Everything's coming up rosés

Warm weather and dining outdoors with friends are two of the great pleasures of summer, and both are even better with rosé. This selection of 20+ sunny, food-friendly dry rosés from around the world made from a wide range of grapes in a variety of styles makes picking out the perfect easy-to-enjoy, refreshing, flavourful rosé a breeze.

Rosé is intimately associated with the South of France, and those crafted in Provence (France’s oldest winemaking region) are considered the global benchmark for fruity, dry rosé wines (little wonder; they have been perfecting them for over 2,600 years). Typically, Provence rosés are made from Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvèdre and Syrah grapes. These rosés are bright and vibrant with intense red fruit, citrus, gentle herbs, and a delicate spicy character. Styles in Provence range from the aromatic and floral to the full-bodied and structured. Around the world, winemakers produce rosé from all types of red grapes, creating a virtually limitless array of fresh, colourful, buoyant wines.

Light-bodied rosés are crisp and bright with ripe but delicately framed fruit flavours. These are amazing sipping wines, perfect for patios, finger foods or brunch. They are thirst-quenchers of the highest order.

PATIO-PERFECT PAIRINGS: Try these wines with fresh goat cheese, a spinach-and-smoked-salmon salad with lemon-dill dressing, or an arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette.

These smooth, textured wines are the workhorses of the rosé set. Great for sipping, lunch, brunch or dinner, they have the lithe texture and freshness to elevate seasonal salads, and their depth of flavour can accommodate marinated grilled chicken or spicy black-bean burgers.

PATIO-PERFECT PAIRINGS: These versatile, vibrant wines are great for burgers, or grilled vegetarian pizzas.

While still fresh, lithe and bright, some rosés such as those from Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence or Tavel have the structure and depth of flavour to stand up to and complement meats like lamb and grilled ribs. These are ripe, bold wines with the flexibility for formal or casual dining.

PATIO-PERFECT PAIRINGS: Great with rosemary sirloin kebabs with onion and pepper chunks, or vegan enchiladas with tofu, spinach and black beans.

Check out the Early Summer issue of Food & Drink magazine to find endless inspiration and ideas for warm-weather dishes, drinks, decorating and entertaining. If your store has run out of copies, read the digital version at LCBO.com.