Clink & Drink Pink! The Rosé Report

Anyone else feeling like they’ve had enough of Sprinter (spring + winter) yet? It was a chilly start to the season, but at long last the flowers are in bloom. And we have the best ones picked out just for you: back again for a third year, we are delivering to you a Bouquet of Rosés! These blushing beauties are all set for spring or summer sipping, whether it’s out in the garden, on the deck or brunching with friends.

Our Savvy Sommeliers have offered up their tasting notes along with some pairing tips and recipes to help you enjoy each wine to its fullest:
– Devil’s Wishbone Pinot Gris Rosé  – stunning!
– Casa-Dea Estates Rosé – Memories of Lily of the Valley (the official flower of May!)
– Creekside Estates Rosé – perfect for a picnic
– Good Earth Food & Wine Rosé – spring time in a glass!
– Huff Estates Cuvée Janine – A pretty sparkling wine perfect for your next grand affair
– Tawse Growers Blend Rosé – a classic crisp Rosé you’d think its from France

Each Bouquet of Rosés is EXTRA special.  None of the wines are available at the LCBO. If you would like to order additional bottles or other hard-to-find Ontario wines (we do craft beers too!), call the Savvy Team at 613-SAVVYCO (613-728-8926) or cheers@savvycompany.ca

In this Bouquet of Rosés you will find…

Casa-Dea Estates Winery Cabernet Franc Rosé VQA 2015

$15.95
Prince Edward County

Care for a round of bocce? If you’re travelling to The County this spring, stop by Casa-Dea and try out this Italian version of lawn bowling on a hand-crafted pitch right beside the vineyards. Made even better with a cool glass of winemaker Paul Battilana’s Rosé.

Savvy Sommelier Tasting Notes: Brilliant clarity in this pinky-peach concoction. Abundant aromas of wildflowers and strawberries, juicy peaches and lily of the valley, with subtle hints of fresh herbs. Silky texture balanced out with measured acidity and a lengthy finish.

Suggested Food Pairing: Try with Baked Brie & Strawberry Mint Topping – recipe to follow

Creekside Estate Winery Cabernet Rosé VQA 2015

$14.95
Beamsville Bench (aka Niagara Escarpment)

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was left on the skins for three days before being pressed, this patio pleaser is big, bursting with fruit and ready to enjoy while you kick back and watch the hummingbirds. (Careful though, with a rosé this pink, the hummingbirds might think it’s for them!).

Savvy Sommelier Tasting Notes: Deep blush bordering on red ruby; complex aromas of red currant, cranberry and Twizzlers (yes! That is what our Sommeliers remarked during the tasting panel). Smooth texture with enough oomph and suggestion of tannin to have staying power; finishes dry, with subtle notes of tart strawberries.

Suggested Food Pairing: This is definitely a wine that would be lovely served with roasted duck, turkey or BBQed chicken. As having a turkey feast is not that typical in the heat of the summer, Savvy Sommelier Debbie shares her Mom’s recipe for Turkey Balls to serve as an appetizers, in a picnic or just to have in the freezer on hand for a quick meal.

Devil’s Wishbone Winery Pinot Gris Rosé VQA 2015

Savvy Special: $19 (reg $22)
Prince Edward County

Look at a map of The County & you’ll see the distinctive wishbone shape where the Bay of Quinte and Adolphus Reach meet at Picton. The “devil” part of this winery’s name comes from the poor soil quality in the area, where early settlers found it nearly impossible to grow anything. Winery owner Paul Gallagher researched that the clay and limestone mixed soil is perfect for growing vines.

Savvy Sommelier Tasting Notes: A colour that reminded all of our Sommeliers of a Ballerina-tutu (!) with an airy nose of fuzzy peaches, wild strawberries and maple sap. Slightly off-dry and juicy with a pleasant, late-spring feel. Absolutely delicious!

Suggested Food Pairing: This wine has a hint of sweetness that will sing alongside a Caramelized Onion Tart like the recipe on the following pages

Good Earth Food & Wine Company The Good Wine Rosé VQA 2015

$17.95
Twenty Valley (Niagara)

You’ll know you’ve found the right place when you see the giant fork standing among the vines at Good Earth. And it may not even be big enough, if you want to try everything: enjoy a meal at the bistro amongst the vineyard or take part in a cooking class – life is good!

Savvy Sommelier Tasting Notes: This delicate, petal-soft wine is spring & summer in a glass. The rose water aromatics bring baklava or Turkish delight to mind, while fresh, sweet red berries and crisp acidity balance out every sip.

Suggested Food Pairing: Serve it up with proscuitto-wrapped melon bites or the Grilled Watermelon and Shrimp Salad (recipe follows).

Huff Estates ‘Cuvee Janine’ 2011 Sparkling Rosé

Savvy Special: $25 (reg $30)
Prince Edward County

Huff Estates not only offers a spectacular range of wines, but is also home to the Oeno Gallery, a showcase of intriguing works from local and international artists. Mark my words, the outdoor sculpture garden will amaze you.

Savvy Sommelier Tasting Notes: Named for winery owner Lanny Huff’s daughter, this 100% Pinot Noir-based sparkler shines with a glowing peach hue; on the nose, pink grapefruit, brioche and tangerine. Mineral-driven, almost smoky, with crisp acidity, a fine mousse and delicate fruit with notes of rhubarb. Elegant celebration wine, in a classic méthode traditionelle style (winespeak: made using the same technique for making French Champagne where the 2^nd fermentation takes place in the bottle until ready).

Suggested Food Pairing: Brunch! Think smoked salmon, eggs Benedict, waffles with raspberry coulis. Also a great match with sushi.

Tawse Winery Grower’s Blend  Rosé VQA 2015

Savvy Special: $18.95  (reg $19.95)
Twenty Valley (aka Niagara Escarpment)

Every year, the vineyards on the lower slopes of the Niagara Escarpment come alive with song with the Summer Solstice Concert at Tawse.

Savvy Sommelier Tasting Notes: Candy-apple and grapefruit ruby red, with earthy scents of rhubarb and tinned mandarins. This is a full-bodied wine with lots of character and superbly food-friendly.

Suggested Food Pairing: Think salty and savoury: how about charcuterie and cheese plate featuring Cows Creamery Appletree Smoked Cheddar from our Savvy Cool Curdsartisan cheese-o-month-club. This wine will also be delicious with BBQed chicken, pulled pork or ribs.

~ Rosé Recipe Box ~

Spring & Summer time favourites to enjoy with your Bouquet of Rosés

Baked Brie with Strawberry Mint Topping

The Complete Canadian Living Cookbook
Makes 10 to 15 servings
Photo credit: DairySpot.com

Ingredients

1 round (8oz/250g) Brie cheese
1/2 cup (125mL) chopped strawberries
2 Tbsp (30 mL) white wine (rosé would be best!)
1 Tbsp (15 mL) chopped fresh mint
1 Tbsp (15 mL) chopped & roasted nuts – for garnish (optional) 

Method

In bowl, combine strawberries, wine and mint. (Make-ahead tip: cover and refrigerate for up to 8 hours.)

Place Brie on baking sheet; spread with topping.

Bake in 350ºF (180ºC) oven for 5 to 10 minutes or until cheese is softened.

To garnish, sprinkle with nuts (optional)

Serve with warm, sliced baguette or crackers.

Caramelized Onion Tart

From Smitten Kitchen, smittenkitchen.com
Makes 10 servings 

Ingredients

1 deep dish pie shell (store-bought, or make your own)
1 1/2 pounds yellow onions (about 4 medium), halved and thinly sliced
1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp olive oil
Scant ½ tsp table salt
Pinch sugar
1 cup low-sodium beef, veal or mushroom stock/broth
2 tsp cognac, brandy or vermouth (optional)
Freshly ground black pepper
½ cup grated Gruyere, Comte or Swiss cheese
1 large egg
½ cup heavy cream (half-and-half and milk work too, but cream tastes best)

Method

Melt the butter and olive oil together in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions to the pan, toss them gently with the butter and oil, reduce heat to medium-low and cover. Cook the onions for 15 minutes, then remove the lid, stir in the salt and sugar and sauté without the lid for about 10 to 15 minutes, until the onions are fully caramelized and have taken on a deep golden colour.

Pour in cognac, if using it, and the stock, then turn the heat all the way up and scrape up any brown bits stuck to the pan. Simmer the mixture until the broth nearly completely disappears, about 5 to 10 minutes. Adjust the salt, if needed, and season with freshly ground black pepper. Let cool until lukewarm.

You can hasten this process by spreading the onions out on a plate in the fridge, or even faster, in the freezer. In a medium bowl, beat the egg and cream together. Gently stir in the lukewarm onions into the custard.

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Fill prepared tart shell with onion-egg mixture. Ideally, this will bring your filling level to 1/4-inch from the top, however, variances in shells, pans, pan sizes and even onion volume might lead you to have a lower fill line. You can beat another egg with cream together and pour it in until it reaches that 1/4-inch-from-top line if you wish.

Sprinkle cheese over custard and bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until a sharp knife inserted into the filling and turned slightly releases no wet egg mixture. Serve hot or warm, with a big green salad.

Grilled Watermelon and Shrimp Salad

From Savoury Image
Serves 4

Ingredients

1 small watermelon, skin removed, cut into 1-inch thick wheels
¼ cup olive oil
2 Tbsp  olive oil for grilling
1 cucumber, sliced to 1/4-inch rounds (refrigerate to keep cold)
½ cup chopped fresh mint leaves
¼ cup lime juice
2 tsp salt
12-20 large shrimp or prawns, peeled and deveined
¼ cup pumpkin seeds, toasted

Method

Preheat BBQ or grill pan to high.

Brush the watermelon lightly with olive oil to prevent sticking. Lay the slices directly on the grill racks and grill for 2 to 3 minutes. The slices should be easily lifted from the grill. Turn them over and grill on the other side for 2 to 3 minutes. Lightly salt then remove them from the grill and cut into 1 inch sized chunks.

In a large bowl gently toss the warm watermelon with the cold cucumber, mint, lime juice and salt and the 1/4 cup olive oil.

Lightly brush the shrimp with olive oil and grill for 30 seconds per side or until they turn pink or red. Divide the salad between 4 serving plates, top with the shrimp and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds.

Turkey Meatballs with Creamy Lemon Pasta

Original recipe & photo credits: Jessica Alba
www.marthastewart.com

Ingredients

2 lbs ground turkey
1 cup bread crumbs (Japanese Panko crumbs are ideal)
1/4 cup carrots, shredded
1/4 cup onion, shredded
1/4 cup zucchini, shredded large eggs
2 Tbsp Italian seasoning
1 Tbsp sea salt
2 Tbsp olive oil
¾ cup low sodium chicken stock
Your favorite pasta
1/3 to ½ cup goat cheese to
½ of white or rosé wine
Zest & Juice of 1 lemon 

Method

 In a large bowl, mix turkey, panko, carrots, zucchini, onion, eggs, Italian seasoning, and salt until well combined; form into 1-inch balls. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs and cook, turning, until browned, about 7 minutes.

Add ½ cup chicken broth, cover and reduce heat to low. Cook until liquid is almost completely absorbed, about 7 minutes. Add remaining ¼ cup broth and increase heat to medium; cook, uncovered, until liquid is absorbed.

In a separate pot, cook your favorite pasta. Once al dante, drain the water & place pasta back into the pot on low heat.  Crumble in goat cheese & stir until melted.  To help the melting, add white wine periodically until a creamy consistency similar to cream sauce that coats the pasta.

To finish the sauce, squeeze the juice of one lemon into the sauce, toss in zest & gently stir.  Plate with a mound of pasta topped with turkey meatballs. 

Have your fridge full of Rosé wines all summer long…

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 a Bouquet of Rosés next month, by calling the Savvy Team on 613-SAVVYCO (728-8926) or order online at www.savvycompany.ca/rose.

The June Bouquet of Rosés will have a completely different selection of hard-to-find Rosé wines including:

Château des Charmes Sparkling Rosé, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Château des Charmes Cuvée André Rosé, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Kacaba Vineyard Rebecca Rosé, Beamsville Bench (Niagara Escarpment)
Pondview Estates Cabernet Franc Rosé, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Redstone Estate Rosé, Beamsville Bench (Niagara Escarpment)
Traynor Family Winery & Vineyard Rosé, Prince Edward County

To order the June Bouquet of Rosés, call the Savvy Team on 613-SAVVYCO (728-8926) or online at www.savvycompany.ca/rose 

Cheers & Enjoy your summer!