The Summer Pour: The Rosés and Pét-Nats You’ll Be Reaching for All Summer Long

From porch parties and picnics to streamside afternoons, David Pinkard of Woodstock Wine & Liquor shares the bottles he loves all season.

There comes a moment every year when the seasons seem to change overnight. Windows stay open, dinners move outside, friends remain a little longer, and suddenly everyone is reaching for rosé. “The minute it gets above sixty degrees, people start buying rosé,” laughs David Pinkard, owner of Woodstock Wine & Liquor.

“The minute it gets above sixty degrees, people start buying rosé”- David Pinkard

He’s watched the ritual unfold year after year. The familiar labels always fly off the shelves, but Pinkard hopes customers will look a little further this season. “Some brands are just marketing phenomena,” he says. “The wines are mediocre.” Instead, he steers shoppers toward family-owned wineries, thoughtful growers, and bottles that really reflect the places they come from. This summer, his favorites span Provence, Piedmont, Oregon, and the Basque coast—and he predicts one of wine’s liveliest categories, pét-nat, is about to have its moment.

Rosé 101

Rosé may be summer’s signature sip, but the category is far more diverse than many people realize. Made from red grapes that spend only a brief time on their skins before pressing, rosés range from the palest blush to bright salmon. While many people still assume rosé is sweet, today’s best bottles are typically crisp and dry, with flavors that can include wild strawberry, peach, citrus, melon, fresh herbs, and sea-swept minerality. Most are meant to be enjoyed young. “These wines are made for now,” says Pinkard. “Most rosés are meant to be enjoyed within the vintage.”

“These wines are made for now.” — David Pinkard.

That freshness is exactly what makes them so appealing. “Almost always with rosé, people aren’t pairing it with food,” he says. “They’re just opening it outside.” Which, really, is the whole point.

What David Is Pouring This Summer

The One to Buy by the Case: Domaine de Sulauze Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Rosé “Pomponette”

If Pinkard had to choose one bottle that captures the feeling of summer, this might be it. Made by Guillaume Lefèvre, a biodynamically farming producer in Provence, Pomponette delivers everything that makes Provençal rosé so irresistible: wild strawberry, watermelon, delicate florals, crisp minerality, and vibrant acidity. “It’s refreshing, beautifully integrated, and just works.” Perfect beside a creek, around the dinner table, or while the sun slips behind the Catskills.

The Rosé Everyone Wants: Rosabella • G.D. Vajra

This elegant Piedmont rosé, produced predominantly from Nebbiolo, is one of Pinkard’s most anticipated arrivals every year—and one of the quickest to disappear. “When it hit the warehouse, it was gone in sixty seconds,” he says. Small-production wines like this rarely last through Labor Day, making them worth grabbing the moment you spot one.

The Mediterranean Classic: Le Galantin Bandol Rosé

Bandol rosés carry a little more weight and structure than many Provençal styles, making them equally at home with grilled seafood or simply enjoyed on their own before dinner. Unlike many rosés, a good Bandol can even improve with a few years of age.

The Unexpected Favorite: Bodegas Rezabal Txakoli Rosé

One of Woodstock Wine & Liquor’s perennial bestsellers. Bone dry and bright, with notes of strawberry, quince, rhubarb, white pepper, and a delicate natural spritz. “Even though it’s a style a lot of people haven’t heard of,” says Pinkard, “it becomes one of our top rosés every summer.”

For Dinner on the Deck: J.M. Raffault Chinon Rosé

Not every rosé is destined for the pool. This Loire Valley favorite brings savory notes of herbs, graphite, and Cabernet Franc’s signature freshness. “It’s more of a dinner rosé,” Pinkard says. Think grilled salmon, roast chicken, market vegetables, and evenings that last long after sunset.

The Elegant Italian: Pasqua 11 Minutes Rosé Trevenezie

Its name comes from the exact amount of time the grapes spend on their skins before pressing. Just eleven minutes. The result is one of the palest, most graceful rosés on the shelf—evidence that sometimes less really is more.

The American Standout: Martin Woods Cabernet Franc Rosé 

From Oregon’s Willamette Valley comes one of Pinkard’s favorite domestic rosés. Slightly richer than many Provençal styles but still wonderfully vibrant, it’s a bottle that shows just how beautifully American rosé can express place.

Why David Chooses Small Producers

Spend ten minutes talking with Pinkard and one thing becomes clear: his favorite wines aren’t simply delicious—they’re deeply cared for. “When you farm naturally, you have to take more care,” he says.

“When you farm naturally, you have to take more care.” — David Pinkard.

Many of the wineries he champions have been in the same families for generations. “These families have a reputation to protect,” he says. “You can taste that.” Rather than chasing consistency, Pinkard embraces vintage variation. Every growing season leaves its own fingerprint. “Is consistency desirable?” he asks with a grin. “We’re not talking about Coca-Cola here.”

“These families have been doing this for generations. They have a reputation to protect. You can taste that.” — David Pinkard.

The New Summer Trend to Know: Pét-Nats

If rosé is summer’s reigning queen, pét-nats might just be its coolest newcomer. Short for pétillant naturel—French for “naturally sparkling”—these lightly fizzy wines are bottled before fermentation is complete, trapping their bubbles naturally inside the bottle. The result is a softer, gentler sparkle than Champagne or Prosecco and an easygoing drinkability that feels made for warm afternoons. “It’s probably the first sparkling wine method there was,” says Pinkard. “It likely happened by accident.”

A big part of the charm is their personality. At first glance, many pét-nats look more like craft beer than wine. Crown caps replace corks. Labels burst with colorful illustrations, playful typography, and irreverent artwork. They’re joyful, approachable, and just unconventional enough to make traditional wine lovers raise an eyebrow. Some dismiss them as “hipster bubbles.” Pinkard simply thinks they’re delicious.

David’s Favorite Pét-Nats

The Pioneer: Marie Thibault “La Roue Qui Tourne” — Loire Valley, France

One of France’s pioneering pét-nat producers, making energetic, vibrant wines that helped define the category.

The Mediterranean Beauty: Punta Crena Lumassina Frizzante — Liguria, Italy

Made from the rare Lumassina grape on steep vineyards overlooking the Mediterranean, this crisp, mineral-driven wine practically tastes like sea air.

The Mad Scientist: Milan Nestarec “Danger 380 Volts” — Czech Republic

Pinkard affectionately calls him “the mad scientist of Moravia.” Creative, playful, and endlessly surprising.

California Cool: Birichino Malvasia Pét-Nat 

From Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, this blend is bright, aromatic, and one of the easiest introductions to the world of pét-nat.

The Cutest Bottle on the Shelf: Domaine des Deux Anes “Limo d’Anes”  

One of the most charming bottles in the shop is made by a winemaker who still farms the vineyards with the help of two donkeys instead of machinery. It’s the kind of bottle that captures everything Pinkard loves: great farming, a memorable story, and a wine with genuine personality.

By the end of our conversation, one theme keeps surfacing. Pinkard isn’t interested in chasing trends or flashy labels. He’s interested in wines made with care by people who genuinely love what they do. “This summer,” he says, “try something you haven’t had before.” It just might become your new favorite. Cheers!

+ + +

Woodstock Wine & Liquor | Website | Follow @woodstockwines | In the Spotlight: INSIDE+OUT

Psst! Did you hear? They deliver…

Photos: Sophie Knight and Terry Dagrosa

+ + +

What to Do, Where to Go, and Who to Know.
Start with INSIDE+OUT Upstate NY