Do real men drink pink? I say yes, and so do real women.
Problem is, too many of you aren’t getting the message. While rosés — those wines that get their blushy hue from either limited red skin contact with the juice or by combining red and white wines together — are the toast of the town in just about every other civilized nation; here in Canada they’re about as popular as Lindsay Lohan at an Amish barn raising.
Now that summer has finally arrived, wine shops across Canada will be trying to get you on the rosé bandwagon with a selection of new pinkies. Think hard about making the leap. Modern versions balance their fruit and acidity with the grace of a Cirque du Soleil performer and pair amazingly well with barbecue sauces and seasonal dishes when served ice cold.
While good rosé can be made anywhere, Australia, Chile, Argentina and southern France are great places from which to fill your glass. Same goes for Spain where wines like the bright and refreshing Chivite 2008 Gran Feudo Rosado ($11.95 – $14.99) can start out all ripe cherry and raspberry but end with a crisp, palate-cleansing finish.
– Peter Rockwell is the everyman’s wine writer, working in the liquor industry for more than 25 years and travelling the globe looking for something to fill his glass and put into words.
