deVine Thoughts

Author: Dirk Chan

Our special this week is the Yalumba Y-Series Viognier (South Australia) – $16.99 (GST Holiday), regularly $20.99.

Established in 1849, Yalumba is Australia’s most historic family owned wine company. It remains fiercely independent and extremely progressive through the generational ownership by the Hill-Smith family.

Yalumba’s longevity and continued success is a result of their dedication, patience, collaboration and progressive thinking. They embrace minimalist approach to utilizing the natural terroir to craft wines with individual character and a sense of purpose, a spirit to reinvest in the land that it grows upon. It is committed to sharing stories of provenance and history gathered over more than 168 years of history of family winemaking.

Our weekly special is their Y-Series Viognier – clear pale straw in colour, with forward mushroomy, yeasty, florasl, herbal and honey flavours. On the palate, this supple medium-bodied viognier is extra dry, with apricot, pears and honeysuckle ending in a round texture. Pair with crab cakes. This is a annual bargain and a varietally correct white.

Yalumba Y-Series Viognier (South Australia) – $16.99 (GST Holiday), regularly $20.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

There ares some of you doing the ‘Dry January Challenge’, so we’ve brought in a few new items to help you through it. These are some of the best tasting dealcoholized wines we’ve tasted so we hope you enjoy these.

Pictured from left to right:

Colibri Free to Fly Spumante Rosé (Italy) – $24.99
Rudolf Rabl Verjus Spritz (Kamptal, Austria) – $23.49
NV Giesen Dealcoholized Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand) – $30.99
NV Leitz Zero Point Five Pinot Noir (Rheingau, Germany) – $16.99

Other interesting non-alcoholics not pictured:

NV Leitz Eins Zwei Zero Sparkling Riesling (Non-Alcoholic) (Rheingau, Germany) – $20.99
NV Leitz Eins Zwei Zero Riesling (Non-Alcoholic) (Rheingau, Germany) – $17.49
NV Colibri Free to Fly Spumante White (Italy) – $28.99

There is an interesting non-alcoholic red wine alternative from Canada (brand new):

Proxies Red Ember Non-Alcoholic (Ontario, Canada) – $26.99

We also have an assortment of non-alcoholic beers as well, pay us a visit.

Stay warm everyone!

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Casa Silva Los Lingues Carmenere (Colchagua Valley, Chile) – $18.99 (GST Holiday) , regularly $24.99.

Casa Silva is located about halfway between Santiago and Santa Cruz and is a 100% family owned winery. The Silva family pioneered grape growing in the Colchagua Valley with the first vineyards back in 1892.

Casa Silva is the most awarded Chilean winery in the 21st century. They were recently named “Best Winery of Chile – 2020” by Catad’Or Wine Awards, the most important international wine competition in Latin America.

Located on the northeast edge of the Colchagua Valley, at the foot of the Andes Mountains, the Los Lingues Vineyard has a unique terroir, represented by its microclimate and by a soil of alluvial-colluvial origin. Our feature this week is their Los Lingues Carmenere, a benchmark Carmenere – beautiful, medium-full bodied, fruit-forward red. With gentle tannins, and a deep crimson color, you can expect an array of berries, Asian spices, forest floor all leading to a smooth, rich mouthfeel. Pair with grilled red meats. Certified sustainable.

Casa Silva Los Lingues Carmenere (Colchagua Valley, Chile) – $18.99 (GST Holiday), regularly $24.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Morgenster Sauvignon Blanc (Stellenbosch, South Africa) – $16.99 (GST Holiday included) , regularly $21.99..

Family-owned and family-run, Morgenster Estate has a long history dating back 300 years. Situated near the foothills of the Helderberg Mountains in Somerset West (35 minutes from Cape Town), Morgenster was a pioneer in the 1990s and paved the way for South Africa’s wine and olive oil culture.

The feature this week is their Sauvignon Blanc – the grapes for this wine are harvested slightly later in order to maximize the wonderful tropical fruit notes that this wine has to offer. A palate-pleasing wine, harmonious and well-balanced showing typical tropical flavours in abundance. The aromas include lemon zest, green apples, pears and the requisite grassiness. This elegantly crafted wine has gracious balance and poise with vibrant, integrated acidity leaving a lingering citrus and flinty finish. Pair with white meat and salads.

Morgenster Sauvignon Blanc (Stellenbosch, South Africa) – $16.99 (GST Holiday included) , regularly $21.99.

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Author: Dirk Chan

From all of us at deVine’s to you and yours, we wish you a very Happy New Year in 2025 with all the best for happiness, good health and prosperity. May good health and fortune and luck follow you wherever you go and in all that you do for the coming year. We thank you for your continued patronage!

Ed, Annabelle, Brad, Dirk, Kandice, Llyr, Bob and Mark

Here are some New Years Wine recommendations for your consideration. Have a fun New Years, and remember to drink responsibly.

First, pictured (left to right)

NV Domaine Rosier Cuvee Ma Maison Cremant de Limoux (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) – $25.99
NV Bisci Verdicchio Matelica Extra Brut (Marches, Italy) – $36.99
NV Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Brut (Champagne, France) – $159.99
2018 Champagne Agrapart Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Mineral (Champagne, France) – $234.99
2015 Louis Roederer Cristal Brut (Champagne, France) – $499.99

Sparkling
NV Cune Cava Brut (Spain) – $21.99
NV Lini 910 Lambrusco ‘Lambrusca’ (Emilia-Romagna, Italy) – $22.99
2020 Andreas Bender Rosé Brut Sekt (Mosel, Germany) – $34.99
NV Domaine Deliance Cremant de Bourgogne Brut Reserve (Burgundy – Cote Chalonnaise, France) – $37.99
2022 Aphros Phaunus Pet Nat Sparkling Rosé (Vinho Verde, Portugal) – $46.99

Champagne
NV Champagne Monmarthe Secret de Famille Brut (Champagne, France) – 375mL $34.99
NV Champagne Monmarthe Secret de Famille Brut (Champagne, France) – $62.99
NV Champagne Liebart-Regnier Les Sols Bruns Demi-Sec (Champagne, France) – $62.99
2014 Champagne Andreas Bartel Millesime Brut (Champagne, France) – $78.99
NV Henri Billiot et Fils Rosé (Champagne, France) – $81.99
2015 Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Extra Brut (Champagne, France) – $119.99
2012 Champagne Gardet Charles Rose de Saignee Brut Premier Cru (Champagne, France) – $124.99
2015 Champagne La Rogerie Heroine Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut (Champagne, France) – $135.99
NV Champagne Ployez-Jacquemart Extra Brut Granite (Champagne, France) – $214.99
2012 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne (Champagne, France) – $399.99

Something Sweet & Sparkling
2023 La Spinetta Bricco Quaglia Moscato d’Asti (Piedmont, Italy) – $28.99

Here are our store hours leading up to the New Years:

Friday, Dec 27, Saturday, Dec 28 – 11-6pm
Sunday, Dec 29 – 12-6pm
Monday, Dec 30, Tues, Dec 31 – 11-6pm
Weds, Jan 1 – Closed
Thu, Jan 2 through Sat, Jan 4 – 11-6pm
Sun, Jan 5 – 12-6pm

Happy New Year to all!

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Author: Dirk Chan

Wow…Christmas is almost upon us, so here is our annual picks to accompany the classic turkey and/or ham dinner with all its fixings. Start your evening off with a sparkling wine,followed by whites, reds, a dessert wine and perhaps a lovely port to end off the evening. With the year we’ve all been through, perhaps it is time to go big this year!!

Sparkling Wines
Sparkling wines are a great way to start any function whether its a greeting aperitif or to pair with appetizers. Lively and clean, these will get everyone ready for what’s to come next.

NV La Tordera Saome Prosecco DOC Brut (Veneto, Italy) – $24.49

NV Domaine Rosier Cuvee Ma Maison Cremant de Limoux (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) – $25.99

NV Corte Manzini Fior di Lambrusco Rosé (Emilia-Romagna, Italy) – $28.49

2020 Andreas Bender Rosé Brut Sekt (Mosel, Germany) – $34.99

Champagne
Now if you serve Champagne, your audience will immediately know you’re here to do some serious partaking and celebrating.

NV Champagne Monmarthe Secret de Famille Brut (Champagne, France) – $62.99

2014 Champagne Andreas Bartel Millesime Brut (Champagne, France) – $78.99

NV Henri Billiot et Fils Rosé (Champagne, France) – $81.99

NV Champagne La Rogerie La Grande Vie Grand Cru (Champagne, France) – $114.99

NV Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Brut (Champagne, France) – $159.99

2017 Champagne Agrapart Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Mineral (Champagne, France) – $234.99

2015 Louis Roederer Cristal Brut (Champagne, France) – $499.99

Whites & Pinks

Whites with a touch of sweetness is preferred because of the sweetness of some of the fixings – candied yams, cranberry sauce, and honey for the glazed ham. A completely dry white will seem more austere and void of fruit due to the sweetness of the food so I recommend Rieslings (dry or off-dry, both work), Gewurztraminers or other Germanic or Alsace varietals. Having said that, some will always go with a dry creamy Chardonnay or Chenon irregardless and that’s perfectly fine. Also, don’t forget that rosés work really well too!

2022 Bodegas Neleman Nucli White (Valencia, Spain) – $19.99

2022 Winery of Good Hope Unoaked Chardonnay (Stellenbosch, South Africa)) – $22.99

2023 Wild Goose Gewurztraminer (BC – Okanagan, Canada) – $26.99


2018 Erbes Urzinger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany) – $26.99

2022 Langlois-Chateau Chateau de Fontaine-Audon Sancerre (Loire Valley, France) – $43.99

2018 Domaine Ghislain Kohut Marsanny Blanc En Mormain (Burgundy – Cote de Nuits, France) – $43.99

2021 Domaine Weinbach Les Vignes du Precheur (Alsace, France) – $52.99

2021 Huber Ried Berg Riesling Erste Lage (Traisental, Austria) – $68.99

2021 Fundacao Eugenio de Almeida Cartuxa Pera-Mancha Branco (Alentejo, Portugal) – $99.99

2020 Louis Jadot Puligny-Montrachet (Burgundy – Cote de Beaune, France) – $129.99

2017 Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Spatlese (Mosel, Germany) – $519.99

2023 Maison Lorgeril L’Orangeraie Rosé (Pays d’Oc, France) – $21.99

2021 Feudo Montoni Rose di Adele Nerello Mascalese (Sicily, Italy) – $39.99

Reds
For reds, try to avoid the big oaky tannic monsters. Oak and tannins are the enemies when pairing with slightly sweet food, try for a red with lots of up-front fruit, little oak and a soft tannins like a Beaujolais (served slightly chilled) or a Pinot Noir.

2021 Spier Signature Collection Pinotage (Stellenbosch, South Africa) – $17.99

2022 Domaine de Bachellery Pinot Noir (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) – $24.49

2022 G. D. Vajra Langhe Rosso (Piedmont, Italy) – $25.99

2016 Château Labadie Cru Bourgeois (Bordeaux – Medoc, France) – $29.99

2021 Malivoire Small Lot Gamay (Ontario – Niagara, Canada) – $30.49

2022 Maison Albert Brenot Bourgogne Rouge (Burgundy, France) – $37.99

2022 Cordero de Montezemolo Langhe Nebbiolo (Piedmont, Italy) – $40.99

2019 Contino Reserva (Rioja, Spain) – $55.99

2021 Tua Rita Perlato del Bosco Rosso (Tuscany, Italy) – $59.99

2021 Filipa Pato & William Wouters Nossa Calcário Baga Vinhas Velhas (Bairrada, Portugal) – $72.99

2020 Cotarella Montiano Merlot (Lazio, Italy) – $84.99

2016 Cotarella Le Macioche Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany, Italy) – $104.99

2020 Montes Purple Angel (Colchagua Valley, Chile) – $109.99

2013 Tommasi Amarone Riserva Ca’Florian (Veneto, Italy) – $139.99

2020 Vega Sicilia Alion (Ribera del Duero, Spain) – $181.99

2018 Ramey Annum Cabernet Sauvignon (California – Napa Valley, United States) – $209.99

2005 Giuseppe Mascarello Barolo Monprivato Castiglione Falletto (Piedmont, Italy) – $299.99

2009 Le Dome (Bordeaux – St. Emilion, France) – $499.99

Dessert
As for dessert, remember dessert wine should be sweeter than the dessert itself.

2018 Domaine Huet Le Mont Moelleux (Vouvray, France) – $62.99

2017 Mission Hill Reserve Riesling Icewine (BC – Okanagan, Canada) – 375mL – $71.99

1982 Thunevin-Calvet Maury Vin Doux Naturel (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) -$87.99

2011 Château Climens Premier Cru (Bordeaux – Barsac, France) – 375mL – $114.99

Port (Post Dinner)
Port is always good for the final touches of a meal whether its a ruby or a tawny. Try with blue-veined cheeses and roasted nuts.

Ramos Pinto 10 Year Old Tawny Quinta de Ervamoira (Douro, Portugal) – $56.99

2015 Taylor Fladgate Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $84.99

2011 Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $219.99


Taylor Fladgate Golden Age Tawny Port 50 Year Old (Douro, Portugal) – $349.99

1994 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $499.99

Finally, if you are pressed for time, try out our December Mixed Case – $236.70 or our December 6-Pack – $161.10 where a lot of the wines would pair well with Christmas dinner.

Note our hours of operations leading up to Christmas and between Christmas and New Years.

All prices listed above is pre GST Holiday. Everyone, enjoy the holiday season. Best wishes for good health and happiness to everyone!

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our annual deVine Staff Picks for Wines of the Year is in for 2024. Many of you identify closely with one of us when it comes to recommendations and preferences. Diversity is a good thing as we all have different palates and tastes so without further ado, here are our picks for your consideration (and entertainment)…

Pictured left to right:

Annabelle’s Pick – 2013 Champagne Baron-Fuente Brut Millesime (Champagne, France) – $69.99