Mission Hill Family Estate Winery is Canada’s Winery of the Year according to Wine Align, a Canadian wine ratings website.

The result is based on the National Wine Awards, a competition run by the Ontario-based website that is expanding to other parts of Canada. The awards are very similar to the Canadian Wine Awards, an annual competition that was run for several years by Wine Access magazine, a Calgary-based national wine magazine that was shut down earlier this year. Many of the same judges were involved with both competitions, including Anthony Gismondi and David Lawrason.

The victory by Mission Hill, based in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, ends three years of domination by Ontario’s Tawse Winery, which captured top spot in the Canadian Wine Awards the previous three years.

“The Canadian Winery of the Year designation is as big as it gets in Canadian wine,” said Gismondi in a release on the WineAlign.com website. “We are both proud and delighted to say the performance of Mission Hill Family Estate led all others in the country in 2013.”

Tawse Winery placed second this year, while two Okanagan wineries, Road 13 Vineyards and Moon Curser Vineyards, took third and fourth place, respectively. Inniskillin’s Niagara Estate Winery rounded out the top five.

Mission Hill, owned by Anthony Von Mandl, took top spot based on the results of its top five performing wines — they earned two platinum and three gold medals. In addition, Mission Hill received three silver medals and four bronzes. Platinum medals are a new addition this year, going to ony the top-scoring gold medal wines — the top one per cent, according to Lawrason.

A two-time winner of Winery of the Year in the Canadian Wine Awards, Mission Hill winemaker John Simes said everyone at the winery shares in the honour.

“The Winery of the Year is an award that the entire Mission Hill team — from the vineyards to the bottling line — shares and is taking pride in,” said Simes in a news release.

The other wineries finishing in the top 20 were:

• 6. Trius Winery at Hillebrand, Ontario
• 7. Red Rooster Winery, British Columbia
• 8. Hidden Bench Vineyards and Winery, Ontario
• 9. Fielding Estate Winery, Ontario
• 10. Meyer Family Vineyards, British Columbia
• 11. Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate, Ontario
• 12. Diamond Estates — The Winery, Ontario
• 13. Burrowing Owl Estate Winery, British Columbia
• 14. Big Head Wines, Ontario
• 15. CedarCreek Estate Winery, British Columbia
• 16. Nk’Mip Cellars, British Columbia
• 17. Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, British Columbia
• 18. Painted Rock Estate Winery, British Columbia
• 19. Château des Charmes Wines, Ontario
• 20. Angels Gate Winery, Ontario

The platinum award winners from B.C. were: Road 13 Vineyards 2011 Syrah, Meyer Family Vineyards 2011 McLean Creek Vineyard Chardonnay, Painted Rock Estate 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Mission Hill Family Estate 2011 Reserve Riesling, Mission Hill Family Estate 2009 Compendium (red blend), Road 13 Vineyards 2009 Home Vineyard Sparkling Chenin Blanc, Quails’ Gate Winery 2011 Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay, Burrowing Owl 2010 Meritage.

Ontario’s platinum wines were: Tawse 2010 Echos Riesling, Big Head Wines 2012 Chenin Blanc, Tawse 2010 Laundry Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate 2010 Grand Reserve Shiraz.

The winners were chosen by 16 judges from across Canada who blind-tasted 1,081 wines entered by more than 150 wineries.

To see all the results, including by wine category, go to winealign.com/awards.

It’s no secret; Canadians are seriously getting into wine.

An international study released earlier this year by International Wine and Spirit Research, a company based in Britain, found wine consumption in Canada was growing three times faster than the global average.

Between 2007 and 2011, Canadian wine consumption rose almost 15 per cent, according to the report. Canucks now drink about 15 litres of wine per capita in a year; Americans about 12 litres, and countries with long wine histories, like France and Italy, imbibe about 50 litres each in a year.

The affinity for wine can also be seen in the sales numbers. Wine is gaining on beer when it comes to Canadian market share: wine made up 30 per cent of alcohol sales in 2011, a seven-percentage point increase from 2000. Beer, the most popular alcoholic beverage in the Great White North, saw its market share fall by seven percentage points to 45 per cent.

So there is definitely some momentum. It’s with that in mind that an Australian wine company is starting a discussion about Canadian wine culture.

Peter Lehmann Wines is sponsoring a national, interactive wine culture webcast discussion on Monday, Oct. 21 at 5 p.m. MDT. The chat, staged in Kelowna, B.C., will feature a panel of wine experts including wine writer and broadcaster Anthony Gismondi, Zinta Steprans, manager and sommelier at the Soho House restaurant in Toronto, Harry Hertscheg, executive director of the Vancouver International Wine Festival, Samantha Rahn, the wine director at Araxi Restaurant in Whistler, B.C., and Matt Lane, the vice-president of the Americas for Peter Lehmann Wines.

Winnipeg Free Press wine columnist Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson will moderate the discussion, which is expected to touch on how to grow a world-class wine culture and the state of wine in Canada, with a look to the future. He says wine culture in Canada is a pretty dynamic thing.

“There are so many things that impact Canada’s wine culture: the vastness of our country, the wide cross-section of people from all over the place — all ethnic backgrounds — that have made Canada home and that have varying cuisine as well as ideas about food and wine,” says MacPhee-Sigurdson, before adding, “One certainly can’t look past the varying rules and regulations from province to province when it comes to how wine is delivered to the public.”

The panelists will also taste some wine as they talk wine. They’ll be pouring three Peter Lehmann wines and one from the Okanagan. The lineup features Clancy’s 2010 Legendary Red, Peter Lehmann 2010 Portrait Barossa Shiraz, Peter Lehmann 2009 Futures Shiraz, plus a 2011 Syrah-Malbec from the Okanagan’s Road 13 Vineyards. The Syrah-Malbec recently earned a platinum award in the Wine Align National Wine Awards.

Calgary wine lovers are invited to seek out the wines beforehand and taste along with the panel. They can also send in questions for the group just before the broadcast. To participate, just RSVP at nationaltasting.ca. A web link will be e-mailed to participants just before the broadcast.

“We want to give to the wine community, and help grow Canada’s thriving wine scene,” says Lane with Peter Lehmann.

Award-winning chef Marcus Samuelsson has joined forces with Penfolds to create four recipes to pair with wines from the historic Australian winery.

Samuelsson, a James Beard Award winner, was born in Ethiopia and raised by adoptive parents in Sweden. The winner of the TV show Top Chef Masters in 2010, Samuelsson runs four restaurants in both New York and Sweden, plus eateries in Chicago and Costa Mesa, Calif. He even cooked U.S. President Barack Obama’s first state dinner.

The recipes and wine pairings are:

Peppercorn-Crusted Rack of Lamb with Potato-Apple Gratin, Brussels Sprouts and red wine Demi-Glace (Penfolds Bin 8 Cabernet-Shiraz);
Ethiopian-Spiced Duck Breast with Beet Chutney, Foie Gras, Watercress and Fig (Penfolds Bin 2 Shiraz-Mourvedre or Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz-Cabernet);
Parsnip Soup with Porcini Mushrooms and Crispy Shallots (Penfolds Bin 8 Cabernet-Shiraz);
Lobster Roll with Quince and Napa Cabbage (Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay).

The rack of lamb recipe is below. The other recipes can be found at marcussamuelsson.com/recipes.

Bon Appetit.

Peppercorn-Crusted Rack of Lamb with Potato-Apple Gratin,
Brussels Sprouts and red wine Demi-Glace

Wine Pairing: Penfolds Bin 8 Cabernet-Shiraz

Yield: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

For the lamb

• 1 large egg yolk
•  1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. olive oil
•  1 Tbsp. freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• 3 Tbsp. fine dry bread crumbs
•  1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves
•  1 tsp. finely chopped fresh rosemary
•  2 Tbsp. white peppercorns
• 1 Tbsp.  black peppercorns
• 1 Tbsp.  pink peppercorns
• 2 racks of lamb (1 1/2 to 2 pounds each)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the sauce

• 1 cup Bin 8 Cabernet-Shiraz
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 3 Tbsp.  balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves
•  Grated zest of 1 lemon
•  1 1/2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

METHOD

1.         PREPARE THE LAMB: Preheat the oven to 450 F.

2.         Put the peppercorns in a small saucepan, add water to cover and bring to a boil; drain. Add cold water to cover, bring to a boil, and drain again; repeat two more times. Spread the peppercorns on paper towels and let dry thoroughly.

3.         Put the peppercorns in a mini processor or blender and process until coarsely crushed. Combine in a small bowl with the egg yolk, mustard, one teaspoon of the olive oil, the Parmesan, bread crumbs, thyme, and rosemary and blend to a coarse paste.

4.         Heat the remaining one tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until almost smoking hot. Add the racks of lamb and sear for about three minutes on each side, or until lightly browned. Transfer to a platter and let cool.

5.         Season the lamb with salt and pepper. Spread the herb mixture over the meaty part of the lamb. Place the lamb, fat side up, on a rack in a roasting pan. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature registers 125 F on an instant-read thermometer, for medium-rare. Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes.

6.         MEANWHILE, PREPARE THE SAUCE: Combine the wine, stock, vinegar, thyme, and lemon zest in a medium saucepan, bring to a simmer, and simmer for 20 minutes, or until reduced to one cup. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm. Just before serving, reheat the sauce, if necessary, and whisk in the lemon juice and butter. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

7.         To serve, cut the racks into individual chops and arrange 3 or 4 chops on each plate. Pass the sauce at the table.

Potato-Apple Gratin

Yield: 8 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 12 Tbsp. butter, divided
• 2 pounds onions, sliced
• 2 Tbsp. (packed) chopped fresh thyme
• 4 tsp. fine sea salt, divided
• 1 quart cream
• 2 sprigs rosemary
• 2 1/2 pounds Yukon Gold, yellow Finn, or German Butterball potatoes, peeled and sliced as thinly as possible.
• 2 pounds tart apples (Granny Smith, Pippin, or Pink Lady), peeled, halved, cored, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
• 2 cups cheddar, freshly grated

METHOD

1.         Preheat oven to 400 F. Butter 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass or ceramic baking dish.

2.         Heat the cream and bring to a boil. Add the rosemary to the cream and steep for 15 minutes.

3.         Meanwhile, melt six tablespoons butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add onions, thyme and two teaspoons salt; sauté until onions are translucent, about 10 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high; sauté until onions are tender and begin to colour, about eight minutes longer. Remove from heat. Add remaining six tablespoons butter and cream to skillet; stir and swirl skillet to combine. Bring to boil. Cool onion mixture to lukewarm.

4.         Combine potatoes, apples, remaining two teaspoons salt and onion mixture in large bowl; toss gently to blend. Transfer to prepared baking dish, spreading evenly. Sprinkle cheese on top. Cover dish with parchment paper, and then cover with foil, shiny side down. Bake gratin for one hour and 10 minutes. Let gratin stand 15 minutes before serving.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Sour Dried Cherries and Pecans

INGREDIENTS

• 8 Brussels sprouts, halved
•  1 1/2 Tbsp. sour dried cherries
•  1 1/2 Tbsp. pecans lightly crushed
• 2 tsp. honey
• 3 slices of bacon, chopped
• 1 tsp. soy
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 tsp. mild chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric

METHOD

1.         In a medium pan heat, render the bacon, and then remove from the pan. Cook the Brussels sprouts in the reserved bacon fat, sautéing until browned, about five minutes. Add in spices, honey, and soy. Toss, and add the cherries, pecans, and bacon.

I’m a big proponent of blind tasting.

By blind tasting I mean sampling a wine without knowing what you have in your glass. Blind tasting, to me, really levels the playing field. It gets rid of the built-in bias that can form in the back of your mind when you know how much a wine costs or if it’s from a prestigious producer.

When I sample wines submitted by importers I always try to taste them blind. Sometimes I group similar types of wines together — say pinot noirs — while other times I just pile a bunch of reds or whites into one group.

A guide dog was on the scene during the Love is Blind Experience at Willow Park on Feb. 21.

It’s amazing how your focus changes when your appraisal is based solely on what’s in the glass — you focus on the essentials: flavour, texture, acidity, tannins, etc. It’s surprising how a $15 or $20 wine can stand out above a $60 one when your judgment is based on taste alone.

The whole idea of blind tasting was taken to a different level a few weeks back, though, when Pacific Wines and Spirits, a wine importer in Alberta, held a special event at Willow Park Wines and Spirits.

Called the Love is Blind Experience, the Feb. 21 event paired the wines of M. Chapoutier, a high-quality French winery based in the Rhone Valley, with the taste creations of the Willow Park kitchen. The key to the event was that the 60 people in attendance tasted the wine and food samples while blindfolded.

I’m sure it looked pretty interesting as a crowd dressed up for a Friday night felt around their plates with their hands, looking for that hidden chunk of meat or vegetable. But since everyone was blindfolded, it didn’t really matter.

It was a ton of fun as we tried to figure out what kind of wines we were tasting and what foods we were pairing them with. For a lot of people at my table, the textures of both the food and wine became more noticeable. People’s inhibitions about voicing their thoughts also seemed to be lowered, which raised the fun factor.

But the event wasn’t just about fun; it also sought to raise awareness about the Alberta Guide Dog Services program. Representative Sandra Cramer was on hand to talk about their programs — such as puppy scholarships — that train dogs to help people with visual impairments or autism.

M. Chapoutier is a major supporter of programs to help the visually impaired. All Chapoutier wines have braille built into their labels. The raised dots say the name of the wine, the vintage, where it’s from and whether it’s red or white. Chapoutier, according to Michelle Sharpe with Pacific Wine & Spirits, was the first company to sell a mass-market product with braille packaging.

As for the outstanding pairings, the first course featured a scallop with mango salad, prosciutto-wrapped shrimp and tuna tartar on a spoon with the M. Chapoutier Bila-Haut Blanc, a white blend of Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris from the Cotes-du-Rousillon. Light, fresh and fruity. About $16.

The second course matched beef tataki on a fresh-baked baguette with chives, capers and Parmesan cheese. It was served with the Belleruche Rouge, a blend of 80 per cent Grenache and 20 per cent Syrah from the Cotes-du-Rhone region. Round and rich. Available for around $17.

Next up was my favourite course, cherry braised pork back ribs with maple glazed carrot wedges and potato pave. It went wonderfully with the meaty, smoky Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem, a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan from the Cotes-du-Rousillon Villages. About $27.

Up next was a cheese course with Comte, Shropshire Blue on a spoon with fruit compote and Beaufort cheese. They were tasted with the Les Meysonniers, a straight Syrah from Crozes-Hermitage. Full-bodied and earthy with lots of licorice. About $26.

The night ended with a fruit zabaglione made with Beaumes de Venise-poached apricots. It was paired with the same Beaumes de Venise, a Rhone Valley dessert wine made from Muscat grapes. Luscious and not too sweet. $25.

The year’s biggest date night is just a week away.

Maybe you’ve made Valentine’s Day reservations at a fancy restaurant. Or you’re preparing a memorable meal at home for your special someone. Either way, the right bottle of wine can certainly help set the mood.

With that in mind, I’ve gathered a few bottles that match Valentine’s mood — they’re spicy, seductive, sultry and sexy.

SPICY

Oxford Landing Estates
2012
Shiraz
South Australia, Australia

If you’re looking to spice up the mood, break out this Aussie Shiraz from Oxford Landing, a winery located along the Murray River in South Australia.

Deep purple in colour, this wine is loaded with the characteristic black pepper spice of Shiraz/Syrah. It’s medium-bodied, off-dry and filled with rich flavours of blackcurrant, anise, blackberry, black cherry and vanilla.

Price: About $14. Look for it at B.K. Liquor Store, Crowfoot Centre Liquor Store, CSN Wine and Spirits, Hawkwood Fine Wine and Spirits, Highlander Wine and Spirits, Lincoln Park Liquor Store, Liquor Depot and Willow Park Wines and Spirits.

Drink: Now, with sausages, a meaty pizza or grilled lamb. Screw Cap; 13.5 per cent alc./vol.

Oxford Landing Estates Shiraz 2012.

SEDUCTIVE

Mission Hill Family Estate
2012
Reserve Merlot
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

From one of the Okanagan Valley’s top producers, the dark colour of this expertly crafted Merlot is mesmerizing, like looking deeply into your partner’s eyes.

A slow charmer, it reveals its secrets with time, offering rich flavours of vanilla, plum, blackberry and cherry. It’s medium-full bodied and nicely balanced, with ripe tannins.

It’s definitely worth decanting this tightly wound wine before enjoying it.

Price: About $25. Seek it out at Aspen Wine and Spirits, Co-op Wines Spirits Beer, Crowfoot Liquor Store, 58^th Avenue Liquor Store, Liquor Bank, Liquor Depot, Liquor Emporium, New Discovery Fine Wines and Spirits, Premier Wine and Spirits, Sam’s Liquor Store, Skyway Wine and Liquor, Solo Liquor Store, Willow Park Wines and Spirits.

Drink: Now, or lose it in the cellar for a few years. Try it with any grilled meat. Cork; 14 per cent alc./vol.

Mission Hill  Family Estate 2012 Reserve Merlot.

SULTRY

The Seven Deadly Zins
2012
Old Vine Zinfandel
Lodi, California

Michael and David Phillips, the brothers behind Michael David Winery, hit the jackpot when they created The Seven Deadly Zins, a Zinfandel made from the fruit of seven different vineyards. The wine gained an immediate following for the brothers with a long history in Lodi, Calif. Their family has farmed in the area since the 1850s and grown grapes for more than a century.

It’s certainly a sensuous sipper, with a lush, velvety texture and rich flavours of cherry, strawberry, pepper, plum and leather. The tannins are soft and ripe and the intense fruit is kept in check by balancing acidity.

Price: About $27. It’s widely available, check your nearest liquor store.

Drink: Now, with duck, lasagna or pizza. Cork; 15 per cent alc./vol.

The Seven Deadly Zins: 2012.

SEXY

H. Billiot Fils
Non-vintage
Brut Reserve
Champagne, France

It’s hard to get sexier than Champagne, the sparkling wine with the tiny bubbles that tickle noses and bring smiles to faces.

A wine of celebration, even the story behind the design of the coupe Champagne glass is sexy. Legend is its curvy shape was based on Marie Antoinette’s left breast. Some historians discount the story as myth, but it’s a good one.

The Billiot family has been growing grapes in the Champagne region, about 150 kilometres east of Paris, since 1937. The family sold its grapes to large Champagne houses until Louis Billiot started producing some of his own wines.

Billiot’s great great granddaughter, Laetitia, now runs the family winery, which she took over from her father Serge.

Pale lemon in colour, this creamy sparkler offers flavours of apple, pear, cherry, strawberry, chalk, smoke and a bit of brioche. It’s primarily made from Pinot Noir, with Chardonnay rounding out the blend.

Price: About $50. Check for it at Bin 905, Eastport Liquor Store, Five Vines Wine, Craft Beer and Spirits, Highlander Wine and Spirits, Vine Arts Wine and Spirits.

Drink: Now, with sushi, roast chicken or on its own. Cork; 12.5 per cent alc./vol.

Henri Billiot Brut Reserve.

Contact Darren at dm.oleksyn@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter.com/doleksyn. Looking for a specific wine mentioned here? Because wine inventories are always in flux, it’s a good idea to call the store before you go.

France’s Rhône Valley has been a source for high quality value-driven wines for decades, and while prices have crept up slightly with the rise of the Euro, for the most part this remains the case.

The real value in the Rhone comes in the form of the basic Côtes du Rhône and Côte du Rhône Villages wines. The best ones display characteristics similar to the great wines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas but for less than half the price, at least. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault and Carignan are the workhorse grapes of the region although there are numerous lesser-known indigenous varietals that find their way into many of the blends. Here are a few of my current favourites;

Domaine de la Florane Fleur de Pampre
Côtes du Rhône Villages 2013 – $19

Here is a great bang-for-the-buck red from the Côtes du Rhône village of Visan, a soft, easy-drinking red with some notes of crushed cherries, spice and lots of character. It is made from old vine Grenache (80%) and Syrah, with the bonus of being produced from organically grown grapes. Only half of the blend goes into oak while the rest is aged in stainless steel tanks, which helps keep if fresh and lively tasting. It would go well roast pork, burgers and roast chicken.

Fleur de Pampre

Domaine de la Renjarde
Côtes du Rhône Villages 2011 – $25

This is one of my go-to Côtes du Rhônes and has been for many years. It is remarkably consistent from year to year, perhaps because it is owned and operated by the Richard family who also own Chateau La Nerthe, a first-rate producer of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The wine comes across like a mini Chateauneuf with lots of spice and black fruits along with the classic Provencal notes of wild sage brush (known locally as garrigue). It would go well with lamb stew and game meats.

Domaine de al Renjarde Cotes du Rhone Villages 2011 for Geoff Last’s wine column.

Les Halos de Jupiter
Côtes du Rhône 2012 – $24

Winemaker Philipe Cambie is one of the most famous and sought-after consulting winemakers in the Rhône Valley, so as you can imagine his own wines are impressive. He produces these wines in conjunction with Michel Gassier, a name synonymous with high- quality wines from the Languedoc region. This is predominantly old vine Grenache (85%) along with some Syrah and Mourvedre from a high altitude vineyard near Roaix, at the northern fringe of Southern Rhône. It is a big, brawny style Rhône with a hefty kick of alcohol (15.5%) but it holds it well, delivering notes of kirsch, black pepper and plums with firm but well integrated tannins. The usual red meat combinations are in order here, especially so with game meat.

Les Halos de Jupiter Cotes du Rhone

Looking for wine in Alberta? Go to http://www.liquorconnect.com

Geoff Last is a long time Calgary wine merchant and writer and a regular contributor to City Palate and other publications. He instructs on food and wine at the Cookbook Company Cooks.

Whisky is aged in barrels once used for wine, but an Australian winery has set out to see if the reverse would have any sort of delicious effect.

The experiment of aging Jacob’s Creek shiraz in barrels that once imparted flavour to Scotch whisky has proved fruitful. What was predicted would sell in a year, sold in six months. And now the Australian winery is bringing the intriguing wine to Canada.

It took a few experiments to get it right. The first mistake, chief winemaker Bernard Hickin said, was not letting the whisky barrels “sweat” the residual liquor, leaving that first batch of wine with high alcohol levels. Now, they wait two months to let the barrels dry out, so to speak, before letting the wine age in them. The second aging, in the whisky barrels, takes about 12 weeks, following 15 months of aging in traditional wine barrels.

Shiraz wines from the Barossa Valley in Australia are known for their plum, blackberry and dried fruit flavours. At a recent tasting of the Jacob’s Creek shiraz, we had a chance to try the wine before it had been aged in the whisky barrels and then some from a batch after the second-stage aging. Both were lovely, and all those fruit flavours were still present after a stint in the whisky barrels; but that second-stage aging mellows out the tannins and creates an unexpectedly smooth, easy-to-drink red wine.

Even I, someone known for reaching for white wine before red, was enchanted by the Double Barrel.

Two glasses of Jacob’s Creek Double Barrel, a red wine aged in former whisky barrels.

The wine will be available in Alberta at the end of July or early August. It has a suggested retail price of $19.99.

grichards@calgaryherald.com

twitter.com/gwendolynmr

The celebratory holiday season is just around the corner. While economic circumstances might have taken some of the cheer out of the past year, there are still ways to wow your friends with special wines at reasonable prices.

Maybe instead of buying that $80 Champagne, a well-made Spanish cava or Canadian sparkling wine might work. A hearty red blend from Australia or Argentina can replace a similar wine from a more prestigious, and expensive, region.

Here’s a mix of wines that would serve you well at a party or please a wine lover on Christmas morning.

Trivento

2013

Amado Sur

Mendoza, Argentina

Trivento, Amado Sur

This is a triple-threat wine. It’s a blend of three grapes — Malbec (70 per cent), Bonarda (20 per cent) and Syrah (10 per cent) — from three Mendozan sub-regions, namely Lujan de Cuyo, Maipu and Tupungato.

The winery name itself means three winds in recognition of the traditional breezes — the polar, zonda and sudestada — that each play a role in how the grapes develop.

This wine is like Black Forest cake in a glass, with rich flavours of mocha, black cherry, black currant and raspberry. It’s medium bodied, with soft tannins and a lingering finish.

Price: About $16. It is widely available throughout the city. Check your nearest store.

Drink: Now. Try it with grilled lamb, pepperoni pizza or on its own. Cork; 14 per cent alc./vol.

Pares Balta

Non-vintage

Cava Brut

Penedes, Spain

Pares Balta, Caba Brut

Pares Balta is a family-owned Spanish winery with a history dating back to 1790. And it has been organic the whole time.

Joan Cusine, who now manages Pares Balta with his brother Josep Cusine, said during a recent Calgary visit that no fertilizers or chemicals have been used on the vineyards. For fertilizer they rely on a flock of 350 sheep that are herded around the vineyards. The grazers supply nutrients for the soil and help keep the grass and weeds down. The winery also has its own beehives to help with pollination.

Three years ago the winery went biodynamic — a kind of organic-plus philosophy that treats the land and all the living things around it as one entity. It strives to let nature find its own balance.

While the brothers manage the winery, their wives — Maria Elena Jimenez and Marta Casas — make the wines. This sparkling wine, made in the same method as Champagne, relies on the staple cava grapes of Parellada, Macabeo and Xarel-lo.

Light-bodied, the wine boasts refreshing acidity and flavours of green apple, lemon, spice, tarragon and a bit of fresh brioche.

Price: About $18. Look for it at Bin 905, Crowfoot Centre Liquor Store, CSN Wine and Spirits, 5 Vines Wine, Craft Beer and Spirits, Highlander Wine and Spirits, J. Webb Wine Merchant, Vine Arts, Willow Park Wines and Spirits, Zyn The Wine Market.

Drink: Now. Pop it at a party as an aperitif or pair it with oysters, fish tacos or chicken Dijon. Cork; 11.5 per cent alc./vol.

Yangarra Estate Vineyard

2013

GSM

McLaren Vale, Australia

Yangarra Estate, GSM

Also a biodynamic winery, Yangarra is located in southern Australia, near Adelaide. It focuses on the grapes that made France’s Rhone Valley famous, including Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvedre, Viognier and Roussanne.

Boasting vineyards planted in 1946, the winery was purchased in 2001 by California wine icon Jess Jackson, who passed away in 2011. It’s now managed by Jackson Family Wines, which owns wineries around the world. Peter Fraser, the winemaker at Yangarra since 2001, was recently named Australia’s winemaker of the year by noted Aussie critic James Halliday.

A blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre, the wine relies a lot on fruit from the vineyard planted in 1946. Similar in makeup to a Cotes-du-Rhone or Chateauneuf-du-Pape from France, it is medium-plus bodied with firm tannins and flavours of black cherry, blackberry, earth and spice.

Price: About $26. Look for it at Co-op Wines Spirits Beer, The Cellar, Highlander Wine and Spirits, Sobeys Liquor, Star Liquor and Wine Boutique, Willow Park Wines & Spirits.

Drink: Now, or age it up to eight years. Grilled lamb is the classic pairing. Screw cap; 14 per cent alc./vol.

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery

2012

Athene

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Burrowing Owl Athene

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery is a flagship south Okanagan winery that has embraced wine tourism and environmental stewardship.

Started by the Wyse family in 1997, Burrowing Owl offers a state-of-the-art winery, top-notch restaurant and guest houses. It also embraces green practices such as using solar and geothermal energy and creating habitats that attract beneficial insects such as spiders, which control damaging pests such as aphids.

As well, the funds raised by a $3 tasting fee in the winery are donated to two local agencies that protect and rehabilitate burrowing owls, an endangered species in the region.

Athene, an almost 50-50 blend of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, is a relatively new product for the winery. It has been one of my favourites from the start, with the ripe, dark flavours of Syrah marrying so well with the more savoury Cabernet.

The 2012 blend is dry, medium-full bodied and filled with dark red fruit flavours such as black raspberry, blackberry and blackcurrant, plus notes of pepper, smoked meat, earth and sage.

Price: About $49. Look for it at Co-op Wines Spirits Beer, Crowfoot Wine and Spirits, J. Webb Merchant and The Cellar.

Drink: Now, or age it five years. The winery suggests pairing it with a hearty beef stew or elk tenderloin in a peppercorn sauce. I can’t argue with those suggestions. Cork; 14.5 per cent alc./vol.

Contact Darren Oleksyn at dm.oleksyn@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter: @doleksyn. Looking for a specific wine mentioned here? Because wine inventories are always in flux, it’s a good idea to call the store before you go.

A couple of weeks ago, the River Café celebrated its 25th anniversary and to mark the event they hosted a remarkable luncheon and dinner featuring the wines of British Columbia. 

The River Café has always been an advocate for local ingredients and Canadian wine, so this beloved Calgary institution was the ideal venue for the event. Wine Spectator columnist and author Matt Kramer was on hand to host both the trade luncheon and gala dinner, which pitted B.C. wines (in a blind-tasting format) against their counterparts from other parts of the world.

As B.C.’s wine industry has matured, the province’s wines are now garnering international recognition. For example, Meyer’s McLean Creek 2013 Pinot Noir was recently acknowledged by Decanter magazine as one of the best Pinot’s in the world outside of Burgundy. That’s no small feat when you consider the quality that can be found in places like New Zealand, Oregon and California. As plantings and volumes have increased the wines are now getting international exposure and as a tourist destination the region is seeing record numbers — with some help from the beleaguered Canadian dollar.

If there is a downside to all of this it is the cost. The better wines tend to start at about $25 a bottle and many fall into the $40 to $50 range, but as California wines continue their inevitable rise in cost, B.C. wines are looking more attractive all the time. Here are some of the wines that showed very well at the tasting:

Quails’ Gate 2014 Chardonnay — $24

At $24, this is one of the more reasonably priced wines from the event and it held its own against a fairly serious example of $40 Pouilly-Fuisse from Burgundy. The wine is almost Chablis-like in style (in the blind tasting I mistook it for Chablis), with notes of stone fruits and minerals and a touch of new French oak. Quails’ Gate has been at it for 25 years, making them one of the Okanagan pioneers and this is a seriously good bottle of Chardonnay for the price.

Quails’ Gate 2014 Chardonnay.

Haywire 2013 Pinot Gris — $32

Pinot Gris has long been acknowledged as one of B.C.’s trademark grapes as the varietal seems particularly well-suited to the Okanagan terroir. The Haywire was paired with Canadian sturgeon over lunch and was a nice match with this intensely flavoured fish. Fermented using wild yeast in concrete tanks the wine has a core of citrus and melon with some minerality and lively acid. Haywire produces its wines at the Okanagan Crush Pad, a facility that offers winemaking equipment and consultation to smaller wineries. Famed Italian winemaker Alberto Antonini consults for Haywire, for example.

Haywire 2013 Pinot Gris. 

Laughing Stock 2013 Syrah — $49

This wine was one of the clear favourites at the trade luncheon and I was not surprised. Laughing Stock has been on a roll over the last few years, producing some of B.C., ’s best red wines. Stylistically, it falls somewhere between the northern Rhone and South Australia, a big, chewy style of Syrah with a core of blackberry fruit and a touch of black pepper. The wine sees a small addition of Viognier — as is typical for Syrah from France’s northern Rhone Valley — which lends it an aromatic lift. Syrah is showing great potential in the Okanagan and this wine demonstrates that in a big way. At almost $50, it was one of the priciest wines in the tasting, but there is no question this is a serious bottle of red wine that should improve with a few year time in the cellar.

Laughing Stock 2013 Syrah. 

Meyer McLean Creek 2014 Pinot Noir — $42

While I generally feel that the cooler northern end of the Okanagan Valley is better suited to Pinot Noir, this wine proves to be an exception to that theory (Meyer is situated in Okanagan Falls). On the day of the tasting, Jack Meyer had only just found out about the recognition from Decanter magazine so he was understandably thrilled to have received such an accolade from this highly respected publication. The wine offers a core of black cherry fruit with some intriguing albeit subtle campfire notes backed by vibrant acidity. It will improve with a few years in the cellar but is certainly drinkable now, ideally with some seared or smoked duck breast.

Meyer mcLean Creek 20145 Pinot Noir. 

Looking for wine in Alberta? Go to http://www.liquorconnect.com

Geoff Last is a longtime Calgary wine merchant, writer and broadcaster and a regular contributor to City Palate and other publications. He instructs on food and wine at the Cookbook Company Cooks.

For many families, Easter means a gathering around the dinner table. What is served really can vary, though. 

In many households a baked ham, or roast lamb, are the staples. In our family, a roast turkey often made an appearance as well. Pairing one specific type of wine to such diverse dishes can be a challenge, so instead I decided to offer a few different bottles that would match well with one or two of the staples.

Ham matches well with a fruity red like New World Grenache, a juicy, off-dry white like Gewurztraminer or a dry/off-dry rosé. Lamb is best complemented by a spicy, beefy red like Syrah or Cabernet Sauvignon. When it comes to turkey, there are many options — a lighter-style red such as Pinot Noir or Gamay, a white with a good acid profile such as Chardonnay or a dry Riesling, a dry rosé or a bubbly. 

No matter what you pick, the big thing to remember is wine complements any occasion. Don’t stress. Enjoy your company. 

Sumac Ridge 

2015 

Private Reserve Gewurztraminer

Okanagan Valley, B.C.

It’s touted as British’s Columbia’s bestselling Gewurztraminer, and one taste reveals why. It offers everything that’s great about the hard-to-pronounce white wine — it’s extremely aromatic, with a pleasing palate weight and a bit of sweetness, but not too much.

Sumac Ridge, one of the Okanagan Valley’s first wineries, was started in 1979 when wine legend Harry McWatters and business partner Lloyd Schmidt purchased the Sumac Ridge Golf Course in Summerland. It has changed hands a couple of times since then, most recently being part of a group of Canadian wineries bought by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. McWatters, who left the winery in 2009, now has his hand in a number of other Okanagan wineries.

Business aside, inside the bottle you’ll find persistent, but not overbearing, flavours of rose petal, orange blossom, lychee, cantaloupe and a bit of cinnamon. Supplemented with a splash (seven per cent) of the white grape Schoenberger, this Gewurz is off-dry, with a lingering finish.

Price: About $18. Look for it at Co-op Wines Spirits Beer, Highlander Wine and Spirits, Liquor Depot, Olympia Liquor Store, Real Canadian Liquor Store, Safeway Wine and Spirits, Sobeys Liquor and Willow Park Wines and Spirits.

Drink: Now. The sweetness in the wine should be a perfect counter to the saltiness of a baked ham. It would also complement a roast turkey or chicken. Screw cap; 13.5 per cent alc./vol.

 Sumac Ridge Gewurztraminer.

Yalumba 

2013 

The Strapper Grenache Shiraz Mataro

Barossa Valley, Australia

Australia’s oldest family-owned winery, Yalumba has been making wines since 1849. The winery sits pretty much on the border between the Barossa Valley and the cooler, higher-elevation Eden Valley.

This beefy red is from the hot Barossa floor. The name comes from horse terminology — the Strapper is the person who cares for the horses, says Yalumba’s highly entertaining international ambassador Jane Ferrari. Yalumba has bred horses for 60 years.

A traditional blend in France’s Rhone Valley, this red consists of Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro (Mourvedre in France). From what Farrari calls a muscular vintage, it’s medium-full bodied, rich and powerful, with flavours of black fruits, violet and a bit of black licorice.

Price: About $21. Look for it at Ace Liquor, Costco Liquor and Willow Park Wines and Spirits.

Drink: Now, or in a couple of years. This would be a great pairing with either lamb or ham. Screw cap; 14.1 per cent alc./vol.

Yalumba non-vintage The Strapper Grenache, Shiraz, Mataro.

Louis Jadot 

2014 

Macon Villages Grange Magnien

Burgundy, France

Started by Louis Henry Denis Jadot in 1859, Maison Louis Jadot has a long history and impressive French portfolio in Burgundy and Beaujolais. Jadot boasts 210 hectares of vineyards in regions where ownership is sometimes measured in individual vineyard rows.

This Chardonnay is from the Maconais region, at the southern end of Burgundy. The Macon Villages designation means the grapes were grown around one or more of 43 designated villages, included one named Chardonnay!

A nicely rounded and fruity Chardonnay, it offers flavours of baked lemon, pear, vanilla and some fresh- cut herbs. It’s medium-bodied, dry/off-dry, with a medium finish and enough acidity to balance out the fruit flavours.

Price: About $24. Look for it Co-op Wines Spirits Beer and Willow Park Wines and Spirits.

Drink: Now. This wine should work well both with the baked ham and poultry. Not to mention as an aperitif. Cork; 12.5 per cent alc./vol.

Macon Blanc Villages.

Laughing Stock Vineyards

2014

Portfolio

Okanagan Valley, B.C.

Laughing Stock was born in 2003 when husband and wife David and Cynthia Enns traded jobs in the world of finance for the uncertainty of winery ownership.

Now almost 15 years later, the Naramata Bench winery has proven to be sound business decision — consistently delivering outstanding wines, both red and white.

Portfolio is Laughing Stock’s top tier red blend, and the 2014 is stellar. Two rounds of grape sorting assured only the best fruit from a hot year made the cut. The result is a refined bruiser of a wine, with rich flavours and ripe tannins.

A blend of 49 per cent Merlot, 28 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 per cent Cabernet Franc, two per cent Malbec and one per cent Petit Verdot, it’s dry, full-bodied and offers a long finish. The flavours include mocha, plum, blackberry, pepper, leather, blackcurrant and some fresh-cut herbs.

It’s one of the Okanagan’s best wines from a stellar red vintage.

Price: Around $50. Check for it at Aspen Wines and Spirits, Bin 905, Bricks Wine Company, Cloud 9 Liquor Store, Co-op Wines Spirits Beer, Crowfoot Centre Liquor Store, 5 Vines Wine, Craft Beer and Spirits, Highlander Wine and Spirits, J. Webb Wine Merchant, Liquor Depot, Richmond Hill Wines, Vine Arts Wine, Beer and Spirits, Vine Styles, Willow Park Wines and Spirits, Zyn the Wine Market.

Drink: Now, with a vigorous decanting. Better yet, cellar it for three to six years. It would pair extremely well with lamb. Cork; 14.9 per cent alc./vol.

 Laughing Stock 2014 Portfolio.

Contact Darren Oleksyn at dm.oleksyn@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter: @doleksyn. Looking for a specific wine mentioned here? Because wine inventories are always in flux, it’s a good idea to call the store before you go.

Spring might be a bit bashful this year, but that shouldn’t stop us from ushering in May with fresh, fun wines primed for entertaining. Here’s a great party mix — a white, red, rosé and bubbly — that over delivers on flavour at prices at or under $20. 

Good enough to impress wine nerds and neophytes alike, you might want to buy in multiples. Let spring bloom with cheer in your glass. Enjoy.

Fleur du Cap 

2015 

Chardonnay

Western Cape, South Africa

Fleur du Cap, based in South Africa’s beautiful Stellenbosch region, is coming into its 50^th anniversary. You could say the winery is rock solid, literally, since its cellar — known as Die Bergkelder — was carved into the side of a mountain.

The mountain cellar is the hub of the winery, which has vineyards throughout the Western Cape region. You’ll find a museum, tasting room and cellar where 500,000 bottles and 20,000 barrels rest.

This Chardonnay is medium-bodied, with a touch of sweetness and a nice oaky aroma. Look for flavours of pineapple, baked pear, tarragon and other fresh cut herbs, plus lime and lemon. A persistent acid on the finish keeps everything fresh.  

Price: $16. Look for it at Avenida Liquor Market, Co-op Wines Spirits Beer, Craft Cellars, Eastport Liquor Store, Mission Wine and Liquor Merchants.

Drink: Now. Enjoy it with white fish, roast chicken or pork tenderloin. Screw cap; 14 per cent alc./vol.

The Fleur du Cap Chardonnay from South Africa.

Segura Viudas 

Non-vintage 

Brut Rosado Cava

Penedes, Spain

While I think rosé, or Rosado as it’s called in Spain, is the perfect tipple all year long, for many people, pinks are summer drinks. It’s hard to beat Segura Viudas when it comes to great sparkling wines at excellent prices, and this rosé is no exception.

Located on an 11^th century estate, Segura Viudas makes both still and sparkling wines, though the bubblies are what’s most often seen in our area. Segura Cavas are made using the same method as Champagne, though in most cases with different grapes. This rosé consists primarily of Trepat, a red grape native to northeastern Spain. The blend is rounded out with 10 per cent Garnacha — in France it’s called Grenache.

A medium salmon-pink colour, the bubbles are small and persistent. The palate of this off-dry wine shows flavours of currant, cranberry, cherry, cantaloupe and strawberry. So refreshing.

Price: About $18. Hunt it out at Co-op Wines Spirits Beer, 5 Vines Wine, Craft Beer and Spirits, Highlander Wine and Spirits on 16^th Ave. N.W., Sobeys and Willow Park Wines & Spirits.

Drink: Now. Enjoy it with a strawberry dessert, steelhead trout, Chinese takeout or as an aperitif. Cork; 12 per cent alc./vol.

The Segura Viudas Brut Rosado sparkling rose from Spain.

Chateau d’Astros

2016

Cotes de Provence

Provence, France

Staying on the rosé theme, it’s hard to top the beautiful still pinks from Provence in southeastern France. Chateau d’Astros is a family winery located about 120 kilometres east of the port city of Marseille. The beautiful forested estate includes a 150-year-old chateau built to look like an Italian villa.

Bernard Maurel, 85, still oversees the winery, which has employed seven generations of his family. They make a variety of still wines, though 75 per cent of their production is rosé.

This light pink-hued blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah offers a nose of strawberries, raspberries and roses — so pretty. It’s dry on the palate, with a vibrant acidity and flavours that match the nose. One warning: This wine will evaporate quickly on a sunny day!

Price: About $20. Look for it at The Cellar or Highlander Wine and Spirits in Marda Loop. The 2016 has just arrived in market and could show up in other boutique stores in the next few weeks.

Drink: Now. Try it on its own, with a fresh salad, salmon sushi or butter chicken. Cork; 12.5 per cent alc./vol.

The Chateau d’Astros rosé from Provence, France.

Amalaya 

2015 

Malbec

Salta, Argentina

Talk about tasting the sun — you can’t find vines much closer to the sun than these.

The grapes for this wine from Amalaya come from two vineyards that sit more than a kilometre and a half above sea level in the Calchaqui Valley in Salta, Argentina. That high elevation means the sun’s rays strike with a powerful intensity that is ideal for ripening grapes. And 2015 was an excellent vintage, with plenty of warm, dry days interspersed with cooler periods that help keep the wine’s acid levels up. Without acid to balance the fruit and tannins, a wine tastes flat and uninspiring.

This blend of 85 per cent Malbec, 10 per cent Tannat and five per cent Syrah is loaded with dark fruit flavours such as blackberry, blueberry and plum, with notes of mocha, chocolate and violet.

Price: About $20. Look for it at 5 Vines Wine, Craft Beer and Spirits, Sobeys, Willow Park Wines & Spirits and Zyn the Wine Market.

Drink: Enjoy it now, with grilled steak, lamb or ribs. Screw cap; 13.9 per cent alc./vol.

The Amalaya Malbec from Salta, Argentina.

Contact Darren Oleksyn at dm.oleksyn@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter: @doleksyn. Looking for a specific wine mentioned here? Because wine inventories are always in flux, it’s a good idea to call the store before you go. Liquorconnect.com can give you an idea of stores that have carried the wines.

Tonight’s the night. Daylight saving time comes to an end. A glorious extra hour of sleep awaits! 

Unless you live in Saskatchewan, of course.

For some, the end of daylight time signals it’s time to finish the winter preparations. You put the snow tires on the car, put up the Christmas lights and finish raking those leaves that held on until the last minute.

I have another ritual. I stock up on red wines to get me through the chilly season. With long, cold nights on the way, it’s nice to hunker down with a full-bodied red wine. Here are a few suggestions.

Natale Verga

2015 

Governo Toscano

Tuscany, Italy

Natale Verga is a very large, modern Italian winery with a long history. Founded in 1895, the winery has maintained family leadership for more than a century.

Natale Verga is the fourth generation to manage the winery, working with his father Giancarlo and sisters Laura and Cristina. The winery produces wines in eight different tiers, using grapes from all over Italy, from Piedmont to Sicily, Tuscany to the Veneto.

This Tuscan blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon is made a little differently. The traditional process of Governo is employed. It involves adding some partially dried grapes from the harvest to the must midway through fermentation. 

The grapes add more sugar to the mix, giving the fermentation a boost. If fermented until all the sugar is burned, you get a more full-bodied wine. If you stop the fermentation earlier, the finished wine will have a bit more sweetness. That’s where this wine falls. It has a bit of sweetness to go with flavours of strawberry, cherry and raspberry. It’s fun and fruity.

Price: About $15. Look for it at Heritage Wine and Spirits and Highfield Liquor.

Drink: Now. Enjoy it with hamburgers, pepperoni pizza or spaghetti and meatballs. Cork; 13.5 per cent alc./vol.

Honoro Vera

2015

Garnacha

Calatayud, Spain

In the hot and dry Calatayud region in northern Spain, this wine from Bodegas Ateca is a classic, easygoing Garnacha. 

One of many Spanish wineries falling under the Gil Family Estates umbrella, Ateca was started in 2005 and has a strong focus on Garnacha, known as Grenache in France.

This one is meant to be enjoyed young. It only sees two months in French oak so the fruit flavours remain front and centre. Blueberry, strawberry and black cherry are predominant, with notes of black licorice and black pepper. Medium bodied with soft tannins, it’s a great weekday wine, especially if you don’t like a lot of oak flavours in your vino.

Price: About $17. Check for it at Co-op Wines Spirits Beer, Craft Cellars, Highlander Wine and Spirits and Willow Park Wines and Spirits.

Drink: Now. Try it with beef stew, seafood paella or grilled salmon. Cork; 14.5 per cent alc./vol.

Langmeil 

2015 

Three Gardens SMG

Barossa Valley, Australia

Langmeil sits on a prized piece of history. The winery’s collection of vineyards includes what they believe is the oldest Shiraz vineyard in the world. 

The Freedom vineyard is thought to have been planted in 1843 by Christian Auricht who came to the southern Australian region from Prussia. The ancient vineyard still produces fruit that’s used in a rare and pricey Shiraz.

Not everyone can afford such a precious wine. Luckily, Langmeil produces several great wines at everyday prices. This is one of my favourites.

A blend of 52 per cent Shiraz, 31 per cent Mataro (another name for the grape Mourvedre) and 17 per cent Grenache, the Three Gardens SMG is big, spicey and intense. The flavours run from red currant to smokey plum, blackberry, black cherry, leather, earth and black pepper. With firm, ripe tannins and a long finish, this wine can be enjoyed now or left in the cellar for a few years.

Price: About $27. Look for it at Bin 905, Britannia Wine Merchants, Co-op Wines Spirits Beer, Crowfoot Centre Liquor Store, Highlander Wine and Spirits, Liquor Depot, New Discovery Fine Wines and Spirits, The Cellar, Valley Ridge Liquor Store, Willow Park Wines and Spirits and Zyn the Wine Market.

Drink: In the next three years. Try it with grilled lamb, beef short rib or Manchego cheese. Screw cap; 14.5 per cent alc./vol.

Hillside Winery 

2014 

Syrah

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Perched on the west-facing hills of the Naramata Bench, Hillside Winery is all about location. The winery relies on grapes from its eight hectares of estate vineyards, plus select spots along the Naramata bench.

This Syrah comes from the winery’s Hidden Valley vineyard and a second prime Naramata spot. From the stellar 2014 vintage, it’s a big, beefy wine with prominent tannins. You could definitely set it aside for a few years, or decant for an hour if drinking it now.

Once you pop the cork you’ll find aromas and flavours that include blackberry, black cherry, vanilla, black raspberry, leather and black pepper. 

Price: About $29. Look for it Co-op Wines Spirits Beer, Crowfoot Centre Liquor Store, Highlander Wine and Spirits, Liquor Lane, Rocky Mountain Wine, Spirits and Beer, Skyway Liquor, Solo Liquor and Willow Park Wines and Spirits.

Drink: In the next three or four years. Try it with a grilled steak, cassoulet or barbecued ribs — pork or beef. Cork; 13.5 per cent alc./vol.

Contact Darren Oleksyn at dm.oleksyn@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter: @doleksyn. Looking for a specific wine mentioned here? Because wine inventories are always in flux, it’s a good idea to call the store before you go. Liquorconnect.com can give you an idea of stores that have carried the wines.