~ The Rosé Report ~
June 2019 Edition
Finally, the sun is out and we’ve stopped talking about the long winter we endured! Enjoy every moment of sunshine this summer on your deck or dock with a glass of Rosé wine in hand.
Again, this month, our team of Savvy Sommeliers have done the ‘tough work’. We’ve been sipping & sampling the latest Rosé wines made across Ontario & have hand-picked the ones to be featured in the June assortment.
It’s time to get your corkscrew & wine glasses ready to Clink & Drink Pink!
In this month’s Bouquet of Rosés, you will find:
Closson Chase Winery Rosé VQA 2018 – from Prince Edward County
Creekside Estate Winery Rosés VQA 2017 – from Niagara
Di Profio Estate Wines Gamay RoséVQA 2017 – from Niagara
Di Profio Estate Wines Sparkling Rosie VQA 2016 – from Niagara
GreenLane Estate Winery RoséVQA 2017 – from Niagara
Queenston Mile Vineyard Pinot Noir Rosé VQA 2017 – from Niagara
Several of these Rosés have just been released & you are the first to enjoy them! And the coolest part…the bottles that you have in your hands are not available at the LCBO, rather they came straight from the winemaker to you.
To help you enjoy the wines, our Savvy Sommeliers have shared their tasting notes along with food pairing tips and our favorite recipes to serve with Rosés.
At any time during the summer, if you would like to order additional bottles of your favorite Rosés or other hard-to-find Ontario wines (we do craft ciders & artisan cheeses too!), call me at 613-SAVVYCO (613-728-8926) or debbie@savvycompany.ca.
I’ll be happy to arrange a special delivery for you.
Here’s to summer weather!
Debbie & the Savvy Team
613-SAVVYCO (613-728-8926)
debbie@savvycompany.ca
PS: Show us how you like to enjoy these Rosé wines. Post a picture on Instagram & tag us! @SavvyCompanyInc #RoséAllDay
In this Bouquet of Rosés, you will find…
Closson Chase Winery Rosé VQA 2018
$21.95
Prince Edward County
Closson Chase is one of the first wineries to break ground in The County when farmers fields were transforming into vineyards. Focused on creating the best Pinot Noir & Chardonnay wines with County grown grapes, our Sommeliers were super keen to showcase the newly released wine with you.
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: Delightful aromas of floral, cedar and red fruit fill the glass. The mouth is round and soft with hints of dried herbs and underripe strawberry. This fresh acidity has a slight salty taste that leads to a long finish.
Suggested Food Pairing: Pair with young cheeses, cured meats and lightly pickled vegetables…another words a picnic!
Creekside Estate Winery Rosé VQA 2017
$15.95
Niagara
Heading to Niagara this summer? Be sure to visit Creekside around lunchtime to enjoy a meal on their deck overlooking the vineyards…you may never leave!
Savvy Sommelier Tasting Notes: Bright neon pink in colour with gorgeous aromas of wild strawberries, flowers & green apple that follows into the taste. This crowd-pleasing wine is juicy yet dry. Medium bodied and well balanced with refreshing acidity… It is summer in a glass.
Suggested Food Pairing: You can’t go wrong with this wine. The colour, the bouquet & the taste… It’s a versatile wine that can be served chilled on its own or with any of the creations in our Rosé Recipe Box. Be sure to have a batch of the Rosemary & Mayo condiment in the fridge in case you feel the urge coming on to crack open this bottle of wine as the sunsets.
Di Profio Estate Wines Gamay Rosé VQA 2017
$18.95
Niagara
Gamay is best known as the grape of Beaujolais Nouveau, but it has a growing reputation as a true Ontario wine star! Thriving in Niagara’s cool climate, Gamay balances bright, fruity cherry and raspberry notes with lively acidity.
Savvy Sommelier Tasting Notes: There’s an explosion of red currants when you sip this, tempered with great minerality, orange blossom, and pomegranate. At 13 % alcohol by volume, it’s medium-bodied and has a hint of sweetness. It’s a big, complex rosé that’s ready for the dinner table.
Suggested Food Pairing: This will stand up to spicy food, such as Mexican food or red curry lentils.
Di Profio Estate Wines Sparkling Rosie VQA 2016
$28.95
Niagara
This lovely sparkling wine is named after winery owner Joe DiProfio’s mother, Rosie. Unique, as it is made with Gamay grapes grown in the vineyards that surround Di Profio Winery.
Savvy Sommelier Tasting Notes: This unique bubbly is crisp, dry & delightfully refreshing. With each sip, delicate aromas and tastes will remind you of red roses, tart cranberry or perhaps wild raspberries. It is rare to find a sparkling wine made with Gamay grapes – enjoy!
Food Pairing Suggestions: When our Savvy Sommelier Debbie visited the winery, Joe was busy hand labeling the Rosie bottles…while watching the news! Intrigued, Joe gave her a bottle to enjoy on her summer holidays. The sample bottle was tucked away in her suitcase, then popped in Nova Scotia to accompany a lobster feast. “The pairing was heavenly”, Debbie reports. If you are not planning a lobster dinner, enjoy this sparkling wine with a picnic, tapas such as chicken satay, marinated olives or try something completely different… Serve it with BBQed hanger steak & chimichurri… Wait for fireworks to explode in your mouth when the fresh spices meet the delicate bubbles!
GreenLane Estate Winery Rosé VQA 2017
$17.95
Niagara
Greenlane is another hidden gem in Niagara. Often overlooked, the wines that are made here are worth stopping in. We were thrilled to get the last couple of cases of this wine to share with you…and if the timing is right, you’ll get a bottle of the 2018 vintage in a Rosé 6-pack next month.
Savvy Sommelier Tasting Notes: There is no disputing this Rosé wine – it has classic aromas & tastes of red berries, watermelon with a splash of rhubarb in the taste. Our Sommeliers prefer dry crisp Rosé wines – and this one fits the bill.
Queenston Mile Vineyard Pinot Noir Rosé VQA 2017
$30
Niagara
Just opened in January, this is the sister winery to Creekside. Chris MacDonald is the winemaker at both wineries showing his winemaking talent with different styles and grape varieties.
Savvy Sommelier Tasting Notes: This is the first Rosé made under the Queenston Mile label. A premium Rosé that has outstanding aromas of strawberries, citrus (do you smell mandarin?) with some acidity that ‘tastes like more’ remarked Savvy Sommelier Debbie.
Suggested Food Pairing: This would be delicious with BBQed salmon, shrimp or spinach & strawberry salad.
~ Rosé Recipe Box ~
A Summer BBQ favorite to enjoy with Rosé wines
Homemade Condiments
Our Savvy Team offer some of their go-to condiments to enjoy with your next midweek feast burgers – beef, chicken, turkey or veggie!
Condiment #1: Tomato Jam
From Martha Stewart
Makes 1 ½ cups
A blend of tomatoes and spices. “I make a jar and keep it in my refrigerator all summer to add pizazz to BBQed burgers, pork chops or even salmon” shares Savvy Team member Karen Wright.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 small cloves garlic, minced
1 piece ginger, peeled and minced (1 tablespoon)
1 small red onion, peeled and finely diced
1 can (28 ounces) plum tomatoes
1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Pinch of ground cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise
Method
1. In a medium saucepot set over medium heat, heat olive oil, add garlic, ginger, and red onion, and sauté until translucent. Add tomatoes, breaking them up with a wooden spoon. Add vinegar, honey, brown sugar, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and star anise.
2. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes have dissolved, and liquid has evaporated, 60 to 75 minutes. Discard cinnamon sticks and star anise before serving. This jam may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Condiment #2: French Fig Olive Tapenade
From Simple Nourished Living
Makes 1 ½ cups
The addition of figs in this version takes the classic tapenade to a heightened state of wonderful. The figs and olives strike a lovely balance of savory and sweet.
“It’s super simple and can be made whenever you want something a little different on your grilled goodies,” shares Debbie.
Ingredients
5 cups pitted brined cured olives
1 large clove garlic
8 dried black figs, stemmed
1 tablespoon capers, drained
1 small bunch mint, stemmed (about 3 large tablespoons)
2 anchovy fillets (optional)
2 tablespoons olive oil
Method
1. Place all ingredients except olive oil in a food processor and pulse to form a chunky puree.
2. Add the olive oil and pulse until it forms a smooth mass.
3. It is best to make this tapenade at least one day before you intend to serve it which allows the flavors to meld and develop.
Additions & Variations
The texture of the tapenade is totally up to you! Buzz in a food processor for a finer texture, or chop it by hand for a chunkier version if you prefer.
No mint? Omit it.
Other herbs? 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary or thyme
Sweeter? Add 1 – 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Zestier? Add 1-2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice and/or 1-2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
Condiment #3: Herb Mayonnaise
From the kitchen of Shirley Roy – member of the Savvy Team.
Photo credit: www.taste.com.au.
Ingredients
Salt & pepper
Mayonnaise
Various fresh herbs from your garden:
- Parsley
- Chives
- Dill
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Basil
Method
1. Add 2 ½ tbsp chopped fresh herbs plus salt and pepper to 1/2 cup mayonnaise. Try a mixture of herbs such as parsley, chives, dill, oregano, thyme, basil. Alternatively, just focus on one herb like dill.
2. Add a ½ tsp of lemon juice and blend well.
Condiment #4: Sriracha Mayonnaise
Another from Shirley’s kitchen.
Photo credit: www.HealthNutNation.com.
Ingredients
2 tsp of Sriracha
1 tsp of lime juice
1/8 tsp light soy sauce
¼ cup of mayonnaise
Method
Mix all together gently & enjoy! This is best served immediately or refrigerated.
Why not have your fridge full of Rosé wines all summer?
Always have refreshing Rosé wines on hand this summer! To order additional bottles of your new found favorite Rosés from this assortment OR to receive next month’s assortment (we are calling them Deck Party Packs), call your friends at Savvy on 613-SAVVYCO (728-8926) or order online at savvycompany.ca/rose.
The July assortment of wines will have a completely different selection of hard-to-find Rosé wines including:
Foreign Affair Amarosé VQA 2018 – from Niagara
KIN Pinot Noir Rosé VQA 2018 – from the Ottawa Valley
Morandin Estates Cold Creek Rosé 2018 – from Prince Edward County
Redstone Winery Rosé VQA 2017 – from Niagara
Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Franc Rosé VQA 2017 – from Niagara-on-the-Lake
Tawse Spark Rosé VQA 2016 – from Niagara
Price for July’s assortment:
$130 for 6 bottles
~ OR ~
$260 for 12 bottles (2 of each of the featured wines).
Deadline to order July’s parcel is Sunday, June 7th.
Call the Savvy Team on 613-SAVVYCO (728-8926) or order online savvycompany.ca/rose.