The last few weekends (NOT the first weekend of April though) have brought a lot of warmth to Toronto, and like many others, I decided to celebrate with a bottle of rosé. I was clearly not very original in my thought, as my local LCBO was quite picked over in their rosés and white wine selections. I zeroed in on the generally reliable vineyard, Henry of Pelham from St. Catherines, ON for their latest harvest, a 2015  VQA rosé sitting at 11.5% ABV, and an attractive price point of $14.95 from your local LCBO or direct from the vineyard.

No grape varietals were listed on the label, but the website lists a delicious salad of Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, Zweigelt, Merlot and Cabernet Franc – quite a blend for a style that dictates a short exposure to the skins during fermentation. I’m partial to rosés as an afternoon warm-weather sipper; they are typically my go-to choice if I am languishing in the park for a bit with a good book. I try not to overthink my rosés, as they are lovely, unpretentious little gems.

Colour: Vivid strawberry colour, no CO2 or sediment. Youthful rim.

Viscocity: Low viscocity.

Aroma: Fresh strawberries, green apples and banana.

Palate: More fresh strawberries on the palate, along with raspberries. Apple skins on the finish.

Acidity: Medium-high acidity. Leaves me wanting more.

Body: Light body, with a medium to medium minus finish. Residual sugar is pretty high, at 16g/L.

Suggested food pairings: This is a picnic wine – serve with a nice charcuterie and simple cheese board. Avoid overbearing flavours for the food, you will drown out the wine.

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Shawna O'Flaherty

Shawna is a 30-something Montreal native transplanted to Toronto in 2010. Wine loving, beer sniffing and rum swilling come naturally to her, and she is also a certified Irish whiskey taster. She has hosted beer and cheese pairing events in the past.

Shawna has visited vineyards in 8 countries on 3 continents, and has a knack for finding the hoppiest beers around. A dedicated Booze Hound, Shawna completed the Wine Specialist Certificate at George Brown College in 2018.

She can be found drinking alka-seltzer and coconut water in the morning.

Email: [email protected]

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