Staff Picks

Upkeep Test – 6.5.4

Postion

Upkeep Test – 6.4.3

Jason MacLeod

Wine Category Manager, Sommelier

Thanksgiving Picks

What a great wine as we transition into autumn.  Medium bodied and showcasing a velvety texture, this Cabernet Franc sees 16 months aging in used oak and concrete.  Proprietor Guillaume Reynouard took over this winery in 1995 and quickly converted to organic farming.  In 2010, he became certified biodynamic.  Guillaume crafts honest wines that helps showcase the clay/limestone terroir of Saumur.  This wine is nicely balanced with its lip smacking acidity and chalky tannins.  With concentrated flavours of red fruit and a hint of earthiness, this is easily paired with your harvest dinner. 

Jason MacPhee

Wine Category Manager

Thanksgiving Picks

The Sorricchio di Valforte family have owned the land these grapes are grown on since the 14th century. The current generation focuses on the traditional grapes of Abruzzo and sustainable farming to create wines of great quality that are a true representation of their land. Their Pecorino is a stand out amongst lesser known Italian white varieties. 

Notes of white flowers and gravel after it rains on the nose. Just like their Montepulciano the slightly heavier mouthfeel and texture is the star again. Lively acidity is perfectly balanced with stone fruit and complex minerals. A perfect Alternative to Chardonnay to pair with Thanksgiving Dinner. 

Lucas Mader

Refreshment Category Manager, Cicerone

Thanksgiving Picks

One of my favourite beers this year. An IPA made with French hops for a more subtle, European vibe, and steeped with green tea harvested from the brewmasters family tea field in Japan. This beer is very well rounded and extremely quaffable, but can also be enjoyed slowly to appreciate the nuances. The French hops lend aromas and flavours of white pepper, alpine herbs, and candied lemon peel that effortlessly blend with herbal and floral notes from the tea. 

This. Beer. Rocks.

Kathryn Harding

Director of Customer Experience, Sommelier

End of Summer Picks

The late vigneron Marcel Lapierre was a member of the Gang of Four, a group of Beaujolais producers who arguably started the natural wine movement. From the cru Morgon, this is one of my absolute favourite wines. Made from 70-year-old vines, it’s plush and velvety, and every sip is even better than the one before. Aromas of red fruit, spice, and floral notes jump from the glass; it drinks like a Burgundian Pinot Noir with more forward-fruit and softer tannins. Serve this wine at cellar temperature of 13-15F, it will seem a bit cold to our North American palates but this is the correct cellar or serving temperature for light reds. This is the perfect wine for the best month in Nova Scotia: September!

Alanna McIntyre

Product Specialist, Sommelier

Thanksgiving Picks

A good friend recently brought this wine to a dinner party where I had the chance to taste it again after some time.  As soon as I put it to my lips, I made a note to pick some up for Thanksgiving dinner.  It has a beautiful aroma of ripe raspberries and strawberries and a hint of forest floor and fall leaves, mouth filling with a satiny texture and soft acidity.  I can’t imagine anyone not enjoying this ready to drink now New World Pinot Noir, especially when paired with turkey, cranberry sauce and a cornucopia of earthy and sweet root vegetables.  

The Four Graces is made from sustainable farmed Pinot Noir grapes that are sourced from a few different growers in Willamette Valley Oregon aged for 9 months in 15% new French oak.

Gaby McCotter

Retail Manager

Thanksgiving Picks

When you consider Thanksgiving dinner and all its classic recipes, you really need a wine that goes with everything. Those creamy, rich mashed potatoes with savoury gravy. The green, vegetal flavours of crispy brussels sprouts or green bean casserole. That irresistible sweetness from sweet potatoes and the fruity, acidic flavours of cranberry sauce. And a perfectly roasted turkey with tender meat and aromatic stuffing waiting below crispy skin. I will be enjoying some delicious Sierra de Enmedio Rose from Spain. It is a nice and refreshing rose that will work with all dishes I’ll be serving up. This rose offers lots of ripe juicy fruit as expected from a warmer climate rose.

Ryan Almeida

eCommerce Manager

Thanksgiving Picks

Between cooking for myself and getting together with family, I’m very fortunate to have a turkey dinner just about every Thanksgiving holiday. With that being said, this year I’m planning on roasting a lamb shoulder and I can think of nothing better than to pair it with Cornas. Made from old vine Syrah, Guy Farge’s Harmonie is intense on the nose with dark fruits, stewed plums, and lovely spice. On the palate, deep, dark fruits like plum, cherry, and blackberry are accompanied by fresh, grippy tannins. Complex, intense, and fresh all at the same time makes it a knockout pairing with lamb. Decant, if you can.

Kate Fraser

Retail Supervisor

Thanksgiving Picks

If you’re like me and have no self control when it comes to Thanksgiving, best get yourself a bottle of Amaro to have on hand for after the feed. Amaro is a digestif from Italy, a blend of botanicals cold macerated in grain alcohol. Used to aid digestion, this is the perfect thing to finish with right before you hit the sack in your turkey induced coma. Wet wood, cola and root beer. Fresh tilled earth, mushrooms, hoisin, viscous, and slightly sweet but completely balanced by the bitter notes like biting into a piece of wood soaked in root beer.

Stefan Nielsen

Retail Supervisor, Sommelier

Thanksgiving Picks

Nothing complements the flavours of a traditional Thanksgiving meal like a good bottle of Pinot Noir. But not all Pinots are made equally! This offering from Jean Fournier is a beautiful bottle that offers lifted aromas of crunchy cherries, tart cranberries, juicy pomegranate, savory game notes, forest floor and a kiss of vanilla. Well-integrated tannins lend a silky smooth texture, an elevated degree of acid adds welcome freshness, biodynamic farming and a low-intervention approach in the winery keeps things lively, sustainable and endlessly interesting. This is a wine-lover’s wine and will be a guaranteed showstopper on your dinner table this fall.

Rae Tilley

Retail Supervisor, Order Desk Associate

Thanksgiving Picks

The only wine I ever want to drink at Thanksgiving is a cold glass of rosé – and by the start of autumn, I’ve usually narrowed down a few favourites to choose from. A turkey dinner with many savoury sides is so well complemented by a dry, flavourful rose, and the Chateau Trinquevedel Tavel is my choice this year. 

A predominant Grenache blend from 85-year-old estate vines, this rosé is very dry but exhibits strong raspberry notes that will be heightened when drunk with a bite of turkey in gravy. A cold skin maceration and cement tank ageing allow it to be crisp but present on the palate – perfect at fridge temperature! Though I have already mentioned pairing this rosé with turkey, I like it best with traditional stuffing!

Matt Hodgson

Retail Supervisor

Thanksgiving Picks

Godspeed brewing doesn’t hit our shelves too often, if you’re familiar with them you already know it’s time to stock up. If they’re new to you, then get ready to fall in love. Regarded by many as one the best breweries in all of Canada, and the Arbeit Hefeweizen only strengthens that claim. 

For some people fall is for pumpkin beers, but for me this is Hefeweizen season. Warming baking spices and banana bread aromas are perfect for these warm sunny days and cool nights. 

Looking for something to go with pretzels and sausages during Oktoberfest? Hefeweizen. 

Need something to go with your turkey or ham dinner for thanksgiving? Sure, grab a Hefeweizen. 

Genny

Customer Service Sales Associate, Sommelier

Thanksgiving Picks

I think I’ve finally decided. My favourite grape might just be shiraz/syrah. And Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz really helped secure the win. 

This beautiful full red is emblematic of the Barossa Valley. Care for the land and sense of place is evident here, with notes of crushed dark berries and a rustic, ashy smokiness and characteristic tinge of cracked black pepper. With great persistence on the palate, this wine has all the lushness and structure that makes Aussie shiraz such a delight, both in the glass right away and in the cellar.

Fernando

Customer Service Sales Associate

Thanksgiving Picks

Have you ever tried an Austrian wine before? Did you know that their history with wine dates back to over 2000 years ago? If you didn’t then please do yourself a favour and pick up a bottle of Gruner Veltliner (white), or for this pick, Zweigelt (red). This will be your assignment for the month. 

You can tell me about the crunchy red fruit and spice qualities of this medium bodied wine, as well how well it paired with all of your meals. You can also ask me about my recent trip to Vienna because goodness knows I haven’t talked about it enough yet. 

Prost!

Daniela

Customer Service Sales Associate

Thanksgiving Picks

Cranberry sauce is a crucial component in any Thanksgiving dinner – deliciously tart and with the right amount of acidity to cut through the heaviness of the turkey, gravy, stuffing… Which is why two grapes such as Carignan and Grenache blended together form the perfect wine to drink on this holiday: Grenache shows notes of stewed red fruit and just the right amount of dried herbs, while Carignan brings even more cranberry notes, along with baking spices that will make you dream about the pumpkin pie that you will have for dessert after. Let’s toast to the beginning of autumn, and happy Thanksgiving! 

Allie Barter

Customer Service Sales Associate

Vacation Picks

Shellebrate! Barkeep cocktails are back at it again! They take tasty cocktails and put them in a can, so you can enjoy something classy on the go. Their newest release is the ‘Melo Collins’, which is a Barkeep twist on the classic Tom Collins cocktail. They elevate the palate by adding flavors of honeydew, mint, and gentian root which adds a relaxing touch to the zip that comes from the gin and lemon. What do you get when you cross a porcupine with a turtle? A slow poke!!! So hurry up and come get a ‘Melo Collins’ before you lose out.

Leslie

Customer Service Sales Associate

Thanksgiving Picks

Thanksgiving is quite early this year and the weather is fabulous! Why not enjoy the last warm days with a bottle of Rose. The Rosa Munde Rose is a perfect choice, coming from Germany, this is a blend of Spatburgunder (ie: Pinot Noir) and a touch of merlot. Dry and zesty with lots of red berry fruit, this Rose will be great for your Thanksgiving get together. This is such a versatile wine you can enjoy it by itself, with appetizers or even your turkey dinner. The best part of this Rose is the price, with $10 off you can’t beat this deal!

David

Customer Service Sales Associate

Thanksgiving Picks

When my family moved to Canada we did the turkey Thanksgiving for a while, but you know what? Turkey kinda sucks. We should eat a meal that we all love, and that  reminds us of home, of friends and family.

For me, nothing says Thanksgiving more than Taquitos Dorados de Pollo, with ensalada Chilena and a whole array of salsas and toppings. To pair with these rich, spicy flavours and fried foods, my pick is the Rolly Gassmann Riesling.

Lush flavours of apricot and pear mesh with floral honeyed aromatics. Despite this Riesling’s sweetness, a streak of acidity runs through this off dry wine, balancing both the residual sugars and any fried taquitos you or I might be eating this holiday. Enjoy!

Sam

Customer Service Sales Associate

Thanksgiving Picks

It’s fall, the weather is starting to turn! But there’s some warmth left and I’m going to soak it up all I can. It’s not quite cold enough to pull out the big guns, the Cabernets, the Tempranillos, I’m not ready for the heavy and bold. But it’s perfect timing for this little guy, the pinot noir from Spy Valley. Still toasty and warm from barrel aging but with a lighter body to keep it easy going. Lots of juicy red fruit make it one of my favourite wines in the store right now, and get it while it’s still on sale!!