"Tis the season to drink pink wine, so we asked Eater Wine Editor, Kurtis Kolt to compile a list of where to kick off patio season in the pink. Hooray for the days getting longer and the sun starting to shine a little more! Along with beaches and barbecues, this changing of the seasons always brings a tidal wave of rosés into the market, and there's plenty of times that there's nothing I'd rather drink. Sure, we all have our favourites, but why stick to the same-old standbys when local pros have done diligent research to find new and exciting bottles? I reached out to a dozen sommelier and restaurateur pals to see what they're excited to pour this season, and the variety already has my mouth watering. These are the pink wines you need to drink around Vancouver right now!
Unsworth Vineyards 2013 Pinot Noir Rosé – Vancouver Island, BC - $9.75/glass.
Mike Bernardo is the guy who oversees the wine program for all of the restaurants in Vikram Vij’s ever-growing local empire. It’s over at Rangoli where he pours this cult-favourite and critic's darling from Vancouver Island that offers, “An abundance of fresh, red berries and finishes crisp and dry.”
Clos du Soleil 2013 Rosé – Similkameen Valley, BC - $10.50/glass.
As food and beverage director Courtney Massion enjoys her honeymoon, her team is, “Really digging this 100 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon rosé, and it’s as fresh as can be since it’s poured on tap.” Since it fits the bill as a perfect pairing, they’ve had that tap constantly flowing in conjunction with local spot prawn season.
Domaine de Mirabeau 2013 Rosé - Côtes de Provence, France - $10/glass.
Sebastien Le Goff is both service director and sommelier for the Cactus Club Café, and is pouring the Mirabeau at their Coal Harbour and English Bay locations. “This refreshing, dry pink wine from the southeast part of France is floral and delicious,” he says. “It’s the perfect paring to Dungeness crab, salmon or sablefish from the BC coast.”
Stoneboat 2013 'Faux Pas' Rosé – Okanagan Valley, BC - $9.50/glass
“This 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Pinotage is exclusively on tap at both Tap & Barrel locations,” shares wine director David Stansfield. “It's never been offered outside of Stoneboat's wine shop in Oliver, except at the Tap & Barrel. The wine is a vibrant pink rosé, bursting with ripe watermelon, strawberry, rhubarb, and pink grapefruit with a lemon-thyme undercurrent. Perfect for crushing on the patio, or pairing with everything.”
Domaine de Mirabeau 2013 Rosé - Côtes de Provence, France - $10/glass
Sebastien Le Goff is both service director and sommelier for the Cactus Club Café, and is pouring the Mirabeau at their Coal Harbour and English Bay locations. “This refreshing, dry pink wine from the southeast part of France is floral and delicious,” he says. “It’s the perfect paring to Dungeness crab, salmon or sablefish from the BC coast.”
Château De Brigue 2013 - Côtes de Provence, France - $12.50/glass.
New on the list from wine director Andrea Vescovi, this blushing, Provençal wonder. “...has subtle notes of strawberry and peach that are balanced with citrus acidity, he says. “It offers great value and is ideal for warm summer nights on our patio.”
Kanazawa 2013 'Sakura' Pinot Noir Rose – Okanagan Valley, BC - $11/glass.
“From Richard Kanazawa, one of the Okanagan’s maverick winemakers, comes this deliciously provocative and small-batch 100 per cent Pinot Noir Rosé, says wine director Alex Thornley. “It bursts with sour raspberries, rhubarb and wild cherries with a little subtle citrus in there, too.”
Le Vieux Pin 2013 'Vaila' Rosé – Okanagan Valley, BC - $12/glass.
“We love pouring this gem because of its exceptionally authentic capture of BC's red-toned purity of Pinot Noir,” says sommelier Jason Yamasaki. “It's a bone-dry style that showcases a quenching red-berry splash adrift Pinot's defining tone of summer forest floor.”
Tissot Crémant du Jura Rosé – Jura, France - $17/glass.
Wine director Brooke Delves has gone the sparkling route for the season with this biodynamic glass of bubble. “It’s full of watermelon, rhubarb, strawberry, brioche and macadamia, and as interesting as it is drinkable,” she shares. “And it’s great with everything on our menu from pork rinds to veal brain and, of course, artisan cheese.”
Pareto's Blend 2013 - Okanagan Valley, BC - $12/glass.
Sommelier Robert Herman is loving this, “Dry, food-friendly, and 'outside the box' blend of 80 per cent Viognier and 20 per cent Syrah,” crafted by Cynthia and David Enns of Naramata’s Laughing Stock Winery in tandem with Vij’s sommelier Mike Bernardo. “Adding the juice of a red grape to the Viognier brings a whole new dimension to the wine.”
Chivite Gran Feudo 2012 Rosado – Navarra, Spain - $8/glass.
The Sardine Can’s Michel Durocher keeps things breezy with this pink Garnacha that they serve in tumblers, as any classic tapas bar should. “It has a beautiful, light strawberry colour, super acidity and very bright fruit.” Perfect for salty snacks and warm evenings.
Bodegas Sierra Norte 2013 Pasión de Bobal - Utiel-Requena, Spain - $10/glass
Owner Steve Da Cruz shares that he loves serving this rosé containing elements of cassis and minerality, “Because it's slightly dry with hardly any sweetness, and the bouquet is quite exotic. Also, a lot of folks are unfamiliar with Bobal, this indigenous variety from Spain, so it makes a great talking point with guests.”
Stoneboat 2013 'Faux Pas' Rosé – Okanagan Valley, BC - $9.50/glass
“This 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Pinotage is exclusively on tap at both Tap & Barrel locations,” shares wine director David Stansfield. “It's never been offered outside of Stoneboat's wine shop in Oliver, except at the Tap & Barrel. The wine is a vibrant pink rosé, bursting with ripe watermelon, strawberry, rhubarb, and pink grapefruit with a lemon-thyme undercurrent. Perfect for crushing on the patio, or pairing with everything.”
Pentâge 2012 Rosé – Okanagan Valley, BC - $8.50/glass.
Join the line-ups at Via Tevere for killer, wood-fired pizza and this lovely pink wine. Wine director Danielle Felix says that, “It has bright acidity to compliment both our tomato sauce and creamy fior di latte, and has a lovely depth of fruit and savoury notes that are fantastic with cured meats and sausage.”
Unsworth Vineyards 2013 Pinot Noir Rosé – Vancouver Island, BC - $9.75/glass.
Mike Bernardo is the guy who oversees the wine program for all of the restaurants in Vikram Vij’s ever-growing local empire. It’s over at Rangoli where he pours this cult-favourite and critic's darling from Vancouver Island that offers, “An abundance of fresh, red berries and finishes crisp and dry.”
Clos du Soleil 2013 Rosé – Similkameen Valley, BC - $10.50/glass.
As food and beverage director Courtney Massion enjoys her honeymoon, her team is, “Really digging this 100 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon rosé, and it’s as fresh as can be since it’s poured on tap.” Since it fits the bill as a perfect pairing, they’ve had that tap constantly flowing in conjunction with local spot prawn season.
Domaine de Mirabeau 2013 Rosé - Côtes de Provence, France - $10/glass.
Sebastien Le Goff is both service director and sommelier for the Cactus Club Café, and is pouring the Mirabeau at their Coal Harbour and English Bay locations. “This refreshing, dry pink wine from the southeast part of France is floral and delicious,” he says. “It’s the perfect paring to Dungeness crab, salmon or sablefish from the BC coast.”
Stoneboat 2013 'Faux Pas' Rosé – Okanagan Valley, BC - $9.50/glass
“This 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Pinotage is exclusively on tap at both Tap & Barrel locations,” shares wine director David Stansfield. “It's never been offered outside of Stoneboat's wine shop in Oliver, except at the Tap & Barrel. The wine is a vibrant pink rosé, bursting with ripe watermelon, strawberry, rhubarb, and pink grapefruit with a lemon-thyme undercurrent. Perfect for crushing on the patio, or pairing with everything.”
Domaine de Mirabeau 2013 Rosé - Côtes de Provence, France - $10/glass
Sebastien Le Goff is both service director and sommelier for the Cactus Club Café, and is pouring the Mirabeau at their Coal Harbour and English Bay locations. “This refreshing, dry pink wine from the southeast part of France is floral and delicious,” he says. “It’s the perfect paring to Dungeness crab, salmon or sablefish from the BC coast.”
Château De Brigue 2013 - Côtes de Provence, France - $12.50/glass.
New on the list from wine director Andrea Vescovi, this blushing, Provençal wonder. “...has subtle notes of strawberry and peach that are balanced with citrus acidity, he says. “It offers great value and is ideal for warm summer nights on our patio.”
Kanazawa 2013 'Sakura' Pinot Noir Rose – Okanagan Valley, BC - $11/glass.
“From Richard Kanazawa, one of the Okanagan’s maverick winemakers, comes this deliciously provocative and small-batch 100 per cent Pinot Noir Rosé, says wine director Alex Thornley. “It bursts with sour raspberries, rhubarb and wild cherries with a little subtle citrus in there, too.”
Le Vieux Pin 2013 'Vaila' Rosé – Okanagan Valley, BC - $12/glass.
“We love pouring this gem because of its exceptionally authentic capture of BC's red-toned purity of Pinot Noir,” says sommelier Jason Yamasaki. “It's a bone-dry style that showcases a quenching red-berry splash adrift Pinot's defining tone of summer forest floor.”
Tissot Crémant du Jura Rosé – Jura, France - $17/glass.
Wine director Brooke Delves has gone the sparkling route for the season with this biodynamic glass of bubble. “It’s full of watermelon, rhubarb, strawberry, brioche and macadamia, and as interesting as it is drinkable,” she shares. “And it’s great with everything on our menu from pork rinds to veal brain and, of course, artisan cheese.”
Pareto's Blend 2013 - Okanagan Valley, BC - $12/glass.
Sommelier Robert Herman is loving this, “Dry, food-friendly, and 'outside the box' blend of 80 per cent Viognier and 20 per cent Syrah,” crafted by Cynthia and David Enns of Naramata’s Laughing Stock Winery in tandem with Vij’s sommelier Mike Bernardo. “Adding the juice of a red grape to the Viognier brings a whole new dimension to the wine.”
Chivite Gran Feudo 2012 Rosado – Navarra, Spain - $8/glass.
The Sardine Can’s Michel Durocher keeps things breezy with this pink Garnacha that they serve in tumblers, as any classic tapas bar should. “It has a beautiful, light strawberry colour, super acidity and very bright fruit.” Perfect for salty snacks and warm evenings.
Bodegas Sierra Norte 2013 Pasión de Bobal - Utiel-Requena, Spain - $10/glass
Owner Steve Da Cruz shares that he loves serving this rosé containing elements of cassis and minerality, “Because it's slightly dry with hardly any sweetness, and the bouquet is quite exotic. Also, a lot of folks are unfamiliar with Bobal, this indigenous variety from Spain, so it makes a great talking point with guests.”
Stoneboat 2013 'Faux Pas' Rosé – Okanagan Valley, BC - $9.50/glass
“This 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Pinotage is exclusively on tap at both Tap & Barrel locations,” shares wine director David Stansfield. “It's never been offered outside of Stoneboat's wine shop in Oliver, except at the Tap & Barrel. The wine is a vibrant pink rosé, bursting with ripe watermelon, strawberry, rhubarb, and pink grapefruit with a lemon-thyme undercurrent. Perfect for crushing on the patio, or pairing with everything.”
Pentâge 2012 Rosé – Okanagan Valley, BC - $8.50/glass.
Join the line-ups at Via Tevere for killer, wood-fired pizza and this lovely pink wine. Wine director Danielle Felix says that, “It has bright acidity to compliment both our tomato sauce and creamy fior di latte, and has a lovely depth of fruit and savoury notes that are fantastic with cured meats and sausage.”
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