Summertime sipping might make you think of Margaritas, Mojitos, and Frosés, all best enjoyed while kicking back on a sun-splashed patio or dangling your feet off a dock. But we also love our wine, no matter what time of year. Here’s a smattering of B.C. selections to consider as you celebrate the season of the sun. 

Bizou + Yukon Pinkie Rosé

This wine, the latest from Okanagan Crush Pad, takes its name from the Summerland winery’s gorgeous Great Pyrenees, majestic dogs who guard sheep and generally make humans happy as they roam around the Ranch, where the grapes grow. OCP owners Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie are the same team behind the Haywire, Narrative, and Free Form labels, with Matt Dumayne at the helm of the organic-winemaking process. The rosé comes in a mixed case (with four of each of the three wines) for delivery ($275). Pick-up pairing: crispy pork from Richmond’s legendary HK BBQ Master.

Hillside 2018 Viognier

Aptly named for its slope-side location on the Naramata Bench, Hillside prides itself on producing all of its wines exclusively from Naramata-grown grapes. Winemaker Kathy Malone describes this aromatic white, with its honeysuckle scent, as the winery’s summer Chardonnay. Find it at the winery for $24 or get free shipping on a minimum order of six bottles. Take it to the next level with grilled prawns and scallops atop a leafy salad or a takeout order of Glowbal’s crispy calamari. 

Gehringer Brothers Auxerrois Old Vines 2018

Siblings Gordon and Walter Gehringer first started dreaming of an estate winery almost 50 years ago. Since launching in 1985, they’ve apparently racked up more platinum awards than any other winery in the Pacific Northwest. Among the wins for this off-dry number: gold in the All Canadian Wine Championships and silver at the Cascadia International Wine Competition. The winery suggests it’s one to serve “when one is not sure of one’s preference.” Hmm. We’ll take it in the late afternoon with a bento to-go of grilled shoyu-koji saba mackerel from Stem Japanese Eatery or with a socially distanced crab boil on the back deck. If you’re ordering a case from the winery direct, the special price for June is $10.99 per bottle. Alternatively, check out the website for a list of private stores in Greater Vancouver that carry the label.