Hillside Estate Rosé really blushes


Hillside Estate's assistant winemaker talks Rosé comparing the 2007 & 2008 vintages

Maybe it's just me but I can't drink Rosé wine when it's cold outside. It would defeat the purpose. Rosé is a summer sipping drink, and reveling in the colour as sunshine passes through it is half the fun.

We've raved in the past about Hillside Estate's Rosé, but we cooled a little to the change in the 2007 vintage. What happened for the most part is that there was less Syrah grapes available, which resulted in the wine losing a "spicy" edge.

This short video posted on our YouTube channel and on our BCWineLover.com Facebook page helps Rosé fans know what the difference both in the blend and the winemaking resulted in fresh new 2008 wine.

Author

  • Mike Klassen is a Vancouver city councillor, communications professional, and long-time advocate for British Columbia’s wine industry. He co‑founded BC Wine Lover in 2007 with his wife Stacey, sharing stories from their travels through the province’s wine regions and spotlighting the people and places that make B.C. wine distinctive.

    In 2015, Mike led the BC Wine Appellation Task Group, guiding a province‑wide consultation that produced recommendations—later endorsed by industry plebiscite—that strengthened B.C.’s appellation standards and helped establish today’s sub‑GIs.

    His writing has appeared in the Vancouver Sun, Huffington Post, and Daily Hive, blending history, policy insight, and personal experience. Alongside his work on Vancouver City Council, Mike continues to explore vineyards across the province, champion local producers, and celebrate the evolving culture of B.C. wine.