deVine Thoughts

Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Avignonesi Cantaloro Rosso (Tuscany, Italy) – $17.99, regularly $22.99.

Avignonesi is located in the rolling hills of Montepulciano, Tuscany. Named for the family that founded the winery, Avignonesi has been led by Virginie Sayers since 2009. The estate is certified organic and then later biodynamc – they are famous for their Vino Nobile di Montepulicano and their rare and expensive Vin Santo dessert wines.

Our feature this week is their Cantaloro Rosso , a modern red blend that delivers everyday elegance with a signature Montepulciano touch. Made with a mix of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, it offers the best of both worlds: Italian character and international accessibility. With organic farming practices and a fresh, fruit-forward (cherries, blueberries, red sweet spice) profile finishing with undergrowth and menthol notes, Cantaloro is ideal for casual dinners, pizza or lasagna nights, and everyday red that punches above its weight. A true crowd-pleaser with pedigree.

Prost!

Avignonesi Cantaloro Rosso (Tuscany, Italy) – $17.99 , regularly $22.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Bodegas San Alejandro Evodia Garnacha (Calatayud, Spain) – $18.49 , regularly $22.99.

Bodegas San Alejandro is a large family cooperative made up of 150 winegrowers, the true architects of the company’s existence and key players in the team. They are lovers of the land, seekers of essences and fully dedicated to farming of their land. 85% of the harvests are exported to 40 countries around the world.

Our feature this week is their Evodia Garnacha, made from old bush vines planted over 40 years ago. Vineyards are 800m altitude average and the soil types in play are calcareous, clay and schist offering up violets, with good concentration of red and blue fruits and a long smooth finish. One of the most popular garnachas in Asia and in the Top 100 bestsellers in the USA. Evodia means perfume so this wine is a perfect representation of the Garnacha varieties that have historically grown in Aragon.

Prost!

Bodegas San Alejandro Evodia Garnacha (Calatayud, Spain) – $18.49 , regularly $22.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

Canada’s 158th birthday is this Tuesday, and worthy of a big celebration. With patriotism in mind, I’m sure many of you will be drinking something Canadian this week. So, have a Happy Canada Day weekend everybody, here are a few wine recommendations from B.C. and Ontario for your drinking pleasure.

Pictured left to right:

2023 Joie A Noble Blend (BC – Naramata Bench, Canada) – $37.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

Calgary based founders Jacques Tremblay and Daniel Plenzik bonded in 2016 at a distilling workshop in the Okanagan. Using their combined knowledge of viticulture, winemaking and brewing, and drawing on their own cultural backgrounds, they set about bringing locally crafted Brandy, Whisky, and Eau de Vie’s and Bridgeland Distillery was thus borned.

Fast forward to 2025, Bridgeland Distillery swept up major national recognition including:

Gold and Silver medals at the 2025 Canadian Whisky Awards, including standout finishes for their Taber Corn and Wheat whiskies – praised for their exceptional grain-forward clarity and balance.

In addition, there were multiple wins at the 2025 Canadian Artisan Spirits Competition, where their unique craft releases were applauded for both innovation and precision.

Their products, specifically their two “Berbons” has taken over the market as alternatives for American Bourbons during the Trump tariff/backlash period.

Don’t forget to drop by this coming Saturday for a free sample pour after visiting the market!

Pictured from left to right:

Bridgeland Distillery Taber Corn Berbon (Alberta, Canada) – 500mL – $59.99
Bridgeland Distillery Taber Corn Berbon 101 (Alberta, Canada) – 500mL – $72.99
Bridgeland Distillery Single Blend Whisky (Alberta, Canada) – 500mL – $69.99
Bridgeland Distillery Old Fashioned Cocktail (Alberta, Canada) – 500mL – $47.99

Other Bridgeland products not pictured:

Bridgeland Distillery Barn Burner Single Malt Single Cask Whisky (Alberta, Canada) – 500mL – $82.99
Bridgeland Distillery Chamomile and Honey Eau de Vigne (Alberta, Canada) -375mL – $36.99
Bridgeland Distillery Old Fashioned Cocktail (Alberta, Canada) – 100mL – $11.99
Bridgeland Distillery Father’s Day Gift Box Set (Alberta, Canada) – 3x200mL – $99.99

Prost everyone!

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Faustino Bodegas Portia Roble (Ribera del Duero, Spain) – $18.49 , regularly $22.49.

Bodegas Portia is Grupo Faustino’s (famous for its Riojas) most recent winery project and is the 7th winery in the group. Located in the heart of Ribera del Duero in northwestern Spain, the Portia winery includes vineyards located in Gumiel de Mercado, Roa, Sotillo de la Ribera, Villanueva de Gumie at an average altitude of 750-800m, showcasing modern design, winemaking function and artistic detail. The brand offers very small production wines – intense, energetic, balanced and terroir driven.

Our feature this week is their Roble from the Ribera del Duero wine region. Made from 100% Tempranillo, this offers a clean, bright, intense maroon colour with purple rim. Intense on the nose with freshly picked violets, red fruits and a marked toasted aromas, due to the 4 month large barrel ageing. Good entrance, structured and round tannin. Balanced and smooth medium-bodied finish with nice lingering concentration. Pair with any kind of meat. It matches with grilled or fried potatoes, mushrooms or ham. Some tasty or oily fish such as tuna, cod. Medium-aged cheese and berry dessert. Rice and all kind of pasta.

Prost!

Faustino Bodegas Portia Roble (Ribera del Duero, Spain) – $18.49 , regularly $22.49

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Catena High Mountain Vines Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina) – $21.49 , regularly $26.99.

The Bodega Catena Zapata is certainly one of the standout and most respected wineries in Argentina. Famous for its production of world class Malbecs, it is Argentina’s oldest family winery, started by Italian immigrant Nicola Catena back in 1902. The winery itself is distinguished by its pyramid-like design based on Mayan architecture, located in the sub-appellation of Agrelo.

Our feature this week is their High Mountain Vines Malbec, a deep violet color red with purple reflections. This microclimate blend of four unique vineyards offers intense aromas, soft texture, and concentrated flavor. Deep aromas of ripe red and dark fruits are joined by delicate violet and lavender notes, with traces of vanilla and mocha. A rich, concentrated mouthfeel is highlighted by flavors of blueberries and blackberries with a touch of leather and cinnamon. The wine has well-integrated tannins, bright acidity, and a flinty minerality that provides exceptional length to the finish. Pair with grilled red meats or pasta with red sauce.

Prost!

Catena High Mountain Vines Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina) – $21.49 , regularly $26.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

The Rosé season is here and while a lot of products are still in transit, we have had some 2024’s arrive just in time for our tasting last week. The freshness of the 2024’s certainly shows through. As we get some hotter temperatures (hopefully), drinking pinks will be more and more the in-thing to do. Hope you have yourself and great summer!

Pictured from left to right:

2024 Domaine la Rigouline Rosé (Provence, France) – $26.49
2023 Emilio Moro Cepa Hito Rosado (Ribera del Duero, Spain) – $29.99
2024 Mazzarosa Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo Superiore DOC (Abruzzo, Italy) – $29.99
2023 Domaine Turenne Camille Rosé (Provence, France) – $26.99
2024 Lightfoot & Wolfville Rosé (Nova Scotia, Canada) – $35.99

Other interesting pinks not pictured:

2024 La Playa Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Rosé (Colchagua Valley, Chile) – $18.49
NV Meffre Medditerranee Roquemartine Grapefruit & Blood Orange Rosé (Rhone Valley, France) – $18.99
2024 San Marzano Tramari Rosé di Primitivo (Puglia, Italy) – $23.99
2024 Agricola Gorgo Bardolino Chiaretto (Veneto, Italy) – $23.99
2024 Domaine Rimauresq Cotes de Provence Cru Classé Rosé (Provence, France) – $41.99

Prost everyone!

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Domaine Ferraton Pere & Fils La Tournée Blanc & Rouge (Rhone Valley, France) – $15.49, regularly $18.99.

The story of Domaine Ferraton Pere & Fils was started in the Rhone Valley in 1946 by Jean Orens Ferraton. His son, Michel runs the show and has extended holdings into the Northern Rhone with Syrah based wines. With the help of the famous Michel Chapoutier, they were certified organic in 1998 and has since moved up to Demeter-certified biodynamic in 2015. With holdings in both North and Southern Rhone, they are committed to respecting nature and the land, being rigorous and precise in its work in order to create the best wines and very affordable ones too.

Our weekly specials this week is their La Tournée Blanc and Rouge. The white is a Vermentino-Viognier blend offering orchard and stone fruit melange while the red is a Syrah-Greanche blend offers raspberry and blackberry fruit with hints of violets and black pepper. La Tournée literally means ‘a tour”, these are wines to share, telling the story a tour from the cafes found along the early morning round of their delivery truck, joining friends for a glass and a laugh. The same convivial places we find today going back on the road for an epic round with this old time truck.

2023 Ferraton Pere & Fils La Tournée Blanc (Rhone Valley, France) – $15.49, regularly $18.99

2021 Ferraton Pere & Fils La Tournée Rouge (Rhone Valley, France) – $15.49, regularly $18.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

As we watch intently over the next week or so as the Oilers look to end a very long drought, how about something different from Korea and Japan to imbibe while we watch the action with bated breath.

Soju is is a clear and colorless distilled alcoholic beverage from Korea, traditionally made from rice, but later from other grains and has a flavor similar to vodka. It is usually consumed neat and very popular with fruit flavors infused. Its alcohol content varies from about 12.5% to 53% alcohol by volume (ABV). Since 2007 low alcohol soju (below 20%) has become the most common type.

Shochu is a Japanese distilled beverage. It is typically distilled from rice, barley, sweet potatoes, buckwheat, or brown sugar, though it is sometimes produced from other ingredients such as chestnut, sesame seeds, potatoes, or even carrots. Far less fruity than most with a nutty or earthy taste profile. Typically shōchū contains 25% alcohol by volume.

For those with a sweet tooth, the Japanese fruit based beverages are pure and dangerously addictive as most taste like freshly picked fruit from the orchard.

Pictured from left to right:

Chum Churum Strawberry Soju (Korea) – 360mL – $11.99
Muhak Good Day Lychee Soju (Korea) – 350mL – $12.49
Choya Yuzu Soda (Japan) – 350mL – $5.99
Nakano Nashi Pear (Japan) – 300mL – $24.99
Tan Taka Tan Premium Shiso Shochu (Japan) – 720mL – $44.99

Other drinks worthy of your consideration:

Jinro Chamisul Fresh Soju (Korea) – 360mL – $12.49
Moon Spirits Green Apple Soju (Alberta, Canada) – 375mL – $12.49
Chum Churum Grape Soju (Korea) -360mL – $11.99
Nakano Nakano Obaachan’s Yuzu-Shu Citrus (Japan) – 300mL – $22.99
Dan-Dan Premium Kagoshima Sweet Potato Imo-Shochu (Japan) – 720mL – $44.99
Nakano Peach Momo (Japan) – 300mL – $23.49

Go Oilers!

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Domaine de Cristia Collection Ventoux (Rhone Valley, France) – $19.99, regularly $24.99.

Stretching across the slopes of the Ventoux mountain in the southeastern region of the Rhône River Valley, Cotes du Ventoux wines excels in the production of spicy and characterful red blends based on Grenache, Syrah, and other indigenous varieties and our feature winery this week, Domaine de Cristia fits nicely into this descriptor.

Domaine de Cristia has come on like gangbusters over the last decade, since proprietors Baptiste Grangeon took over from his father in 1999. The style here seems to be a synthesis of old-line tradition with their emphasis on ancient Grenache vines and a healthy respect for modernist techniques and everything they make is outstanding (from Cotes-du-Rhone to Chateauneuf-du-Pape).

Our feature this week is their Collection Ventoux, a 60% Grenache, 40% Syrah classic blend made from 33 year old fruit aged seven months in concrete and steel vats – spicy and full of peppery berry fruit in a fine finessed silky package. Culinary suggestions include a nice slow cooked beef stew with aromatics, cheeses and game. A fine QPR that speaks of the terroir here!

Domaine de Cristia Collection Ventoux (Rhone Valley, France) – $19.99, regularly $24.99

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