When we think of summer wine, a well-chilled white may come to mind—but rosé is actually a great choice.
In France and elsewhere, “summer rosé” has become a standard, with many people casually enjoying chilled dry rosé from lunchtime onward.
Here we introduce an easy and delicious way to enjoy summer rosé: “piscine,” serving rosé over ice.
We asked Tetsuo Karaki of Kiraka Winery to tell us more.
This summer, make rosé your choice and enjoy it freely, piscine style.
Kiraka Winery’s Commitment to Dry Rosé
Our guide to piscine is Tetsuo Karaki of Kiraka Winery.
Kiraka Winery is an up-and-coming urban winery in Chuo Ward, Kobe, that began winemaking in August 2024.
The winery emphasizes three ideas: flavors that express Kobe’s land and climate, communicating the appeal of clean rosé wines, and making winery experiences accessible through an urban location near a station. It has a particularly strong commitment to dry rosé.
Karaki says, “My basic belief is that wine is something to drink with food. If it is going to accompany a meal, I want it dry. Rosé also combines the appeal of both red and white wine, so it can pair with a broad range of dishes. That is why I focus on dry rosé.”
He also believes rosé can express the distinctive qualities and appeal of grapes grown in Kobe particularly well.
What Is “Piscine”?
Karaki’s suggestion for enjoying summer rosé is “piscine.”
The unfamiliar word refers to drinking rosé with ice in the glass.
“Piscine means ‘swimming pool’ in French. It is a relaxed, unpretentious way to enjoy rosé. It is widespread in Europe—you might picture people cooling off at an open café with a piscine. At first, some people may have been outraged at the idea of putting ice in wine, but now the idea that enjoying it matters more seems to have taken hold.”
Putting ice into wine is not yet a common custom in Japan, and some people may resist the idea.
“Some may think it ruins the wine, but I want to say: don’t worry so much—enjoy wine more casually.”
One distinctive aspect of Kiraka Winery is that the producer itself actively recommends this way of drinking rosé over ice.
“We would love to hear that people enjoyed Kiraka rosé as a piscine, or even in cocktails.”
His message—that rosé is a free-spirited wine and should be enjoyed however each person likes—was memorable.
Kiraka Rosés Recommended for Piscine
Kiraka Winery currently sells three wines from its first 2024 vintage.
Two are rosés, and Karaki recommends trying both over ice.
doudou 2024
doudou 2024 is a dry rosé made from Merlot.
Pale cherry-blossom pink with aromas of strawberry and cherry, it becomes even more refreshing when served over ice.
https://www.kiraka.jp/layers/wines2024/doudou2024.html
coucou 2024
coucou 2024 is a dry rosé made from Cabernet Sauvignon.
It has a slightly fuller flavor yet a pleasant finish; adding ice brings out balanced lightness.
https://www.kiraka.jp/layers/wines2024/coucou2024.html
Compare the Two
Both wines can of course be enjoyed as they are, but ice brings out different aspects of each.
“Rather than thinking there is one particular rosé for piscine, I want people to try it with any rosé. Our first vintage includes one lighter rosé and one fuller rosé. See how each changes with ice and enjoy comparing the difference.”
For summer rosé, Karaki also recommends cold dishes.
Because rosé pairs easily with many foods, rather than limiting yourself to particular dishes, try pairing it around the idea of coolness—cold pasta, chilled gazpacho and more.
Personally, I recommend piscine with somen noodles.
Creative somen recipes have become increasingly popular in recent years, and chilled somen should be easy to match with many different flavors.
Give “piscine × somen” a try.
Make Rosé More Familiar
Piscine is recommended in summer, but rosé is a versatile wine for the entire year.
Its bright flavors are easy to enjoy without overthinking, and its broad pairing range makes it well suited to seasonal dishes.
It is a free-spirited wine that can even be delicious over ice.
Kiraka Winery, where we spoke with Karaki, is an urban winery worth watching for its strong focus on rosé.
“Urban wineries are attractive because they are easy for anyone to reach and visit. We want to become a place where people can casually enjoy experiences beyond simply drinking—for example, helping with winemaking.”
Make this the summer you try piscine for the first time.
And if you visit Kobe, be sure to stop by Kiraka Winery.
Reference
Kiraka Winery