The popular belief that paired red wines with meat dishes and whites with seafood flavours is now outmoded, in favour of greater freedom in the exploration of sensory combinations, with original and successful results. One thing, however, has remained unchanged over time: the pleasing versatility of rosé wine: this product in fact breaks down the differences between red and white, to bring the best of both to the table. Rosé comes to the aid of lovers of good food, easily accompanying most courses. Here are the best rosé wines to pair with traditional English dishes.

Rosé wine, Fish & Chips and Jacked Potato: simplicity and taste

A thin dividing line separates red wines from rosé wines. The latter also originate from black grapes, but are the product (with the exception of sparkling wines made with the Metodo Classico) of a different production process. It is in particular the shorter maceration times that determine the peculiarities of a rosé, i.e. its pink colour and lightness on the palate. Their being halfway between white and red wine, then, is what makes them versatile in food pairings, also depending on their structure.

Thanks to this great adaptability, the best rosé wines to go with English dishes - sometimes characterised by complex flavours - are certainly not few!

It is impossible to talk about traditional British dishes without mentioning the infamous Fish & Chips, a tasty dish dating back to the mid-nineteenth century, enjoyed by young and old alike and characterised by battered and fried white fish fillets, accompanied by chips.

Best not to be fooled by the apparent simplicity of this dish: it is true that fried fish and potatoes is the perfect protagonist for an uncomplicated meal (even better if in the company of friends and a mug of beer), but it also lends itself well to more sophisticated pairings.

Which rosé wines can be paired with Fish & Chips? Among the best varieties are the sparkling ones, capable of contrasting the distinct savouriness of the ingredients without overpowering it, as well as cleansing the palate of the fatty texture of the fried fish. Make way, therefore, for most rosé sparkling wines and rosé Champagnes.

Another simple dish typical of the area is the Jacked Potato, dating back to the early 1900s. It consists of a potato stuffed in its own skin, usually with cheese, beans and mayonnaise. It is not difficult to figure out which wine to pair with Jacked Potato: a sparkling rosé goes well with cheese, but you can also fall back on still rosé wines that are light and fresh on the palate. A good choice to play it safe? A Bardolino Chiaretto DOC Classico 2021.

Gritty rosés for strong, spicy flavours: Sausages and Mash and Chicken Tikka Masala

When the palate calls for stronger, spicier flavours, English cuisine responds with two impeccable proposals. On the one hand a dish as simple as it is tasty, Sausages and Mash, on the other an ethnic recipe very popular on English soil: Chicken Tikka Masala. The best rosé wines to pair with these English dishes are more structured varieties, suited to strong flavours.

Sausage and Mash - also referred to as Bangers and Mash (perhaps because of the tendency during World War II to inflate sausages with water, which burst when exposed to heat), is a comfort food of Irish origin consisting of pork, beef or lamb sausages on a bed of mashed potatoes. Side dishes can be varied, but usually onions and peas are opted for. The flavours are therefore anything but delicate, which is why a good wine pairing for Sausages and Mash must consist of an equally gutsy bottle: Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Rosé DOC - also perfect for meat dishes - is excellent with its light hint of red fruits and distinct freshness on the palate.

Chicken Tikka Masala, on the other hand, is an ethnic dish originally from Glasgow - which tradition attributes to a cook of Indian or Bengali origin. It has spread enormously throughout the UK and is one of the most popular variations of the classic chicken curry. Soft pieces of chicken are served with a spicy cream, tomato and curry sauce, as well as other equally tasty variations.

Any ideas on which rosé to pair with Chicken Tikka Masala? For versatility and freshness, a rosé sparkling wine, such as the above-mentioned Franciacorta, or a good Trento DOC Rosé, both perfect for lightening up a demanding dish like this.

How to pair rosé wines with typical English dishes: Sunday Roast and Cottage Pie

However, English gastronomic tradition is not only made up of intense and spicy flavours, but also of lighter dishes, capable of recreating a comfortable and familiar atmosphere at the first bite.

One of these is the Sunday Roast, a roast of meat and vegetables typically eaten at home after Sunday church services. There is a variant with pork, beef, sheep, chicken or turkey, accompanied by different types of vegetables and sauces.

The combination of Sunday Roast and rosé wine is possible and interesting: just fall back on 'Calafuria' Negroamaro Rosato Salento IGT or a classic Prosecco, in its rosé version.

Comfort and tradition can also be found in Cottage Pie, the typical beef pie, accompanied by mashed potatoes. Its history dates back to the 18th century, a time when it was considered a poor peasant dish (hence the term cottage pie) but it still continues to enrich English tables today with its intense flavour and enveloping texture.

Which wine goes best with Cottage Pie? Something fresh and drinkable, like a sparkling rosé or a good Pinot Noir rosé version.

If these English dishes have made your mouth water, you just have to rely on the experts at Svinando to find the wine that will accompany your next gastronomic adventures!