THE LIVING IS EASY
Rosés are the ideal wine for summer meals.
FOR ME, the back deck, wine and summer music go hand-in-hand. I’ll show you what I mean: Summer turns me upside down Summer summer summer It’s like a merry-go-round. - Magic, The Cars Of course, the real merry-go-round was last winter — at times it felt like we’d never get off. The good news is, I’m pretty sure summer is now here, though I won’t be putting the heavy jackets away till late-July, just in case. End of the spring and here she comes back Hi, hi, hi, hi, there Them summer days, those summer days – Hot Fun in the Summertime, Sly & the Family Stone Back when I was younger, summer meant no more school, baseball, iced tea, and playing outdoors till the street lights came on. These days, many things have changed: I find myself watching baseball instead of playing it, I don’t have school so summer is not really an “off” period. But what has stayed the same is enjoying a beverage outdoors. Summer breeze makes me feel fine Blowing through the jasmine in my mind. – Summer Breeze, Seals & Croft
These days the glass is not filled with iced tea. Nothing beats a chilled glass of wine to make a weekend afternoon feel right or an al fresco lunch complete.
And this year, more than ever, rosé seems to be the way to go.
Although there’s nothing new about pink wine, the way it’s being made these days is more serious in style than those pink sweeties of yesteryear when White Zinfandel was all the rage. Sure, you can find some with a touch of sweetness, but many are made to have a dry finish that refreshes the palate instead of weighing it down with sugar. Best of all, they pair very well with food. Here are some good choices to fill your glass with this summer. And we’d better make the most of the hot weather, especially this year.
In fact, maybe we should settle in and sing along with Nat King Cole: Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer…
ONTARIO ROSÉS Start the weekend off right with something that sparkles. The 2011 Château des Charmes Brut
Rosé ($28.95 – at the winery and LCBO) is a great place to start: crisp, clean and refreshing with just enough of a strawberry cherry mix to keep you sipping along happily. Those who want southern France style but wish to stay local should head down to Malivoire in Beamsville to pick up the new 2013 Moira
Rosé ($21.95 – winery only). Those familiar with Malivoire’s Lady Bug Rosé (which is always delightful) will want to wrap their palate around >>