The $8 French Rosé I Buy in Bulk Every Summer

If there's one thing you can count on me for, it's to always bring a bottle of wine to your house—whether I'm coming over for dinner, to hang out on your balcony or, more likely, to watch the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills together in sweatpants.

During the summer, I stock up on one particular bottle of rosé because it ticks all of the boxes that are most important to me right now:

• Budget-friendly (let's say $10 or less)
• Good, but not so good I'll never want to open it
• Cute bottle (no indicator of quality, of course, but essential to me for no other reason than it makes me happy)
• Has a screw cap instead of a cork (don't @me)

I discovered this bottle approximately four years ago, when my BFF/college roomate Julian and I were perusing the booze aisle for something new to drink. (We hosted wine and cheese nights for a couple of our friends every month or so.)

There it was, sitting in a big cardboard box, front and center, beckoning us over: dozens of bottles of La Vieille Ferme Rosé.

At just $8, this bottle was bang on budget (under, actually). I was intrigued. On the label was a charming, rustic drawing of a rooster, aka the epitome of French countryside–inspired decor. Jacques Pépin vibes. Check. And the screwcap sealed the deal. The only last box to tick was taste. So we grabbed three bottles and took an educated gamble. (Spoiler: It did not disappoint.)

Will this be the best bottle of rosé you've ever tasted? Probably not. But it is an excellent value for the price. It's crisp and easy to drink, with light aromas of cherries and citrus. It's not sweet (I mean, rosés are dry in general), and has just the right amount of acidity to keep things balanced. Basically, it's exactly what you want to drink when the weather is hot and sticky.

Best of all, it goes with tons of summery dishes, from grilled meats and tomato salads to cheese and charcuterie spreads. So go ahead, buy a couple of bottles—I bet they'll go fast.

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What's your go-to summer drink, be it rosé or otherwise? Tell us in the comments below!

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