Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/06/2021 (1968 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Every year in mid-May, my inbox starts filling up with email pitches from PR/marketing companies and beverage sales reps about the ideal drinks-related gifts for Father’s Day. Then in early June come the targeted ads on social media about Father’s Day. These campaigns typically feature more conventionally “manly” drinks, urging you to buy Dad big, assertive whiskies for deep contemplation, a high-octane, bourbon-barrel aged red wine, a hoppy triple IPA and so on.

Clearly there must still be a market for the whole manly-drinks-for-men thing, but I just don’t get the appeal. Which is part of the reason why, for Father’s Day 2021, this dad’s drinking pink.

There’s no wine to better beat the heat than a fresh, crisp glass of rosé. A big, “room temperature” oaky red is never going to taste as good in a sunny backyard as a lighter, fruit-driven wine, be it white, rosé or otherwise. Most rosés are aged in stainless steel tanks rather than oak barrels, which allows the fruit flavours really shine. And pink wines typically aren’t high in alcohol like some boozy reds (and whites) — a typical rosé lands with between 12 and 13.5 per cent alcohol.

And while you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, you can, in fact, often judge a rosé by appearances. Rosés from the Côtes de Provence region, for example, are usually quite pale pink in colour, and typically lighter-bodied and with more delicate flavours. Rosés that are deeper pink in colour, meanwhile, offer more body, more fruit-forward flavours and sometimes just a hint of sweetness. In other words, there’s a lot more to rosés than your run-of-the-mill (and often boring) White Zinfandel.

The expressive fruit flavours and variety of styles of pink wines means there’s a rosé out there for whatever you’re eating, from fresh summer salads to all manner of grilled fare to a (socially distanced) Father’s Day backyard brunch and beyond. So pop a pink wine with Dad this year — you can always get him the big oaky red (and a tie or pair of socks) for Christmas instead.

 

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If you’re stuck for Father’s Day ideas, or are simply looking for something else to get you through until restrictions ease up some more, Dad (and/or you) can join me and some of Canada’s best wine producers on Thursday, June 24, at 7 p.m. for an Ontario VQA virtual getaway.

I’ll be moderating a fun, interactive evening featuring five very good Ontario VQA wines — the Cave Spring Riesling, Domaine Queylus Pinot Noir Tradition, Henry of Pelham Old Vines Baco Noir, Trius Red and Lakeview Vidal Icewine. Producers from each of the wineries will be on hand as we chat about the featured wines, all things Ontario wine and more.

Attending the Ontario VQA Virtual Getaway is free — to sign up visit wfp.to/ontariovqa. All the wines we’ll be discussing and tasting are available for purchase at Liquor Marts throughout the province.

Wines of the week

Amalaya 2020 Rosé (Calchaqui Valley/Salta, Argentina — $15.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

This 95-5 blend of Malbec and the white Torrontés grape from this solid Argentine producer is new to the Manitoba market; it’s pale pink in colour and aromatically brings fresh floral, watermelon, raspberry leaf and strawberry aromas. It’s bone-dry, lean and light-bodied, but the fresh red berry flavours burst from the glass, with secondary lemon, orange and subtle spice notes, modest acidity and a long-ish finish (it’s 13.5 per cent alcohol). It’s vibrant and juicy, and is sure to please on a hot day. 4/5

Wolf Blass 2019 Maker’s Project Rosé (Langhorne Creek, Australia — $18.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

Made from the Grenache grape, this Aussie rosé is made using the free-run method, meaning the juice was drained directly from the press, with no squeezing of skins or seeds, accentuating the fruit. Aromatically there’s loads of pear, watermelon, raspberry and peach notes that show well; on the light-plus-bodied palate there’s the slightest hint of sweetness that accentuates the peach, strawberry and watermelon candy flavours. Solid stuff. 3.5/5

Josh Cellars 2019 Rosé (California — $19.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

Made primarily from the Barbera grape (an Italian red variety grown widely in northern Italy), this California rosé is pale pinkish-orange in colour and delivers tangerine, peach, strawberry cake and bruised apple aromas. It’s medium-bodied and slightly viscous, bringing just a touch of sweetness that ramps up the tree fruit (especially peach, tangerine and ripe apple), while watermelon candy and strawberry notes linger underneath. 3/5

Malivoire 2020 Ladybug Rosé (Niagara Peninsula, Ontario — around $17, private wine stores)

A 47-46-7 blend of Cabernet Franc, Gamay and Pinot Noir, this rosé is medium pink in colour and delivers a knockout punch of fresh strawberries and raspberries, ripe watermelon and fresh-cut flowers on the nose. There’s loads of energy on the dry, light-plus-bodied palate, with zippy acidity and almost a subtle effervescence that makes the beautiful red berry, crunchy red apple and cherry flavours pop. While just 12 per cent alcohol, the slight bit of tannin from the trio of red grapes delivers nice length. Outstanding value — I picked this up at Kenaston Wine Market, but it may be at other private stores as well. 4.5/5

Spier 2020 Rosé (Western Cape, South Africa — around $6/250ml can, private wine stores)

Medium pink in colour, this is a 60-40 blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Crack the can, pour it into a glass and swirl it a whole bunch, and the ripe cherry and strawberry aromas emerge, with some secondary herbal and floral notes. It’s dry and light-plus-bodied, delivering those red berry flavours with a touch of peach candy and ripe pineapple notes. There continues to be better and better selections in our market for wine in a can, and this pink wine’s certainly a good one for the price. 3/5

uncorked@mts.net

Twitter: @bensigurdson