Wine seen in Rosé coloured glasses
April and May have been crummy, saddled with a wave of grey and wet days. Not exactly vitalizing.
There is the promise of warmer weather and sunshine, so it’s a good time to do a little spring cleaning, checking to see if you’ve stashed a bottle or two that should probably be opened in the next while.
While many of our reds and some whites will benefit from added time, it’s also good to bring some wines to the front so we can enjoy them at their peak. Now to the Rosé. It’s after Mothers Day, and many people go out to buy a bottle for brunch with Mom, but Rosé are not just a mom drink. Especially from Niagara. It was a great experience recently attending the 29th annual Experts tasting hosted by the Brock University Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute.
Peller Estates Winery winemaker Katie Dikieson walked us through a fight of Rosé sparklings, while Rockway Vineyards winemaker David Stasiuk led a flight called Glass Case of Emotion, a collection of intriguing and delicate Rosé that is one of the lightest (almost colourless) wines I have tasted.
In the third flight, Laura Ruffalo, product manager for Ontario wines at the LCBO, went through a flight called Punchy Pinks. This third flight was probably the most approachable, with wines that included Malivoire Wine Co.’s Lady Bug Rose that Ruffolo said is the bestselling pink at the LCBO.
In the mix, there was also Broken Needle from Norfolk County’s Burning Kiln Winery. Light and refreshing this mix of Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir grapes was seductive in its colour and intense with strawberry. A winery-only buy, it’s a good value for $15.95.
Looking back at the first flight, with seven sparklings, it showed how world-class Ontario wines have become.
We were warned there was a ringer in the mix and while they all held their own, it was a pretty even three-way split as tasters tried to pick out the ringer, which turned out to be a Rosé Champagne from Veuve Cliquot priced at three times the other competitors.
The flight was filled with some heavyweights of Niagara sparkling with Brut Rosé from Trius, Cuvee Catherine Rosé Brut from Henry of Pelham, Cuvee Rosé Traditional Method from 13th Street and Ice Cuvee Rosé from Peller Estates. Sitting beside them and holding their own were Sparkling Rosé Gamay by DiProfio wines and G. Marquis Ice Rosé Blanc de Noirs.
In the end, after 17 wines, the tasting opened my eyes wider to the variety in what we label Rosé.
Whether it’s made in the maceration method, whereby the colour comes from grape skin contact, or the saignée method, or actually blending red and white wines made from Gamay, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay or Cabernet Franc, the wines are as different as the winemakers, as diverse as where the grapes are grown, and it’s worth sampling four or five to see what perks your palate.
So tidy up your shelf or wine rack and make some room for Rosé, It’s not just a wine for your mom anymore.
A little more cleaning, this time with news that 13th Street has revamped its tasting room, Hare Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake is up and running, and soon to be open tasting rooms at Gretzky Estates as well as Lakeview Wine Co., all worth a short drive.
And last but not least, I had a chance to try the Flat Rock Cellars Riddled Sparkling 2010 that shows how great a job its doing. Creamy bubbles but also tart and refreshing. A great spring-summer wine or anytime.