Edition #6: Week of August 14, 2023

 Another heat wave calls for fun and distinct ways to beat the heat, so grab yourself a bottle of rosé, chill it up, and find some water to soak yourself in.

2021 Fern Walk Rosé

$19.99    $15.99

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

    Here is our first local wine reviewed on The Thrifty Sipper. This is because I usually find Okanagan wines -- and Canadian wines in general -- to be overpriced, considering the kick-ass deals you can find some South America or Europe. Sometimes, though, there are some nice discounts on some delicious wines, and the Fern Walk Rosé is exactly that.

    Such a beautiful colour, which is a large marketing point when it comes to rosé around the world; the pale pink begs you to put it in your mouth, and when you do, you won't regret it. Fresh, bright fruit springs to life in the nose, strawberry, cranberry, and red cherry; the palate is surprisingly dry from the seemingly-confectionary nose; crisp acidity and cranberry pair perfectly in this profile.

Food pairing: garlic prawns, grilled vegetables, creamy cheese.

2021 Pasqua Passimento Rosso Romeo & Juliet

$18.99    $15.99

Veneto, Italy

    There is a very interesting wine-making style, which was developed in the Roman Empire about two thousand years ago called "appassimento." This translates into "passionate" in English, which doesn't let out a lot of secrets of this style, but it does help to understand Roman priorities. Simply put, the grapes are harvested and then left to dry before processing. The lack of water in the berry gives higher sugar content (which translates into higher alcohol content), and it more highly focused on a ripe fruit profile in the wine. This style is still around today, though because of the lack of moisture in the fruit, the overall yield decreases dramatically, and the price of the wine reflects that. It's most abundant in Veneto, but I have seen some labels from Piemonte, and even a bottle from Argentina using the same style. 

    The Passimento Rosso is a great introductory product into the world of appassimento wines. You will most likely notice the difference right away; the profile is rich with licorice, ripe wild strawberry, fresh tobacco, cigar box, prune, and cedar. The palate is refined and delicate with subtle tannins and a great mid-palate. This is a very fun, interesting wine.

Food pairing: lamb, lasagna, cured meats, hard cheese