Wine column: Drink these wines this weekend to beat the heat

Did you get a load of this weekend's weather forecast?

Wall-to-wall sun and 34C.

That means mandatory patio time in the shade.

And you know what that also means?

Refreshing whites and delicate Roses have to be quaffed to beat the heat.

The scorching weather we've already experienced this week gave my wife, Kerry, and I ample opportunity to test the following wines for refreshment with our son and daughter, family visiting from England and friends that dropped by.

Guess what?

They all passed with flying colours because you can't go wrong with aromatic white wines and blushing Roses as the mercury rises and people gather.

- Gerard Bertrand 2022 Cotes des Roses Rose ($23)

A classic pale pink French sipper made of the traditional French varietals for Rose -- Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault.

- Gerard Bertrand Limited Edition Cotes des Roses Rose ($34) from France

A unique blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvedre and Syrah, also pale pink and begging to be quaffed.

- Gerard Bertrand Cotes des Roses 2020 White ($23) from France

A cool blend of Grenache, Vermintino and Viogner.

- Burrowing Owl 2023 Rose ($30) from Oliver

Everyone we served this pink to raved about it.

- Kim Crawford 2022 Rose ($22)

For when you want your perfect pink from New Zealand.

- Township 7 Provenance Series 2023 Rose ($28) from the Naramata Bench

A tasty, more robust pink.

- Township 7 Provenance Series 2023 Pinot Gris ($25) from the Naramata Bench

An ideal example of the Okanagan's most-planted white wine grape with aromas and flavours of crunchy pear, lemon and nice minerality.

- Township 7 Provenance Series 2023 Sauvignon Blanc ($25) from the Naramata Bench

Quintessential Okanagan Sauv Blanc with a profile of grapefruit and gooseberry.

- Wild Goose 2023 Riesling ($21) from Okanagan Falls

Lush and exotic with a tangerine-apricot-and-hint-of-sweetness profile.

- Wild Goose 2023 Pinot Gris ($23) from Okanagan Falls

Another spectacular specimen of Okanagan Gris with aromas and flavours of crisp apple, honeydew melon and honey.

Stay cool!

L'Apero in the Vineyard

L'Apero -- it's the French term for the tradition of gathering at the end of the day to unwind and spend time with friends and family (usually over a glass of wine).

Culmina Winery in Oliver is launching its own such custom with L'Apero in the Vineyard -- a series of summer late afternoon-early evening events on Fridays to sip wine, savour small bites, vibe to live music and take in the view of the Golden Mile Bench.

The first two L'Apero sessions are July 17 and Aug. 23, 5 to 7 pm.

Tickets are $40 at: https://www.culmina.ca/Shop-Wines/Events.

Steve MacNaull is a NowMedia Group reporter, Okanagan wine lover and Canadian Wine Scholar. Reach him at [email protected]. His wine column appears every Friday afternoon in this space.