Category Archives: Rosés

QUEENSTON MILE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2024, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

25 Tuesday Nov 2025

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Rosés

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $24.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Rose Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Queenston Mile Vineyards
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp clean rosé with a nice flavour profile. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Bright copper in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, rhubarb, cranberry, strawberry & red currants.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “100% Pinot noir, immediately pressed, left on the grape skins for 3.5 hours, fermented in stainless steel.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with chili.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 24, 2025

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY LES MARMITONS NIAGARA GASTRONOMY PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2024, VAQ St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

23 Saturday Aug 2025

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Rosés, Winery Review Series

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $22.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice sour base rosé. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Light copper in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sour cherry, rhubarb & cranberry.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 3 years on its own or pair it with Chinese food.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 18, 2025

QUEENSTON MILE SMALL BATCH RESERVE ROSÉ 2023, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

08 Friday Aug 2025

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Rosés, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $19.95
Grape: 50% Cabernet, 50% Pinot Meunier
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Queenston Mile
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the best rosés without the high cost. This delicious off-dry rosé is full flavoured & juicy. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Rosé red in colour with good acidity, a medium intense+ nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Bing Cherries, Fuji Apples & strawberries.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The use of 50% Pinot Meunier, a grape used in Champagne.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 3 years on its own or pair it with chicken wings

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: August 7, 2025

DOPPIO PASSO PRIMITIVO ROSATO 2024, IGT Puglia, Italy

22 Sunday Jun 2025

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Rosés

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $13.55
Grape: Primitivo
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Italy
Region: Puglia
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Doppio Passo
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

I love a great surprise in trying a new wine that is low in cost and this one scores. Score: 91/100.

Tasting Note: Rose gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Pink grapefruit, cranberry, watermelon & thyme.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “The must is left on the skins for about 12 hours at a controlled temperature. After soft-pressing, the must is left to ferment at a controlled temperature between 16-18°C in stainless steel vats, in order to exalt its freshness and aromatic notes. The wine is then stored at 17-18°C in steel tanks until bottling.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with charcuterie.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 21, 2025

LCBO:  23760

WESTCOTT VINEYARDS PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2024, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

18 Wednesday Jun 2025

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Rosés

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $26.00
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Westcott Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Full body rosé that has vibrant flavours. Score: 91/100.

Tasting Note: Burnt cooper in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Watermelon, strawberry, rhubarb, Rainer cherries,

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “100% Pinot Noir grown & picked specifically for rosé. Macerated for only a few hours, one week on lees, fermented cold with select yeast”.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with Greek Pork Kabobs

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: June 17, 2025

SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE CABERNET FRANC ROSÉ 2023, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

23 Friday May 2025

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Kacaba Vineyards & Winery, Non LCBO Wine, On The Fence, Rosés, Winery Review Series

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $24.95
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Southbrook Winery
Alcohol: 12.8% Alcohol/Vol.

Unique rosé with more of a funky/herbaceous note to it. Score: 85/100.

Tasting Note: Red snapper in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Orange peel, tart cherries, red cranberries, oregano & thyme.

Negatives: A little to funky/herbaceous for me.

Winemaker’s Point: “Grapes were hand-harvested & loaded directly into the press. Juice settling was followed by suspending lees to build texture in the wine followed by racking. This technique of stabulation was perfected in Provence, France. Fermented using naturally occurring sugar to balance acidity & alcohol. Wine was aged on lees for eight months prior to bottling.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with BBQ ribs.

My Opinion: On-the-Fence

Tasted: May 22, 2025

DELPHINE ROSÉ, NV, VQA Ontario, Canada

30 Saturday Nov 2024

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Rosés

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $22.00
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Westcott Vineyards
Alcohol: 11.0% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the better Cab Franc rosé bursting with red fruits & some herbaceous notes. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Salmon in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cranberry, strawberry, raspberry, MacIntosh apple, dried herbs, eucalyptus & white peppers.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “6-hour skin maceration, fermented using select yeast. Complete malolactic fermentation.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or 2 to 4 years on its own or pair it with pork souvlaki.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Nov 29, 2024

SOUTHBROOK WITNESS BLOCK, CABERNET FRANC ROSÉ, 2021, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

14 Monday Oct 2024

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Rosés

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $34.80
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Southbrook Vineyards
Alcohol: 10.7% Alcohol/Vol.

Interesting & different style rosé. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Red copper in colour with good acidity, low+ intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Strawberry, cranberry, watermelon, rhubarb, Button mushrooms & thyme.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Organic & Vegan

Winemaker’s Note: “Grapes were hand-harvested and whole clusters were sorted and loaded directly into the press. Slower, gentler cycle allowed for colour extraction from grape skins. Cold juice settling and racking was followed by wild fermentation in old, neutral oak barrels. Alcoholic fermentation spanned two months and finished dry with no malolactic fermentation to preserve acidity. Bentonite fining was used prior to sterile filtration and bottling.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with Turkey dinner (Happy Thanksgiving!).

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: October 14, 2024

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY PINOT GRIS ROSÉ 2023, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

16 Friday Aug 2024

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Rosés, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $24.95
Grape: Pinot Gris
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 11% Alcohol/Vol.

A delicious dry rosé with substance that you can enjoy year-round, but so nice drinking on a patio. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Light rose gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Rainier cherries, strawberries, Macintosh apples, white peach & wet stones.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “The pinot gris was picked and sent direct to press to only allow minimal time on skins, but a perfect hint of colour. The wine was fermented using an aromatic, rose yeast to pull out only the best aromas and flavours from the juice and skins. It was fermented cold, to retain freshness and provide the perfect hue for patio season!”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 3 years on its own or pair it with lamb souvlaki.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: Aug 15, 2024

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY DEAN’S LIST CABERNET FRANC ROSÉ 2023, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

21 Friday Jun 2024

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Rosés, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $24.95
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Tavel style rosé without the high alcohol associated with Tavel’s. This rosé is bold & full of flavour. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Bright cranberry in colour with good acidity, an intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Rainer cherries, strawberry, cranberry, watermelon & fresh cut red roses on the nose.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: Direct to press after 12 hours on skins.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 3 years on its own or pair it with Mesquite chicken wings.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: June 20, 2024