deVine Thoughts

Author: Kelsey Trites

Alas, the season of Fall is upon us and many, including myself, may be having a hard time accepting that summer is over. Even here at deVine Wines and Sprits, our lowly beer fridge observes as red wines and spirits fly off the shelves. But, my fellow beer enthusiasts, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. A reason to celebrate. Oktoberfest.

Back in 1810 an awesome guy by the name of Prince Ludwig I (soon to be King Ludwig I) and his classy lass, Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, were set to wed. Rather than keep the party to themselves, the King decided to hold a large celebration in the fields in front the of the city gates. Horse races were held for the entire public to view and signified the conclusion of the royal event. Fast-forward a couple hundred years and what was once a couple beer stands to quench the thirst of the festivals patrons, had become giant tents filled with people celebrating all things beer.

Now, nearly 180 years later, Oktoberfest is the largest festival in the world, grossing approximately 6.4 million people and 710,000 liters of beer every year. Beer featured at the festival must abide by the Reubgeutsgebit aka the “German Beer Purity Law”. According to this law, all the beer must be brewed within city limits and may only contain water, barley, hops, yeast and cane sugar. There are only a handful of breweries that are given this designation, making it extremely difficult to access their beer outside of Europe. This year Oktoberfest begins on September 21 and finishes October 6.

Oktoberfest is not only for the Germans, people worldwide travel to Munich to celebrate, and even here in North America mini Oktoberfest’s are held in commemoration. The Kitchen-Waterloo Oktoberfest hosts up to 1,000,000 patrons a year, making it the second largest festival in the world.

So, what does this mean for you as an Edmontonian mourning the loss of your summer and dreading the frosty months ahead? Well fellow beer drinkers, Oktoberfest is an ideal if not perfect way to celebrate the abundance of beer that has come into the market as a result of the fall harvest. Not only does autumn imply the return of the usual’s: porters, stouts, red ales. Fall reinstalls the reign of the famous pumpkin beer. Sweet nutty notes with brilliant spice and heart warming pumpkin, A seasonal best seller. September in the USA and Canada also means fresh hopped beers. N. American hop varietals like cascade, simcoe and citra are used fresh to create “wet hopped” IPA’s. This essentially means that only the fresh, not dried, hops are used to make beer.

And here is some even better news – deVine Wines and Spirits has made it extremely easy for you to get your hands on these unique and seasonal brews. Starting this week, we will have an entire display devoted to harvest beer. Porters, stouts, American IPA’s, Weissbiere and Pumpkin ale so come in and grab a few to try or host your own party. Need a traditional snack to go along with your beer? Well our display has a couple Oktoberfest recipes to entice all your friends. It’s our little way of saying “Happy Oktoberfest”.

Until next time,
Ein Proust! Here are a few current favourites..

Paulaner Octoberfest To Go – 1.0L Can (Germany) – $15.99

Beer Here Morke Pumpernickel Porter – 500mL Bottle (Denmark) – $8.99

Schneider Weisse Organic Wiesen Edel-Weisse – 500mL Bottle (Germany) – $4.49

Phillips Crooked Tooth Pumpkin Ale – 650mL Bottle (Canada) – $7.49

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Author: Ed Fong

It’s time to dig out those heels again, boys!

On October 24, the men of deVine will once again don their stilettos in support of the YWCA’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Campaign. All gross proceeds will be donated to the YWCA in support of their Family Violence Prevention and Recovery programs.

In the spirit of this fundraiser, Ed Fong will lead a team of “divine guys” who will serve you vino in their sexiest heels all evening long. We’re “man enough” to stand up against family violence. Are you? Please come out and show your support for a great cause.

Italy will be the theme of the evening, as Italians do produce the most fabulous, fashionable footwear in the world. Everyone is encouraged to come out in their finest Italian clothes, shoes and accessories! A selection of Italian cheeses and appetizers will be served. Can anyone say “Arancini” from Corso 32??

Seven fantastic Italian wines will be showcased at this stand-up event: a Prosecco to attenuate your taste buds and set the mood, two whites, three reds and a dessert wine. Tickets to this fundraiser are $30 each. If you would like to see the complete wine menu and/or register for this event, please register here.. Reservations can also be secured by calling the store at 780.421.9463.

Our goal is to sell a minimum of 60 tickets to raise $1,800 for the YWCA to help women and their children take steps to walk away from family violence.

If you cannot attend the event but would still like to make a donation to the YWCA, please follow this link:
https://payment.csfm.com/events/ywca_edmonton/visitor/?action=profile&participant_id=721661541377282245..

To learn more about the Walk a Mile in her Shoes Campaign, please visit the YWCA’s webpage at:
http://payment.csfm.com/events/ywca_edmonton_pages/page.php?p=home..

If you want to help break the cycle of family violence and help keep women and children safe, you too can register for the walk at Churchill Square on September 10 from 11am-1pm

Lastly, I would like to challenge the men in my industry to take a stand against family violence. If you own a wine or liquor store, a licensed establishment or you are a liquor agent, please join me in this cause. I would love to see your male competitive spirit top my own fundraising goals. To you, I throw down the gauntlet! Are you man enough to stand up to me, in heels!

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Author: Kelsey Trites

Summer is coming to an end, and for all you beer enthusiasts that means that the season of summer beers is also wrapping up. No more citrus. No more hefeweisens. No more 4.5% alcohol. Soon the season of porters and ales will be upon us; a grueling six months of boots, Netflix and talking about the weather.

The good news is deVine’s still has a healthy stock of summer goodness. Fire up your BBQ’s, put ice in your coolers, and come down to deVine Wines and Spirits to pick up a 6-pack (or two) of summer beer. Here are a few suggestions to make it even easier for you to enjoy the seasonal bliss.

1. Tree Brewing Mellow Moon Pineapple Hefeweisen (6 bottles) -$14.49

This quirky beer comes from Kelowna, BC and may be the most adventurous of the bunch. It’s hazy, golden hue promises true hefeweisen style with citrus, cloves and a pleasant, dry mild hop finish. A pronounced pineapple flavor humours peculiar pairings such as ham and pineapple pizza, lemon meringue pie and any spicy Indian food.

2. Granville Island False Creek Raspberry Ale (6 bottles) – $15.49

As the saying goes “Real men drink pink”, and so can you as this summer brew has a fabulous raspberry pink hue. The brewery uses Fraser creek raspberries which give the beer a refreshingly tart flavor without a sugary sweet quality. Granville recommends a perfect pairing of summer salads, fresh air and sunny afternoons.

3. Whistler Paradise Valley Grapefruit Ale (6 bottles) – $14.49

Grapefruit beer has been the popular kid of the summer with brands like Alley Kat and Stiegl Radler leading the pack. Whistler brewing has done their version of this citrus beer with dried grapefruit rind and two kinds of hops. This summer bevy promises to be a refreshing pairing for curries, Asian dishes and all the hippest parties.

A couple other summer seasonal beers that you can find at deVine Wines and Spirits are:

Gahan Blueberry Ale (4 bottles) – $15.99

Alley Kat Summer Squeeze Grapefruit Ale (6 bottles) – $15.99

and Parallel 49 Hay Fever (6 bottles) – $15.99

So whether it’s your last trip to the lake, a special treat after the Saturday market, or just a refreshing drink after mowing the lawn, get your hands on some summer beer. Unlike the mosquitos and road construction, these seasonal sippers will be missed.

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Author: Dirk Chan

deVine’s 2010 Bordeaux have arrived. Please visit us online or in-store for the unveiling of dozens of wines from this legendary vintage. Following the 2000, 2005, and 2009 as vintages of the century, the 2010 joins this group easily – it is indeed a great and ageworthy vintage in the classic style. The comparison between 2010 and the flashy 2009 neighbour will generate debate for decades to come similar to the comparison between 1989 and 1990.

A perfect growing season and an uneventful harvest has resulted in a vintage characterized by mature ripe fruit, great acidity and freshness, and one with incredible aging potential across the board. While 2009 is the so called California vintage that reminds of 1982 that doesn’t ever shut down, this is in the classic style that needs time to cellar and will likely go through a dumb phase.

Those of you who purchased futures deserve a pat on the back – 2010 is the most expensive vintage to date from Bordeaux and shelf prices are 20% higher than futures prices. While expensive, it is worthy of any serious cellar and for those with means and patience, it is a must buy. Many of you purchase in great quantities in 2009, and didn’t go as long on 2010’s, so now is the time to grab a few so you can do your own comparisons down the road.

Also not to be missed are the White Bordeaux 2010 from Pessac-Leognan, a great vintage for the whites and not to be missed.Terribly expensive, these Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon blends are also great agers, and great food pairing wines with amazing aromatics and textures that only the Graves terroir can produce. Treat yourselves!

With 2011 and 2012 reds being only very good, and 2013 shaping up to be the same, the back pressure and pricing on the great 2009 and 2010’s will only increase with the passage of time. Put some in your back pocket now while supply lasts and reap the rewards in 10-20 years. Note quantities on most of these wines are limited, and once gone, we’ll likely not go to market for additional inventory, so don’t snooze.

Check out our available 2010 Left Banks here..

Check out our available 2010 Right Banks here..

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Author: Dirk Chan

For those of you where 2012 is a significant year, deVine’s is offering a small selection for your consideration as futures. With a wet spring affecting flowering and also a wet harvest season, the earlier ripening right bank Merlot based wines are the way to go in this vintage, with Pomerol and St. Emilion being acknowledged as the best appellations. The later ripening Cabernet Sauvignon based left bank wines are very variable, with only the best and richest estates that could afford to do severe selection were able to make fine wines.

We’ve chosen mainly right bank wines and some of these are amongst the very best this vintage has to offer, they are also some of a very small list capable of aging for two decades.

As usual with our futures program, 75% down is required with the remaining 25% due in 2015 upon arrival. Supply is limited as we bought in small quantities, so best to purchase early for the best selection. The offering closes July 31st at midnight.

View our 2012 Bordeaux Futures offering page by clicking here..

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Author: Dirk Chan

Moldova wines are getting some exposure in North American, you see their wines represented in numerous wine fares (as in VinItaly for example) nowadays. Moldova is a grape-cluster-shaped nation of 3.5 million inhabitants, bordering Romania on the west and Ukraine along the north and east, with only a jagged edge of Ukraine separating it from the Black Sea in the south. Declared an independent state in 1991 as part of the dissolution of the Soviet Union – while poor, Moldova has a well-established wine industry with many families having their own recipes and strands of grapes that have been passed down through the generations. As of 2009, Moldova was the 22nd largest wine producing country in the world.

Vinaria Purcari is the most respected winery in Moldova. Purcari is both a commune and a producer on the southeastern tip, The winery was formerly the property of the Afono-Zagraf Monastery dating back to 1827. at is located on the same latitude as Burgundy’s Macconnais.

In 1878 at the Paris World Exhibition, the jury awarded the gold medal to a dry, densely colored red which they believed to be a new brand wine from the Bordeaux region. The surprised unveiling was a Purcari wine. The wines have been served and enjoyed by historic figures such as the Russian Emperor Nikolay II, King George V and Queen Victoria. Currently, Queen Elizabeth is said to prefer the Negru de Purcari and ordered the 1990 vintage regularly.

Join us on Saturday, June 29th from noon-3pm as Celestial Wine & Spirits present two unique reds from Vinaria Purcari for your sampling pleasure.

More info on the free drop-in event and the wines here..

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Author: Dirk Chan

The rosy-hued wine known as Rosé used to only be popular for Valentine’s, but that is changing. Offering a nice transition point for white wine drinkers moving into reds, rosés also showcases the various varietals of reds that are used in making these pinks. They also represent easier access, without all the constraints and traditional formalities of more high profile reds, it symbolizes greater freedom without the snobbery of some.

Wonderful for outdoor and deck drinking, most are dry (don’t confuse Rosés with the White Zinfandel which has the same pink color and is quite sweet), delicate, diverse and perfect when drunk cool in the spring and summertime. It is a flexible food pairing wine too. While Provence and Rhone’s are very popular with North Americans, the other countries like Spain and Portugal are also gaining popularity.

This saturday, deVine is hosting a ‘Drink Pink’ sit-down tasting at 7pm. Discover the diversity and see if it fits your palate while discovering the light and breezy freshness of these rosés. There are only a few spots left for this tasting, you can register online
here..

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Author: Ed Fong

The merchants on 104th-St. have partnered with ETS to encourage the use of public transit when planning visits to our vibrant Downtown neighborhood. Not only is the use of ETS green, it is easy and convenient. Whether you’re in Century Park or Clareview, you are just minutes away by LRT. The Bay/Enterprise Square Station is your gateway to 104th-St.

Merchants on 104th-St. are giving away prizes to visitors of ETS’ Facebook Page. The contest will start Friday on June 7.You can find out more by visiting the ETS website here.

Thank you to the following merchants who have supported ETS with some great prizes!

– Blue Plate Diner
– Cavern
– Carbon Environmental Boutique
– deVine Wines & Spirits
– The Helm Clothing
– Kelly’s Pub

Tickets, Transfers, Passes please!

On June 8 “Super Saturday”, participating merchants on 104th-St. will offer special discounts to patrons who used public transportation to visit our street. Just show them your bus pass, validated transit ticket or transfer to enjoy great savings.

Participating merchants in this program are:

deVine Wines & Spirits:
10% off on all wine, spirits, accessories and ticketed events (excludes beer, vintage room and vintage keeper items)

Carbon Environmental Boutique:
10% off on all store items

Kelly’s Pub:
10% off your entire check (includes all food and drink)

ETS, Our Partner in getting you to your destination!

June 8 “Super Saturday” promises to be a fun filled day in Downtown Edmonton. Take ETS to enjoy the Downtown Edmonton Community League’s Pancake Breakfast, the Downtown Edmonton Farmers’ Market, the annual Pride Parade and the 104th-St. Centennial Celebrations. We hope you can joy us for the festivities.

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Author: Ed Fong

Al Fresco is cancelled, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a block party! Come out and celebrate the centennial year of many of the heritage buildings that line our special street. Happy 100 years with many more to come!

The Centennial Block Party will take place on “Super Saturday”, the weekend where Downtown Edmonton comes alive with the Pride Parade. This year, Super Saturday falls on June 8th, so save the date!

Super Saturday gets started at 8:30 AM with the Downtown Edmonton Community League’s Annual Pancake Breakfast. This event is held in conjunction with the Downtown Farmer’s Market which runs from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The Pride Parade runs down 102 Ave starting at noon. Once again, deVine Wines will enter a float. We’re hoping to be graced with Marlene Dietrich’s presence and fabulous fishnets this year.

deVine Wines will be pouring wines at the store throughout the day beginning at 12:00 PM. In keeping with the celebratory mood, samples of bubbles will be served. In addition, we will be pouring our own Promenade Red. The label’s artwork was designed by Daniel Chmielewski, who many of you know from his exquisite large scale monochromatic stencil works that he has donated in support of the Al Fresco silent auctions. deVine Wines is donating $1 from the sale of each bottle in support of the Centennial Block Party. To learn more about the Promenade Red, please follow this link here..

The Block Party gets swinging at 4:30 with a BBQ, street performers, salsa lessons, a live band and MORE! Make your way down the Promenade to learn about the history of our Heritage buildings. At 6 PM there will be a balloon release and official celebration. At 8 PM, the party moves indoors to Mercer Tavern with live music from Russ Dawson throughout the evening and Josh Johnson starting at 9 PM! Mercer will also have special centennial food and drink specials throughout the day!

At time of writing, some of the restaurants are making plans to extend their patios. Stay tuned for updates by checking out the deVine Wines blog at www.devinewines.ca or by following us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/deVineWinesEDM

Our street community is very fortunate in so many ways. To help those who are struggling with trying to meet the very basic necessities of life, we are assisting the Edmonton Food Bank. Please don’t forget to bring a food donation when you head down to the party! Food donations can be dropped off at deVine Wines at your convenience.

Hope to see you all there on the June 8th Super Saturday!!!

Author: Dirk Chan

deVine and International Cellars present 4th generation winemaker and proprietor of the Vietti Estate, Luca Currado for an evening of Piedmonte wines at the store on Thursday, May 30th at 7pm. Currado is a most interesting speaker, an avid spokesman for the Piedmonte region with a vast opinion that he is willing to share with all who will listen. His opinions on biodynamics is intriguing, and so is the history of his custom designed labels – this promises to be a night to remember.

The Vietti estate was founded in 1919 in the quaint town of Castiglione Falletto. In the last decade or so, Luca has raised the quality to a completely new level where it competes now with the best in this relatively small region.

We will taste their Arneis, a white grape that was nearly lost in the late sixties that Vietti is responsible for bringing back into prominence and in fact thriving and taking over from Gavi as the preferred white grape. The Dolcetto and Barbera d’Alba Tre Vigne will also be sampled, alongside the Barbaresco Masseria and what Vietti is most known for, their Barolo’s. This is a sit-down event with a duck confit food pairing. We’ll end with another Vietti favourite, their aromatic sparkling dessert wine – the Moscato d’Asti. Here is a rare opportunity to speak with a great winemaker, an alumnus of California’s Opus One, and of Bordeaux’s Mouton-Rothschild. Only 18 seats available, and advance registration is required.

Complete tasting information and registration here..

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