WHITE AND ROSÉ WINES FOR THOSE WHO ONLY DRINK RED
Did you know you can actually pick out a few wines, from a long list, that aren’t red, but still have flavor profiles comparable to some of your favorite reds?
In every group of friends, at least once, someone has sparked that conversation the one that, within five minutes, drops the three most clichéd wine lines of all time, one after another, mercilessly. These are:
- Let’s take that girly rosé, looks like an easy-drinking wine
- No oaky whites, please. We’re not eating anything, how are we supposed to drink that?
- Sorry, I only drink red wine. So through summer, I just have beers!
Well, today we’re talking to you, dear friend, the one in that last category.
For you, who prefer tannins, barrel-aged (or not) reds full of depth, intensity, and complex flavor and tend to snub everything else, lumping all non-reds into the same category, let me tell you: the world of “non-red” wines holds surprises. And there's a good chance they’ll have you rethinking your stance. Let’s explore a few together.
1. ELIA VIDIANO 2024 – KARAVITAKIS WINERY
First up, the Elia Vidiano 2024 from Karavitakis Winery in Chania, Crete. It’s a white, but also has finesse and complexity. Aged in oak barrels, it has depth and aromas of ripe apricot and vanilla. Its full body and crisp acidity appeal to more demanding palates. Its mineral notes further emphasize its complexity, delivering a juicy, fruit-forward sensation. Ideal for red wine lovers who appreciate elegance and refinement.
If you like Pinot Noir, this one’s definitely worth a try.
2. CHARDONNAY “PALIOS MYLOS” 2023 – MICHAILIDIS ESTATE
Don’t pretend you didn’t see it. Yes, it’s a Chardonnay, and yes, you need to get to know it, thanks to Iordanis Michailidis in Agios Athanasios, Drama. He cultivates this variety almost religiously to produce richly expressive fruit. After six months in oak barrels, it emerges with depth, structure, and an extravagant style. If we asked 100 people what this wine might have been in a previous life, half of them would say: “Definitely red.” Chardonnay Palios Milos 2023 one is a single-vineyard wine from the famed Kyrgia plot, known for its bold and expressive character. With aromas of vanilla, nuts, beeswax, exotic fruits, and a long peachy finish, it’s soft, round, and velvety. No more Merlot? Fair enough. But in “Palios Mylos 2023,” you just might find its long-lost cousin. A white wine with a red wine soul.
3. MONOPOLE RIOJA BLANCO CLÁSICO RESERVA 2020 – CVNE
This is not your typical Viura white. It leans into the new wave of Rioja whites elegant and fresh. But what turns everything upside down is the flor method used during winemaking. Post-fermentation, this wine is transferred to oak barrels and allowed to age under a layer of natural yeast (flor), similar to the way sherry is matured. For eight months, Monopole Rioja Blanco Clasico Reserva 2020, evolves in contact with flor, developing a unique profile: green apple, pear, almond, yeast, ripe pineapple, umami hints, a velvety texture, and crisp acidity. While more refined, it could easily be compared to the boldness of a Tempranillo, due to its complexity and aging process. Maybe it’s a stretch, maybe not, it depends on how far outside the box you’re willing to go. Either way, it deserves a place in your glass.
4. ROSÉ EXTRA BRUT 2023 – KARANIKA ESTATE
You stick to red because you crave wines with depth, structure, and character. And yet, the Rosé Extra Brut 2023 from Karanikas Estate might just surprise you. Produced in Florina, one of Greece’s coolest wine regions, with high altitude and a continental climate, it offers naturally high acidity, intensity, and complexity. Sound familiar? Big reds, right? Made primarily from Xinomavro, with a 5% touch of Limniona, this sparkling rosé bursts with red fruit aromas, ageability, and expressive character. The “méthode traditionnelle” used here (yes, the one from Champagne) creates a sparkling rosé that speaks the red wine language but with elegance, freshness, and explosive bubbles.
5. LES CLANS 2022 – CHÂTEAU D’ESCLANS
You saw another rosé and probably winced. But this one is not just another rosé.
It’s the warhorse of rosé wines. Les Clans 2022 from Château d’Esclans is THE ROSE that might reset your standards. It’s not light, it’s not just fruity. It’s full-bodied, firm, and impressively layered. Sourced from 50–55-year-old Grenache and Rolle vines, aged for 11 months in a mix of new and used oak barrels with regular bâtonnage, it’s got the depth and texture of an aged red or a white Burgundy like Meursault.On the palate, it’s rich, powerful, and perfectly balanced. If you love Syrah or Grenache-based reds from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this is your rosé. Enjoy it with proper food and careful handling!
6. ROSÉ DE XINOMAVRO 2023 – THYMIOPOULOS VINEYARDS
If it weren’t rosé, it would absolutely be red. No exaggeration, this wine has passed the strictest test: my most die-hard red wine friends. The Rosé de Xinomavro 2023 by Apostolos Thymiopoulos is a rosé that speaks the language of red wine purists. Xinomavro, as a grape, brings intensity, structure, and complexity all on its own. Aged for three months in old oak barrels and bottled in dark glass (a hint: “let me age, don’t drink me just yet”), it’s got serious potential. But let’s be honest, who can resist its amazing structure, grippy tannins, and crisp acidity? With notes of strawberry, cherry, caramel, tomato, and spicy herbs, it’s got a nerve that’s reminiscent of young Nebbiolo or Sangiovese. Rosés with the attitude of a red? Rare. But this is one of them.
At the end of the day, if you still stick to your beloved red, we won’t judge.
But you owe it to yourself to try these. One sip of the right white or rosé might just convince you that life isn't all red and it’s definitely not black, white, or gray (but that’s another conversation entirely).
Start with these, and if you're ready for more, there’s a whole treasure trove waiting to be explored.
And I’ll end with my favorite motto:
“With wine, experiment and you’ll always have something to gain!”
Christina Tsogka
