the WINE GUY

Sure, the calendar may be transitioning. The sense of summer may be waning as routine kicks back into gear. The sun isn't lingering as long into nighttime. This all said, there's no need to panic.

Technically, summer is here until the autumn equinox rings in Sept. 22. Winewise, it's time to embrace the rosé days of summer, to keep the blush and the summer vibes rocking on into the new month.

THE SWIRL: VICTORIA INTERNATIONAL WINE FESTIVAL

The Victoria International Wine Festival is back to form for 2022, featuring a full selection of tastings, seminars and wine dinners from Sept. 18-22. Tickets range in price, from $47 for seminars to $300 for a festival Super Pass (plus fees and taxes), with most events taking place at The Car Shop at Bayview Place (355 Catherine St., Victoria). For complete details and to buy tickets, head to vicwf.com.

Cono Sur 2021 Pinot Noir Rosé, Chile ($13.99 for 1L, #33293)

When did rosé get so serious? Rosé should evoke fun, laissez faire times (yes, ideally alfresco). That's not to say pink wine can't be elegant, but as a category these are not bottles intended for the cellar, and it's hard to feel carefree when spending upwards of 30 bucks on a bottle of French rosé — whether Provençal or Post Malonehyped. Fortunately, Cono Sur's vivacious pink maintains the spirit of the “rosé days of summer.” It's fun, fresh, fruit forward and unfussy — plus at $14 for a litre it's also not too precious to add an ice cube or some fresh fruit for peak summer vibes. Bottom line: B-, Summer crowd ready

Gray Monk Estate Winery 2021 Rosé, British Columbia ($19.99, #321620)

Venerable Lake Country winery Gray Monk has long captured the local spirit of rosé. Their pink bottling has typically focused on Rotberger, a hardy crossing of Riesling and Trollinger grapes developed by Germany's Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute in 1928 that was first planted in B.C. by Gary Monk back in 1978! This year's vintage marks a rosé evolution. There's still Rotberger in the mix, but also Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Gamay Noir, Pinot Noir, and Malbec. The resulting wine is both lighter in colour and style: bright aromas of red fruit and melon, just off-dry but with a resoundingly refreshing finish. Bottom line: B+, Bring on the sunsets and canapés

JAMES NEVISON

Bernard-Massard Cuvée de l'Écusson Brut Rosé, Luxembourg ($29.98, available at select private wine stores)

If you're going to splash out on a bottle of rosé, may as well make sure it sparkles. Better yet, pick up this bottle of Brut Rosé and impress thanks to its exotic, Luxembourg provenance. The BernardMassard winery was founded in 1921 by a Champagne-trained winemaker, and the estate's sparkling cuvées continue to follow the traditional method of production featuring secondary bottle fermentation. In this case the sparkler is produced from 100 per cent Pinot Noir, and in the glass it's full of citrus and red fruit, with a tangy attack followed by great richness and a balanced but fresh finish. Bottom line: B+, Pair with a patio and friends