Celebrate the season of rose

Bountiful selection of pink wines for some summertime savouring

The wall-to-wall displays of pink wines at the LCBO leave little doubt that summer’s here and the time is right for rose all day. This weekend’s Vintages release, a seasonal selection of premium wines and spirits unveiled online and at LCBO stores across the province, includes a serious collection of 13 noteworthy roses. Selections from producers in Ontario as well as France, Argentina, New Zealand and California are included in the Rose? Yes Way! promotion.

The roundup features everything from lighter bodied, simple and refreshing styles to ripe and concentrated selections that almost as mouth-filling and rich as a red wine.

It’s clear that pink wine has emerged from the wilderness. No longer solely identified as cheap and sweet, thanks to the close association with White Zinfandel and Mateus, rose sales have overtaken white wine in France and continue to boom here at home. The majority of pink wines available to consumers today are made in a crisp, refreshing style. Market trends also show that despite a spike in demand during the summer months, rose sales remain strong throughout the year.

As the first major long weekend of the warm weather months approaches, the liquor stores are stocked up with a bountiful selection of pink wines. If last year’s sales patterns continue, however, premium selections from France and other top-quality producers will sell out quickly. Fans should move fast to take advantage of the assortment — a number of these products are limited release offerings. One label to seek out is the new Three of Hearts Rose made in Niagara by the Speck Brothers, the owners and operators of Henry of Pelham Family Estate. The winery invested in new grape press that ensures gentle handling for the grapes to yield this chic and refreshing rose that promises to please a wide variety of consumers.

Christopher Waters is the co-founder and editor of Vines, a national consumer wine magazine.