IT used to be thought of as just a girl’s drink – but rosé is proving to be a huge hit this summer, with sales rocketing by 400 per cent.

Brad Pitt loves it and even Jeremy Clarkson is a fan telling Sun readers that the fruity drink is the “wine for all occasions”.

Rosé is created from red grapes. But unlike red wine, the juice and skin of the grapes are only in contact with each other for a short period after they are crushed.

The process gives rosé its distinctive pink hue and light flavour, though there are varieties available from full-on and fruity to pale and dry.

And a good-quality bottle need not be too expensive. Here, wine expert Helena Nicklin picks her favourite rosés for less than a tenner and rates each one out of ten.

• Helena’s website is helenanicklin.com.

Pedro Luis Monastrell

£5.99, aldi.co.uk — Rosé rating: 7

THIS punchy Spanish number oozes dark cherry and leafy notes.

It has a full-on, peppery kick that comes from the Monastrell grape.

With wild, savoury tasting notes, this is a grown-up and full-flavoured fruity rosé all wrapped up in the most delicate pale pink package.

The classy bottle totally belies its bargain price, too.

Perfect to go with a BBQ, it’ll taste banging with grilled meat, fish and burgers.

Coeur de Cardeline

£7 (down from £8 until June 2), coop.co.uk — Rosé rating: 9

DARK blush and brooding, this French Provence pink from the Rhone Valley is a silky treat, oozing wild strawberry and summer pudding flavours.

This rosé tastes cracking with cold meats or smoky food flavours.

Glamour and grown-up elegance in a glass, this wine is delicate and refreshing.

The taste is about as close as you can get right now to that “beach in the South of France” feeling.

Plessis Duval Rose D'anjou 2018

£6 (down from £8), marksandspencer.com — Rosé rating: 8

A GORGEOUS, go-to bottle if you like your summer-blush seriously fruity and just slightly off-dry.

Great for drinking while enjoying lazy days in the garden.

If this fun, easy-drinking tipple were a dance, it would be an ’80s disco.

Makes a great aperitif. Ideal to sip with nuts and crisps but also stands up well to fuller flavours like spicy food and even some desserts.

Tesco Finest Provence

£9, tesco.com — Rosé rating: 7

THE Provence region in France is famous for producing top-quality rosé, and this is a classic example of a wine from this area.

It is a delicate, pretty pink colour and with a cool, complex palate it tastes just as good as it looks.

Ultra-dry, fine-boned and aloof, with a cool tang of sea salt holiday air, it’s the prima ballerina of rosés.

Punching well above its price tag, the flavours will pair perfectly with grilled seafood or even just fish and chips.

Co-op Fairtrade

£6, coop.co.uk — Rosé rating: 7

IF you’re a fan of lemon drizzle cake or other sweet-tooth treats then you’ll love this light and zingy floral pink from high-altitude Argentina.

The crisp finish means drinking it tastes like enjoying cake slices with a cherry on top – just in a glass.

Vibrant and fruity, it’s a delicious pale pink colour that screams summer and is begging to be opened and enjoyed in the sunshine.

This rosé would taste terrific with a Thai takeaway.

Fleurs de Prairie

£6.99, aldi.co.uk — Rosé rating: 7

YOU would be hard pushed to beat this seductive, sparkling rosé on price or taste.

Pale and pretty with a creamy texture, popping a cork on this makes a pleasant change – and it’s a nice alternative to prosecco.

Sparkling pink wines can be very sharp, but this is fresh, creamy and packed with breezy bubbles and floral flavours.

Makes a perfect aperitif or celebration tipple – and the gorgeous bottle looks worthy of a far higher price tag too.

Sainsbury's Bordeaux

£8, sainsburys.co.uk — Rosé rating: 7

Merlot is one of the great grapes from the French wine region of Bordeaux.
Here in rosé form it becomes friendly and fruity rather than slick and stern.

Crunchy, vivacious red berry notes give this tangy bottle from Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference range a bit of bite and make it very food-friendly.

Refreshing, dry and well-balanced, it’ll taste properly pukka with pizza, cheese-based snacks or summer salads.

La Vielle Ferme

£7.75, coop.co.uk — Rosé rating: 9

A SOFT, French rosé with a lighter touch, this is a laid-back, curvy pink from one of the Rhone region’s best wine producers.

Soft and velvety, yet also crisp and delicious, its delicate palate is reminiscent of ripe strawberries and cream.

There are also hints of raspberries and nectarines.

Made from the Grenache grape, this is a great one to savour all alone. Glug a glass in the garden – the weekend’s looking rosé.

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