DAVID Ginola walked away with a silver at the last week's International Wine Challenge for his debut rosé from his Coste Brulade domaine in Provence. The football legend's 2007 vintage pink was described as 'smooth and stylish' - just as we remember him on the pitch.

Provence is traditionally the producer of the most delectable rosés but a recent sampling of rivals shows the increased quality of a once-neglected tipple. No wonder British rosé sales have doubled since 2005.

The crisp strawberryish Simmonet-Febvre Bourgogne Rose 2006 (widely available from £8.99) comes from a revitalised Chablis house and is made from 100 per cent pinot noir using the traditional saignee method - 'bleeding' the juice from the red grapes for a delicate, floral result.

The organic Californian Bonterra Rosé 2007 - a blend of grenache, zinfandel and sangiovese - offers a fruit basket of plums and strawberries on the nose, but is surprisingly dry on the finish. It costs £9.99 from Waitrose.

The great Spanish (with tentacles in Chile and California) wine house of Torres - which I shall profile next week - has two contrasting roses on the markey. Booths stock the Torres Vina Sol Rose 2007 at £5.99. It is all juicy raspberry and cherry fruit on nose and palate, a little one-dimensional but very attractive.

Torres Santa Digna Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2007 (Portland Wine, £6.99) is heftier stuff. Pale cherry in colour, with a plummy aroma, it is surprisingly closed on the palate, definitely a food pink.

That's the case, too, with the merlot-based South African Warwick Pink Lady Rose 2006. From its deep pink hue to its summerfruit palate, it's an upfront charmer. It is stocked by SA Wines Online mail order operation (sawinesonline.co.uk).

Finally, if rosé is not enough to tempt you to buy online, here's a good value, reliable, widely available example perfect for that garden sip - Casillero del Diablo Shiraz Rose 2007 (Oddbins, Thresher, Majestic, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Tesco and Waitrose for £5.99). Remember Think Pink!