Summer Sippers: Rosé

As the residents of British Columbia know all too well, it's been a trying year for weather thus far. Rain, cold, greyness... blah. However, glimpses of summer sun have been reported and although the onset of summer is far from a certainty even just the potential for good weather makes me want to stock the fridge with wines suited for a sunny deck full of hungry and thirsty friends.

Rosé wines make for perfect sunny deck/ summer BBQ weather companions due to their broad compatibility to many foods and to their refreshing nature. Add a hint of savoury tannin to the mix and you have a reasonably complex, food-friendly and cheerful wine that will appeal to all of your guests who can recess the memories of White Zinfadel to the back of their heads and get over the supposed emasculating colour. Below are our picks for your rosé-drinking pleasure during summer or for the moments spent longing for summer to arrive.

Tawse Winery 2009 Sketches of Niagara Rosé - $15
Hard to beat the value this wine others. The tartness lingers on past the moderate finish making this wine perfect as sunny-deck companion or as a palate cleanser between BBQ courses (or seconds).
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St. Hubertus Estate Winery 2010 Frizzante Rosé - $16
A tasty, fun and lovingly tart Rosé sipper for your hot summer deck or for pairing with picnic fare like cheeseburgers and corn-on-the-cob. Mild effervescent texture on the palate pays homage to the "frizzante".
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Marqués de Caceres 2009 Rosé - $16
A bright pink, dry Rosé made of Tempranillo and Garnacha grapes. Delicious raspberry and strawberry flavours and aromas. Great food wine. (Widely available at BCLDB stores across BC)

La Frenz Winery 2010 Rosé - $18
Playful cranberry Kool-aid colour compliments the fun palate filled with strawberry and cherry fruit flavours that remind you of summer. Handles the balance of acidity-to-tannin-to-sweetness very well. Produced, primarily, from Pinot Noir grapes.
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Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery 2009 Blanc-de-Noir Rosé - $20
Made in the traditional "Saignée" method ("bleeding" the colour from the skins) from 100% Pinot Noir grapes. The 18 g/l of residual sugar may over-power most foods except the spiciest dishes but the wine will make it an excellent pairing for a hot deck next summer.
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River Stone Estate Winery 2010 Malbec Rosé - $20
New Black Sage Bench winery River Stone introduces the valley's first Malbec rosé and it's a winner. The medium ruby hued wine offers a classic rosé nose of strawberry and pomegranate enhanced with subtle notes of plum, blueberry punch and minerals.
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JoieFarm 2010 Rosé - $21
This is the rosé to pour your non-pink drinking friends who believe that the much maligned (and emasculated) wine style can't offer the complexity of white and red wines.
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