Wine Guy: Rosé, all day

Article content

It’s not like there is an official rosé season or anything. Of course pink wine is great sipped year-round. Yet it’s almost like a subconscious instinct kicks in as May comes around, triggering this urge to bring out bottles of rosé as the evening sun — not to mention amazing blush-coloured sunsets — lingers long on the horizon.

Article content

Plus, there’s the happy occurrence that most wineries start releasing their new vintage pinks right about now as well.

Article content

Monte Creek 2023 Living Land Rosé, Kamloops

($21.99, No. 880054)

We’ll start up north, about as far north as wine grapes are grown in B.C. The Thompson Valley to get more specific, and Kamloops’s Monte Creek Winery.

Due to severe cold snaps and a significant wildfire season, the 2023 vintage was extremely challenging for most B.C. wineries. Fortunately, the Thompson Valley was spared the severity of the former, and Monte Creek worked diligently to ensure smoke taint from the latter didn’t hamper their new rosé.

Made from 100 per cent Marquette — a cold-hardy, hybrid grape — this deep peachy pink wine is both robust and aromatic, with red berry aromas leading to a juicy and vibrant overall stance.

Article content

Article content

Bottom line: B, bring on the spicy food.

Nice Life Cocktail Co. Blood Orange Vanilla Cardamom & Vodka, Port Coquitlam

(around $6 for 341 millilitres, available at select private liquor stores)

While not a rosé in wine form, this refreshing premade cocktail certainly pours a fetching deep pink hue. It also screams bring on warmer times and patio vibes, no doubt thanks also in part to its retro-esque stubby bottle.

The label really says it all: notes of citrus, vanilla and cardamom kick off this tart, fruity and fun “Ready to enjoy cocktail.” A lingering vanilla kiss and hint of sweetness round things out and makes for an easy pairing partner — whether simply sipped with friends or served alongside a backyard barbecue.

Article content

Bottom line: B+, bottled convenience.

Scout Vineyard NV Rosé, Cawston

(from $29, available through the winery and select private wine stores)

Scout Vineyard is another B.C. winery that has been significantly impacted by both the 2023 and 2024 vintages, but, focusing on the positive, this small Similkameen Valley winery recently released a new rosé. A unique, fun and quirky rosé.

It’s labeled “non-vintage” because the wine is a blend of wine from both 2021 and 2022 (in a 60/40 split), and is comprised of multiple grapes and styles: Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé; a Cab Sauv and Gewürztraminer co-ferment; and skin contact Pinot Gris, Muscat and Riesling (farmed organically in Naramata, Oliver, Osoyoos and the Similkameen).

Article content

The result is aromatic, textural and downright delicious.

Bottom line: B+, pair with tacos, burgers and pizza, etc.

The Swirl: Langley Craft Beverage Week

The second annual Langley Craft Beverage Week takes place May 10-19.

Hosted by the Langley Loop Craft Collaborative — a network of local breweries, ciders and distilleries — the festival features 13 unique experiences, ranging from beer and cider releases to the Brewhalla beer and music festival.

There is also the inaugural Spirits in the Park event on May 19.

For complete details and tickets head to tourism-langley.ca/events/lcbw/.

Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add VancouverSun.com and TheProvince.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.

You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber: For just $14 a month, you can get unlimited access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province. 

Article content