Two Rosés We Love

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards Oldfield Series 2Bench Rosé VQA Okanagan Valley 2012 ($23)

Summer drinking doesn’t come better than a glass of 2Bench Rosé on the terrace at Tinhorn Creek’s Miradoro restaurant, with its panoramic view over the vineyards of the South Okanagan. The 2011 vintage, with its seductive pale colour, juicy watermelon fruit, and bright acidity, charmed the judges at our Wine Awards competition. The 2012 is again a contender for B.C.’s best rosé. Winemaker Sandra Oldfield has reduced the cabernet franc to 51 percent, topping it up with syrah. The hue is deeper, pretty as it is delicious, with enough heft for rosy pink lamb grilled with Moroccan spices.

Domaine Houchart AC Côtes de Provence Rosé 2012 ($17)

Bastille Day, July 14, is a good excuse to celebrate with a grand aïoli-the French feast of raw and steamed vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, olives, and maybe a piece of fish, with gobs of quivering, yellow, homemade mayonnaise, pungent with new-season garlic. And rosé-buckets of it-to wash it down. Nothing fancy, just something young and fresh, loaded with strawberry and cherry fruit, scented with sun-baked herbs, dry and refreshing. The pale-salmon-coloured Domaine Houchart from Provence, homeland of pink wine, does the trick with this bold, lusty food.  

Read on for more ways to enjoy Summer in the City!