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BRITS’ LOVE AFFAIR WITH ICONIC SUMMER TIPPLE BLOOMS – BUT ROSÉ LOVERS SPLIT OVER WHETHER TO ADD ICE

• Aldi’s rosé wine sales rose 50% in a day last week* as temperatures soared to up to 26C
• Nation starts indulging in ‘perfect summer drink’ from June with fans enjoying average of 63 glasses throughout summer
• Sales of Aldi’s Coteaux Varois Provence jumped an incredible 150% (WoW), after it was served to shoppers from the World’s First rosé dispensing billboard in Manchester

Brits have declared their love for rosé, with two thirds describing it as the nation’s ‘perfect summer drink’, according to new research – yet fans are split over whether or not to add ice to their glass.

Supermarket giant Aldi polled over 1,000 rosé drinkers – and while 55% think it’s acceptable to add a couple of ice cubes when the temperature starts creeping up, 45% claim they would ‘never’ dilute their drink.

And while over a third (34%) say crisps are the ultimate rosé accompaniment, other favourite pairings include roast dinners (16%), cake (13%), curry (10%), ice cream and doughnuts (both 6%).

The findings by Aldi also reveal:

• Half of rosé drinkers (49%) think it’s best enjoyed in shorts and t-shirts, with 19.2C considered the ideal temperature
• A quarter (26%) start drinking it as soon as the winter coat comes off
• Rosé lovers enjoy an average of 63 glasses throughout summer, spending £11.34 per bottle, with the ultimate moment being a glass of Provence first sipped at 5.18pm
• And one in three claim to have tried the ‘spicy rosé’ TikTok trend in which sliced jalapeños are added to a glass of pink – rising to over half of millennials (56%)

Sam Caporn, Mistress of Wine, said: “I regularly get asked if it’s okay to add ice to wine and my answer is usually no – except for when it comes to rosé in the summer.

“While it’s true that adding ice to wine can dilute the flavour, when it comes to enjoying a glass of rosé in warm weather, it can be worth sacrificing a tiny bit of flavour for extra refreshment.

“During the summer months, it is all about rosés with crisp, cooling acidity. The most popular pinks at the moment are generally quite pale with restrained aromas and flavours; crunchy red berry and citrus fruit notes. The wines are intended to be drunk cold – around 7-13C is best.

“When enjoying a glass at lunch or in the late afternoon, in the full glare of the sun, my advice is to add 1-2 ice cubes to keep your glass of rosé cold at the optimum temperature.

“Another tip is to pour smaller glasses – that way the ice and wine won’t sit there for too long.”

The research comes as Aldi is fast becoming a destination for rosé wine: last year, the supermarket saw a 134% uplift in spring/summer sales year on year. This year, it celebrated the start of pink season by launching the world’s first rosé dispensing billboard. The construction gave free rosé to passers-by when the temperature reached 19.2C in Manchester.