Vancouver wine bars for a glass of rosé
Sun-filled days and temperate nights having us shouting, “Yes way, rosé!” all summer long. Served chilled, refreshing pink wines vary in colour, style and sophistication – ranging from dry to sweet to sparkling. Enjoy blush booze by the glass or bottle at these Vancouver wine bars and restaurants. [Photo credit: iStock.com/gilaxia]
Burdock & Co Restaurant
2702 Main St, Vancouver BC V5T 3E8Andrea Carlson has been lauded by local dining critics for her farm-to-table fare, but she isn’t the only star at this Mount Pleasant dining room. Wine director Matthew Sherlock recently earned the 2016 Gold Award at the Vancouver International Wine Festival, and he’s known to favour naturalist wines. If you’re a rosé fan, we recommend ordering a tasting flight to try the three varietals on offer: an earthy, strawberry-infused Rosé Biscaya from Austria; a dark, rich Rosa di Elena Sangiovese/Cab Sauv blend from Italy; and a dry French Bernard Baudry Rosé with subtle hints of raspberry and rhubarb.
Royal Dinette
905 Dunsmuir St, Vancouver BC V6C 1A8A new fave on the downtown dining landscape, Royal Dinette launched a fresh wine list for summer 2016 that includes a must-try Methode Ancestrale rosé from Bella Wines, a specialty sparkling winery in Naramata, B.C. One of the few natural sparklings made in Canada, this effervescent pink drink delivers intense notes of rhubarb and cranberry. Restaurant sommelier Paul McClosky is also excited about pouring the Château Lestignac Callipyge this summer; the smooth, structured Cabernet Franc offers traces of ripe strawberries and spices, making it a nice light red to enjoy in the warmer months.
Cactus Club Cafe
1085 Canada Pl, Vancouver BC V6C 0C3Consistent and convenient, Cactus Club is a guaranteed good time. When you don’t feel like waiting for a table at the city’s hippest new eatery, head to this old standby, grab a spot on the patio (the Coal Harbour location has a particularly Instagram-worthy view) and order up a glass of Provence Rosé. The signature blush wine from Mirabu (a specialty rosé winery in France) has earned multiple awards, and we can see why. This easy-drinking dry rosé is light, uncomplicated and crowd-pleasing (much like Cactus Club itself, in fact) so you might as well order the bottle.
Grapes and Soda
1541 W 6th Avenue, Vancouver BC V6J 1R1Known for its dedication to organic, naturalist wines, this pint-sized wine bar in Fairview attracts experienced oenophiles with its curated wine list and seasonal sharing plates. When it comes to rosé, there are two European bottles behind the bar: La Pythie, a Grenache/Merlot from Les Deux Terres in France’s Ardèche region (also available by the glass); and a Sicilian Frank Cornelissen Susucaru (a Nerello Mascalese blend). Your best bet is to visit during the daily Happy Hour (5:00 to 6:30 pm) to enjoy discounted bites and boards and select wines by the glass for $7.
Kissa Tanto
263 Pender St E, Vancouver BC V6A 1T8Simultaneously hidden away and very much on the radar, Kissa Tanto is Chinatown’s newest culinary jewel. The second-story space is generating plenty of buzz thanks in part to its notable owners (the industry legends behind Bao Bei) and its menu of inspired Italian-Japanese fusion cuisine. Join the cool kids for a drink while soaking in the moody Tokyo jazz club ambiance. The aforementioned La Pythie and Susucaru are the pink features on this wine list, but you might want to be bold and dabble in the Catavela – a young and fruity organic orange wine from Denavolo.
Salt Tasting Room Ltd
248 Georgia St E, Vancouver BC V6A 1Z7Duck down Blood Alley and navigate the cobblestones to uncover one of Vancouver’s premier European-style wine bars. True to its name, Salt specializes in cured meats paired with imported cheeses, artisanal preserves and condiments, and of course, plenty of vino. The oversized chalkboard menu lists an array of tempting nibbles and encourages a choose-your-own adventure approach to assembling the perfect board. All of the servers here are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to pairing recommendations, so your decision-making is best left in their hands when it comes to selecting the perfect rosé glass to pair with your preferred charcuterie.
The Wine Bar
1167 Marinaside Cres, Vancouver BC V6Z 2Y3The drink list at this Yaletown wine bar reads like a small novella, so you might want to set aside a few hours to sip your way through it. There are numerous European and B.C. rosé wines to choose from here, and many can be enjoyed by the glass. If you’re looking for a local bottle, the Le Vieux Pin Rosé is a dry, delicate Pinot Noir based wine, which makes it ideal for food pairing or simply sipping by itself on the al fresco patio overlooking the water. Tip: visit on Wine Wednesdays when bottles are 25-percent off.
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