Fine California rosé – no longer an oxymoron

With global rosé sales on a steady rise (to the point that they seemingly threaten to overtake red-wine consumption in France) it can be hard to believe that less than 20 years ago, California rosé producers felt the need to create a collective marketing organisation in order to convince consumers to buy pink wines.

Known as RAP, Rosé Avengers and Producers, this group was launched in 2005 largely in reaction to the massive popularity of White Zinfandel. According to its (now defunct) website, the organisation was:

‘An international group...