The rosé category, once thought of as a home for sweet, boring wines, has truly exploded over the past 12-15 years, with Italy being one of the top producers of noteworthy rosés, known as rosato in Italian (plural rosati.)

Top examples are made throughout the country, and while Puglia is well-known for its enticing rosati, there are also excellent versions from Tuscany, Marche, Abruzzo and Campania. Here are notes on some of the most distinctive new releases of Italian rosato.