Unlike regular champagne, which can be slightly more limited, rosé champagne is versatile when it comes to food pairings. Lighter styles work wonderfully with the natural sweetness in prawns and grilled lobster, while fuller bottles can hold their own with earthier flavours, including game and truffles. While chardonnay tends to bring with it elegance and finesse, pinot noir will make the juicy red fruit pop. If you like your fizz with a savoury, toasted note — think brioche and biscuit — look out for one that’s had a few years ageing in oak. Rosé champagne pairings It’s made using just three grapes: chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier (the latter two being red grapes). Each champagne house will have its own cellar master — a figure responsible for selecting just the right quantity of each, to perfectly represent the brand’s signature style. While rosé champagne might prove an aesthetic win (who can say 'no' to pink fizz on the table?), it also perfectly complements a whole host of dishes. Pair lighter bubbles with the likes of crab cakes, seafood platters and goats cheese canapés, or enjoy a glass on its own before dinner to freshen the tastebuds. If in doubt, you can’t go wrong with a bowl of strawberries and cream, or panna cotta. How we test rosé champagne

To find the finest rosé champagnes to drink right now, our discerning panel of consumers and experts were presented with 25 bottles from the leading champagne houses. The high acidity helps to cleanse the palate when paired with raw and cured foods, so don’t be afraid to serve it alongside oysters and carpaccio. As for sweeter varieties? Save those for young, buttery cheeses and fruit-forward desserts. How we test rosé champagne Our panel of 10 testers popped the corks of 26 leading rosé champagnes. They were asked to rate each, looking for fruity flavours, refreshing acidity and lively bubbles.