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Drink these babies all summer long.
They are the pale pinks, crisp whites and light reds ideal for toasting this week's official arrival of summer as well as quaffing right through the season.
We don't like to overthink our summer selections.
Essentially, any wine you want to drink at any place at any time at any occasion this summer is the right bottle.
Of course, my wife, Kerry, and I can guide you.
We selflessly tested the following eight wines to ensure they are summer sensational.
Photo credit: Steve MacNaull/NowMedia Group
Summer wines, from left, Red Barn 2023 Transfiction Rose ($30), Mission Hill 2023 Haynes Creek Vineyard Rose ($38), Maison Sinnae Esprit de Rhone 2023 Blanc ($23), Tantalus 2022 Riesling ($28), Tantalus 2022 Chardonnay ($37), Haywire 2022 Gamay ($32) and Haywire 2022 Pinot Noir ($33).
- Red Barn 2023 Transfiction Rose ($30) from Oliver
This pink is light in colour, but big on taste.
In keeping with Red Barn's mandate to be march to the beat of its own drum, this Rose of Gamay is fermented in concrete ceramic and glass tanks for a rebellious and complex finish.
- Mission Hill 2023 Haynes Creek Vineyard Rose ($38) from West Kelowna
Still pale and more traditional, this Rose has aromas and flavours of raspberry and pink grapefruit with some herbaceousness.
Perfect on the patio.
- Mission Hill 2022 Fritzi's Vineyard Riesling ($40) from West Kelowna
Layered and lush.
Drink it on its own or with cheese or barbecued honey-and-soy-marinated pork tenderloin.
- Maison Sinnae 2023 Esprit du Rhone Reserve Blanc ($23) from France
Introduce some international flair to your summer sipping with this textured blend of Viognier, Roussane and Marsanne.
- Tantalus 2022 Riesling ($28) from East Kelowna
Nobody does Riesling better than Tantalus, which is why it's the winery's flagship and a perfect balance of apple and lemon sweetness and racy acidity.
- Tantalus 2022 Chardonnay ($37) from East Kelowna
Not heavily oaked so the profile of lemon, hazelnut and minerality can shine.
- Haywire 2022 Gamay ($32) from Summerland
A light red with a juicy-fruit-and-spice profile.
Pair with burgers off the barbecue.
- Haywire 2022 Pinot Noir ($33) from Summerland
With aromas and flavours of bright cherry and clean earth, this red a light enough to have with grilled salmon or bold enough to sip alongside a steak.
The 'wine of the year' trophy winners from the All Canadian Wine Championships, from left, Van Westen 2022 Viscous ($28), Sunrock 2021 Shiraz ($41), Hester Creek Rose Noir 2023 ($33) and Bench 1775 2020 Blanc de Blanc ($40).
All Canadian champs
Okanagan wines swept the marquee 'wine of the year' categories at the All Canadian Wine Championships.
- Best white wine of the year
Van Westen 2022 Viscous ($28) from the Naramata Bench
- Best red wine of the year
Sunrock 2021 Shiraz ($41) from Oliver
- Best rose wine of the year
Hester Creek 2023 Rose Noir ($33)
- Best sparkling wine of the year
Bench 1775 Blanc de Blanc 2020 ($40) from the Naramata Bench
In all 173 wineries from across the country entered 995 for the 2024 edition of the All Canadians.
Wine & Dine this weekend in Summerland
There's some last-minute tickets available for a couple of the Wine & Dine dinners in Summerland this weekend.
$75 tickets for the Taste of Argentina BBQs tonight and tomorrow night can be purchased here: https://www.exploretock.
$35 tickets for the Dim Summerland Wine Dinner at Lunessence Winery Saturday night can be bought here: https://www.eventbrite.
Steve MacNaull is a NowMedia Group reporter, Okanagan wine lover and Canadian Wine Scholar. Reach him at smacnaull@nowmediagroup.ca. His wine column appears every Friday afternoon in this space.
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