Okay, It's Not Spring Yet, But...!!!

I realize it's still effing cold out there and not quite what we're all desperately hoping for weatherwise but...do take heart!

Pink wine is here and now, to cheer you on your chilly way!

Especially, 2016 Rose Cuvee d'Andree from Chateau des Charmes, one of my go-to wineries for taste and value.

Dedicated to the vivacious matriarch of C des C, the lovely Madame Andrée Bosc, wife, Mom and winery goddess. It’s a vibrant beautifully ripe cran-strawb-cherry sipper, sporting a hint of cedar, red berries and white pepper, great with food or alone, made totally from Pinot Noir grapes. Food friendly and versatile. $15.95.

 

Paul Bosc cut his teeth growing red wines in Burgundy, nuanced, silky, refined, noted for their wild strawberry, violet and truffle aromas. Feathery tannins provide structure and ageability. 

This new Chateau des Charmes offering, the 2016 Pinot Noir Estate Grown & Bottled at $16.95 checks all the right boxes. 

It’s a logical pleasure progression from the 100% Pinot Noir-based Rose. 

Enjoy with Easter rabbit, wild mushroom risotto, duck breast with foie gras, or braised lamb.

In The Pink

Summer's now on everyone's radar and so's Canada's hottest category of wine to go with the juicy burgers and practically everything else!

A couple of great new dry rose choices for sipping, savoring or slurping are here now from our good friends at Chateau des Charmes in Niagara.

 

Fresh, fun, delicious and utterly elegant, Cuvee d'Andree Rosé 2015 is a welcome re-release of last year's Ontario Wine Awards Gold medal winner. Made from 100% Pinot Noir, it has vibrant color and tastes of wild strawberries fresh-picked from the fields.

It's $15.95 and there are just 120 cases available, at grocery stores, the winery, Toronto and Ottawa retail boutiques and www.fromtheboscfamily.com

The 2014 Rosé Sparkling, a 50/50 blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, is made by the traditional method, Champagne style, second fermentation in the same bottle, and spent two years resting on the lees before being disgorged by hand.

It's a very reasonable $32.95 and there are mere 35 cases -- in the same outlets as the Cuvee d'Andree.

Holy Moley

A staggering 150 billion glasses of wine are enjoyed every year, mostly vino grown in Europe, and a good chunk of it is consumed in (wait for it...) the Vatican!

    At 54 litres per person annually, it’s the world’s highest per capita consumption. Who knew?