Waterford Rose-Mary 2025

The Waterford Rose-Mary 2025 is an elegant, dry rosé crafted in the traditional Provence-inspired Blanc de Noir style. Rather than relying on a single grape variety, Waterford creates Rose-Mary from an unusually complex blend of nine red grape varieties, led by Shiraz and Tempranillo.

The fruit is sourced predominantly from Waterford Estate, with additional grapes selected from vineyards elsewhere in Stellenbosch. The 2025 growing season was characterised by mild summer conditions, cool evenings and a slightly later harvest, allowing for extended ripening while retaining freshness and balanced acidity.

Only around three hours of skin contact is allowed during whole-bunch pressing, producing Rose-Mary's distinctive pale blush colour without extracting excessive tannin. The wine then follows a white-wine-style vinification before spending four months on its fine lees, adding texture and complexity.

The result is a beautifully dry and refreshing rosé combining white peach, strawberry and apricot with delicate floral notes and a long mineral finish.

Tasting Notes

Colour: Delicate pale blush pink, reflecting the short skin contact and Blanc de Noir production method.

Nose: Elegant and aromatic, with white peach and rose water at the forefront. Subtle strawberry, apricot and delicate floral notes emerge with time in the glass.

Palate: Fresh and beautifully balanced. White peach is joined by fresh strawberry and ripe apricot, with bright natural acidity providing lift. Fine-lees maturation contributes subtle texture without sacrificing the wine's light, refreshing character.

Finish: Long, clean and complex, with lingering stone fruit and a refreshing mineral backbone that gives the wine excellent precision and finesse.

Awards & Accolades

The 2025 vintage has already performed extremely well, with several accolades worth highlighting on the product page:

• 92 Points – Winemag.co.za Rosé Report 2025
• Gold – Rosé Wine & Spirit Challenge 2025
• WCellar Top 10 South African Wines of 2026
• Bronze Medal / 85 Points – Investec Trophy Wine Show 2026

The 92-point Winemag score is particularly impressive for a wine positioned as a fresh, accessible rosé rather than a high-priced collector's wine.

Technical Details

• Producer: Waterford Estate
• Wine: Rose-Mary
• Vintage: 2025
• Country: South Africa
• Wine of Origin: Western Cape
• Style: Dry Rosé / Blanc de Noir
• Winemaker: Mark le Roux
• Vineyards: Predominantly Waterford Estate with additional Stellenbosch fruit
• Pressing: Whole-bunch pressed
• Skin Contact: Approximately 3 hours
• Maturation: 4 months on fine lees
• Alcohol: 12.5% ABV
• Residual Sugar: 1.25 g/L
• Total Acidity: 6.18 g/L
• pH: 3.44
• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Closure: Screwcap
• Ageing Potential: 0–3 years from production

2025 Blend

The Rose-Mary is particularly interesting because Waterford uses a diverse collection of Mediterranean and Bordeaux varieties rather than a conventional rosé blend:

• 35% Shiraz
• 20% Tempranillo
• 13% Malbec
• 10% Grenache
• 9% Merlot
• 7% Cinsaut
• 4% Mourvèdre
• 1% Sangiovese
• 1% Barbera