white. During a heatwave last year, the company sold one bottle every 12 seconds.

Explore more

This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “La vie en rosé”

From the August 12th 2023 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

More from Culture

Selena Gomez in "Emilia Perez"

Why “Emilia Pérez” is loved by Hollywood and hated by everyone else

And the Oscar for Worst Picture goes to…

Packages of tofu move along conveyors on the production line

Tofu: never judge a food by its political reputation

Think outside the white plastic box. Here is a carnivore’s guide to tofu


An illustration of two hands holding pencils and writing on each other's sleeves, which resemble books.

Sex, drugs or chastity?

Pope Francis has written the first memoir by a sitting pope. God help us


Backpacks are, surprisingly, in vogue

They are following in sneakers’ path and becoming more fashionable

Spotify’s playlists have altered the music industry in unexpected ways

A critical assessment of the Swedish streaming giant’s musical legacy

Henri Bergson was once the world’s most famous philosopher

He sought to reconcile science and metaphysics