Free Run Rosé – 2023

Free Run Rosé by Oliver Zeter with Cabernet Franc

Free Run Rosé by Oliver Zeter is a juicy rosé wine made from Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc, for which a portion of the juice is drained from the mash before red wine fermentation. It is scented with strawberry, raspberry, and peony.

Free Run Rosé 2023 is a vividly colored rosé from Oliver Zeter in the Palatinate, which matured predominantly in stainless steel and a small portion in used tonneau barrels. It carries its lush, red berry fruit effortlessly and refreshingly at 12.5% ABV.

Strawberry, raspberry, and peony

The nose of the Free Run Rosé reveals red berries such as strawberry, raspberry, and red currant, along with hints of cherry and floral notes of peony and orange blossom. A fine herbal spice provides structure to this abundance and brings a touch of seriousness to its playfulness.

On the palate, it feels exceptionally juicy, and its robust fruit is refreshing and persistent. Each sip invites the next. The color glows intensely in the glass, as the free-run must naturally takes on a lot of color from the red skins. On a summer table, this glow draws eyes even before the first glass is poured.

The juice that leaves strength for the red wine

At the winery, this process is also known as Saignée, and the name "Free Run" describes the exact moment when the juice flows freely. A portion of the juice drains from the mash of red grapes before the actual red wine fermentation begins. Originally, this step serves the red wine, as there is now less juice for the remaining skins, which makes it denser and more concentrated.

The drained must is intensely colored and very fruit-forward, from which Oliver Zeter produces a distinct rosé. In the 2023 vintage, the grapes are sourced from Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc, two late-ripening red varieties. Cabernet Franc is otherwise primarily known for powerful, dark wines, but in this rosé, it shows its fruity side. You can hear how a Pinot Noir sounds as a red wine in the Pinot Noir 2021 from the same cellar.

One-tenth of the wine matured in used tonneau barrels, the rest in stainless steel. In this way, it gains structure in addition to fruit, giving the rosé a firmer core that also makes it suitable for pairing with food.

Salmon, grilled vegetables, and tarte flambée

Grilled salmon, colorful bell peppers and zucchini from the grill, or a tarte flambée with onions and bacon go well with it. Its berry fruit picks up the smokiness from the grill, and the herbal spice is echoed in thyme and rosemary. A snack platter with air-dried ham, olives, and fresh white bread also finds a cheerful partner in its juicy fruit.

At seven to nine degrees Celsius in the glass, its fruit is at its juiciest. If you take it to a picnic or onto the terrace, the screw cap can simply be twisted back on after the first glass.

In the more recent 2025 vintage, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier replace the Cabernet Franc, which gives the wine a lighter stature. Other rosés from German wine regions are available in our Rosé wine category.

Free Run Rosé 2023 – a rosé wine and its stats

• Origin Germany
• Region Palatinate
• Oliver Zeter, Neustadt an der Weinstraße
• Grape varieties 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Cabernet Franc
• Aged in stainless steel and tonneau
• Screw cap
• 12.5% ABV
• 3.3 g/l residual sugar
• 6.5 g/l acidity