When people think of rosé wine, many still picture sweet pink wines from years past. Today’s dry rosés tell a different story.
Crisp, refreshing, and remarkably food friendly, dry rosé has become one of the world’s most popular wine styles. At Johnson Estate Winery in New York’s Lake Erie Wine Country, our Ruby Dry Rosé showcases everything that makes this style so enjoyable: bright fruit flavors, refreshing acidity, and a winemaking tradition that dates back centuries.
Every bottle begins with estate grown grapes, careful vineyard management, and thoughtful decisions made throughout the growing season.
Great wine begins in the vineyard.
Throughout the growing season, Winemaker Jeff Murphy and Farm Manager Fred Johnson regularly walk our vineyards together, monitoring vine health, fruit development, and ripeness. Their close collaboration helps determine not only when each vineyard block is harvested, but also how every grape variety will best express the character of the vintage.
Because Johnson Estate is an estate winery, every decision from vineyard to bottle is made with one goal: producing wines that reflect both our land and the growing season.
Ruby Dry Rosé is a perfect example of that philosophy.
For many years, Ruby Dry Rosé was produced from our estate grown Maréchal Foch using the traditional French saignée method.
Then came the 2024 harvest.
Our Maréchal Foch grapes developed exceptional color and concentration. While those qualities produced an outstanding red wine, they created a rosé that was darker and richer than the bright, refreshing style Winemaker Jeff Murphy envisioned.
Rather than forcing the wine to fit a recipe, Jeff adapted to the vintage.
He selected estate grown Chambourcin, a variety that offered vibrant ruby color, lively acidity, and expressive strawberry and cherry flavors while preserving the fresh style our guests have come to expect.
The result exceeded expectations, and after the success of the 2024 vintage, Chambourcin remained the foundation of Ruby Dry Rosé for 2025.
It’s one more example of how thoughtful winemaking begins with listening to the fruit.
One of the most common questions we receive is, “How is rosé wine made?”
Ruby Dry Rosé is crafted using the traditional French saignée (pronounced san yay) method. The word saignée means “to bleed.”
After our estate grown Chambourcin grapes are harvested and crushed, they spend a short period in contact with their skins. A portion of the lightly colored juice is then gently drawn, or “bled,” from the tank before extended skin contact occurs.
That juice is fermented separately to become Ruby Dry Rosé, while the remaining juice continues fermenting with the grape skins to create our estate grown Chambourcin red wine.
The result is a naturally vibrant dry rosé with fresh fruit aromas, crisp acidity, delicate structure, and beautiful ruby color.
Ruby Dry Rosé opens with inviting aromas of fresh strawberry and black cherry.
Bright strawberry and ripe cherry flavors carry across the palate, balanced by lively acidity and a clean, refreshing finish that makes every sip inviting.
With just 1% residual sugar, this is a true dry rosé that delivers expressive fruit without excessive sweetness.
One reason dry rosé continues to grow in popularity is its incredible versatility at the table.
Ruby Dry Rosé pairs beautifully with:
Whether you’re hosting a backyard cookout, relaxing on the patio, or enjoying dinner with friends, Ruby Dry Rosé is a wine that fits almost any occasion.
No two growing seasons are exactly alike.
Weather, sunshine, rainfall, and harvest conditions all influence the character of the fruit. At Johnson Estate Winery, we believe every vintage deserves to be evaluated on its own merits rather than following a fixed formula.
Our decision to transition Ruby Dry Rosé from Maréchal Foch to Chambourcin reflects that philosophy. By adapting to the fruit instead of forcing consistency, we’re able to produce a dry rosé that showcases the best qualities of each vintage while remaining true to the style our guests love.
That’s the advantage of estate grown winemaking.
If you enjoy dry rosé, Ruby Dry Rosé is just the beginning.
Johnson Estate Winery offers a collection of rosé wines, each crafted to showcase a different grape variety and winemaking style. Whether you’re looking for a crisp everyday rosé, a classic Provence inspired expression, or something to celebrate with, there’s a rosé for every palate.
Our rosé collection includes:
Each bottle reflects the same philosophy that guides every wine we produce: exceptional estate grown fruit, thoughtful vineyard management, and careful winemaking that allows each vintage to express itself naturally.
Whether you’re discovering dry rosé for the first time or searching for your next favorite bottle, we invite you to explore our complete collection of rosé wines and experience the diversity of New York wines from Johnson Estate Winery.
8419 West Main Rd. (Route 20)
Westfield, NY 14787
Map & Directions
March – October
10am-6pm Daily
November – February
10am-5pm Sunday-Thursday
10am-6pm Friday & Saturday
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Easter
