deVine Thoughts

Author: Dirk Chan

deVine will be hosting the American Wine Festival this coming saturday. Along with some of our agent friends, we will be pouring over thirty American wines for you to sample in this drop-in festival style event. Tickets are only $20 per person and all proceeds from this event will be donated to the Citadel Theatre.

What a wonderful way to spend a saturday afternoon as we get ramped up and generate some excitement about California wines. Simply drop in between noon and 5pm on saturday – you can see some of the wines we’ll be sampling and also purchase a ticket online here.

This is our annual prelude tasting to the official California Wine Fair to be held Thursday, April 8th in Hall D at the Shaw Convention Center in support of the Citadel Theatre – more information below and ticket information for that event here.

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Author: Dirk Chan

For what seems like an eternity, Vintage Port declarations from Portugal has been three per decade. The 2007 then follows the 2000 and 2003 vintages since the new millenium and has been well received by Port lovers despite the down turn in the economy. The 2007 is the largest declared year ever, with many new and tiny houses joining the established estates.

The style of the 2007’s though are not the tannic, warm weather brutish style of 2000 and 2003. It is more akin to the more fruit forward and legendary 1994’s with perhaps slightly less extraction than that spectacular vintage. It does have so much fruit though that the structure may be hidden from view right now. It is a very approachable vintage with tremendous elegance and lightness of being and a super velvety palate that makes it hard to judge its longevity, but I think it is all there for the long haul. Many – the Fonseca, Taylor and Vesuvio surprised us with its approachability, perhaps a shift in the style paradigm to make the ports more accessible sooner?

For those that love the lively, fruity blueberry and kirsh in their young ports, then by all means open these now and enjoy for the rest of this year before they close down. Restaurants will sell a lot of the 2007’s if they take advantage now. Try the Quinta do Noval Silval now, it is exquisite!

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Author: Dirk Chan

It is time for the 7th Annual Downtown Dining Week, which will run from March 5 to March 14. Organized by the Downtown Business Association, this year features the largest participation yet, 29 Edmonton restaurants are featured, all of which will offer special discounted rates and set menus. $15, $25 and $50 menu offerings (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity) give maximum choice to fit every budget. Experience
innovative menus for both lunch and dinner offerings at bargain-ish prices. The downtown core has been on the big upswing, and here is a great opportunity to experience high quality restaurants that you might not necessarily try out, have some fun and support local eateries at the same time. Best to call in advance and make a reservation as restaurants fill up quickly during this event.

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