The rosé wine category increased by 65 per cent in value and more than 53 per cent in volume in 2017, according to liquor industry sales data.
The Loire Valley wine region is the second biggest AOC rosé producing region in France, with approximately 80 million bottles produced a year.
Exports of Cabernet d’Anjou and Rosé d’Anjou appellation rosés, which make up 78 per cent of all rosés from the region, have increased six-fold in the last two years, reaching 800,000 bottles shipped worldwide in 2017.
Australian Rosé d’Anjou imports have followed the trend, increasing 54 per cent year-on-year to December 2017, the largest rosé wine appellation export by volume from the whole Loire Valley region, hitting 6710 hectare litres.
Driven by dry to semi-dry rosé made from Cabernet Franc and Grolleau, the application continues to make inroads into the Australian wine market, particularly in the off trade, according to Dan Murphy's category manager of international wine Peter Nixon.
“Rosé d’Anjou La Plancheliere has been a huge success story," he said.
"After only a few years in the market, it is now the best-selling rosé in the country.
"The reason for success is a winning triumvirate of style, quality and value. While most of our rosés hailing from the warmer regions of southern France are pale and dry, Rosé d’Anjou, while also pale, is of a juicier personality, possessing sweet berry fruit with refreshing acidity.”
