It’s been a strange first half of 2020. Most of us have had to change how we live our lives – and that includes wineries. They’ve been working hard in the vineyards, fermentation rooms and bottling rooms to create the wines you’ve come to know and love. Our wine industry experts are a flexible bunch. They’ve switched up their business models so we can still get out and taste the fruits of their labour.
Some tasting rooms have been moved outside; other wineries have occupancy limits for their indoor tasting rooms. Wineries with restaurants are spacing out their tables, so you can socially distance to protect your health while still enjoying their delicious food and wine. Many servers wear masks, and kitchen staff have put safety measures in place to ensure your food is safe too. Several of the wineries I spoke to were pleasantly surprised by the increase in online sales and deliveries. It shows that people who love BC wines are loyal and are willing to change their own habits in order to enjoy their favourite vino.
On another note, rosés are going strong for the summer. The beauty of a good rosé is that it lands somewhere in the middle when it comes to flavour profiles. That makes it very versatile and it pairs well with darn near everything. It’s also great to drink on its own as you enjoy the summer sun. Rosé should be served in a medium-sized wine glass and slightly chilled. It’s recommended to serve about 20 minutes after you remove it from the fridge, if you can wait that long. Our BC wine makers are grateful for your continued support, whether you visit the wineries or order online. We hope you enjoy their new vintages and varieties as we continue on through the rest of 2020.