There are many myths about wine that I battle on a constant basis: everything from frequent requests for wines without sulphites (all wines have sulphites, I guarantee this) to the ol Chilean wine gives me a headache chestnut, to which I dont even know how to respond.
Seeing that this column is about rosé wines, you might be assuming that Im about to delve into the fact that pink wines arent necessarily sweet (which is correct).
Thats not where Im going here. My issue, and a myth I would love to dispel, is that rosés are strictly summer wines.
Ranging from a hint of sweetness to absolutely bone-dry, the liveliness of a white wine plus the complexity and structure of the red grapes from which theyre made, rosés are quite simply ideal when it comes to food pairing.
In Vancouver of all places, renowned for our seafood, Asian and Indian cuisine, all of which are perfectly suited to drinking pink, we should be embracing the style year-round!
People have no qualms about having a white wine or frosty beers in the winter, but for some reason at the end of summer pinks get packed away with our hammocks and sunscreen.
That may have something to do with availability and timing in the market.
The public doesnt consume much pink in the winter, so most of the volume comes through in time for spring, only to disappear just as Halloween displays are put up in stores, with a small handful getting us through those long, rainy months.
While theres still plenty on shelves, get out there and try some. Come autumn, try some more. Even if you consider drinking rosé to be a summery thing to do, remember its also a lovely way to spend November. Heres a couple to get you started thinking pink.
Vacceos 2010 Tempranillo Rosé | Navarra, Spain| $14 | Private Wine Stores
A nice little Spanish number that offers many of the characteristics the Tempranillo grape is known for: cherries, currants, fresh forest floor notes and a dry, peppery finish. A juicier style thats perfect for grilled meats, burgers and spicy chorizo.
DEsclans 2010 Whispering Angel Rosé | Provence, France| $27.99 | BC Liquor Stores
From the Provence region in southeast France, a Mecca for ultra-dry quality rosé, comes this stunner to wow your friends. Peaches, apricots and pink grapefruit with a nice flinty grip on the end thatll latch onto smoked salmon mousse, saltier cheeses and prawns.
TASTING NOTES: Thinking of brushing up on your wine knowledge? Check out Wine & Spirit Education Trust courses available in Vancouver at WineCollege.ca and think how much fun going back to school in the fall will be!
Kurtis Kolt does many wine-related things in Vancouver. Catch him at KurtisKolt.com
