Where does rosé wine come from?
Originally, and unknown to many, most of the first ever recorded wines were actually rosé. First versions of red wine produced were fairly light in shade due to their production process.
In ancient Greece, white and red grapes were combined to make wine, crushed together by workers feet whilst they held tightly onto ropes for balance; a traditional and entertaining method that is rarely found in the 21st century. This blend of red and white grapes to make “rosé” was not intentional but purely the norm; the term rosé wasn’t actually adopted until centuries later.
In the 6th century BC, the Greek Phocaeans travelled to and founded Massalia (modern day Marseille) in Southern France, bringing grape vines with them. The wines they produced were also field blends of white and red grapes. Naturally light in colour, these pleasant pink wines gained popularity and a reputation around the Mediterranean.