The Pink Sip

Just how is rosé made? While it’s romantic to think of a red wine and a white wine falling in love (especially as Valentine’s Day approaches), this doesn’t quite paint an accurate picture. Rather, rosé wine is born when the skins of red grapes are kept in contact with the juice during processing; not quite long enough to results in a red wine but not instantly removed as would be done in white winemaking. Rosés can be made with nearly any red-wine grape varietal and in a multitude of styles, ranging from light-bodied refreshers for hot summer days to complex and textural darker styles to accompany rich foods, and can even age well. Rosy-hued beverages aren’t limited to wine either; the market is flush with great quality packaged cocktails such as the Cosmopolitan, Paloma, Negroni, and ciders, too. Whether you’re toasting to love (and, always, self-love) with a wine or a cocktail, here are our top pink drinks to fill your rose-coloured glass(es). —Janet Helou

liquidity rosé. This Pinot Noir-based rosé ($29, winery exclusive) from young vines was crushed and soaked on skins for just three hours and then cool-temperature fermented, yielding a fresh-strawberries-and-cream profile. It’s slightly off-dry and pairs perfectly with a romantic dinner of margherita pizza or sushi.

dillon’s the professor’s negroni. Crafted with Dillon’s Dry Gin 7, sweet vermouth and Professor Dillon’s aperitivo liqueur, the bottles in this four-pack ($25 at BC Liquor Stores) are perfect for a two-for-two Valentine’s date night.

la petite abeille sparkling rosé cider. This Penticton cidery presses out drinks from hand-picked fruit cultivated in its own Blue Bee Orchard. The sparkling rosé cider ($25, cidery direct) is lush with fragrant apple, blackberry and red fruit; its vibrant acidity plays well with tarte tatin or a brie-baked appetizer.

segura viudas cava rosé. Cava is Spain’s answer to champagne. This sparkling rosé ($18 at BC Liquor Stores) is made with trepat, pinot noir and garnacha (a.k.a. grenache); a lovely salmon hue, it shows plenty of red-fruit character and lively acidity. BCLS suggests pairing it with chocolate-covered strawberries.

miraval côte de provence rosé. The South of France truly perfected rosé wines and Miraval ($30 at BC Liquor Stores) is a signature example: food friendly yet expressive enough to stand on its own. Notes of red plum, berries and pastries with a generous textural element.

cedar creek jagged rock sparkling rosé. The pinot noir grapes harvested for this rosé ($35, winery direct) from the Jagged Rock Vineyard yield an elegant balance of strawberry, grape- fruit and savoury cream. Perfectly paired with a roast chicken, for two.

chandon rosé. The brunch-to-evening-classic. This aromatic, dry rosé is a playful balance of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, and lush with strawberry aromas, fresh red fruits, ripe stonefruit and cream and brioche. Keep it sweetheart simple, over a meal of grilled burgers and fries.

mionetto prestige prosecco rosé. This extra-dry Prosecco ($19 at private liquor stores) is obtained through soft pressing of the glera and pinot nero grapes, which have been left in contact with the skins to macerate for several days to give it a pale pink hue. A fruity bouquet with notes of honey, berries and citrus, these bubbles are nothing short of elegant.

matua pinot noir rosé marlborough. This New Zealand pinot noir ($19 at private liquor stores) rosé is a sip of summer, packed with strawberry, citrus and peach flavours leading to a crisp, dry finish. A perfect partner for shrimp risotto with mango and a squeeze of lime.

glendalough rose gin. With soft juniper notes and perfumed with fresh rose, this gin ($58 at private liquor stores) tastes of sweet spice with a hint of citrus. Use it to mix a Rose G&T: 60ml in an ice-filled glass, topped with tonic and garnished with fresh lime and mint.