deVine Thoughts

Author: Dirk Chan

We have done the Tour de France before, now it is time to cycle our way through neighbouring Italy with fine red wines from the Veneto, Tuscany, Pietmonte and Veneto regions in our first Top Drops of the year – Tour of Italy.

Please join us as we taste Brunello’s (made with the Chianti grape, Sangiovese), Super Tuscans (Sangiovese and/or old world grape blends), Piedmonte’s Barolo and Barbaresco’s (with its purple colored Nebbiolo grape) and Veneto’s Amarone (with the indigenous dried grapes of Veneto) in this small scale exclusive tasting of just 18 of you. We’ll go through the various laws and regulations of each region, an overview of great vintages that you should be collecting, some great producers of each region and then sample the high end wines with a food pairing.

Not had high end Italians and want to discover what it is all about? – then this is the tasting for you. As usual, we’ll offer a surprise with age on it to see how these various reds age.Do book early to avoid disappointment as there are only 7 spots remaining.

Look out for upcoming Tops Drops this year – a series of German Rieslings from various regions (led by Ed & Annabelle who visited the region extensively in August of last year), 2008 Right Bank Bordeaux, Concha y Toro Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon Vertical, World Class French Whites and a Dominus of Napa Valley Vertical. Be sure to join us for one, some or all of these top-drawer events through 2012.

You can book for the Tour of Italy Top Drops online here..

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Author: Dirk Chan

Introducing Rock & Roll Ruby Tuesdays at deVine’s – every third Tuesday of the month from 2-6pm drop into the store to sample a full-bodied red wine that we are showcasing, and if you like the wine, you get 10% off when you purchase said wine. It’s time to Rock ‘N Roll.

Our first Rock & Roll Ruby Tuesday night is this coming Tuesday, January 17 and will feature the 2007 Falernia Reserva Carmenère (Elqui Valley, Chile) – $19.99.

Carmenère is the Jurassic Park grape, having almost become extinct until the settlers brought it from Bordeaux to Chile, where the grape has flourished. The Falernia oozes blackberry, black currant and vegetables on the nose. The palate is fruit forward with lots of plum, dark cherry and blackberries. Full-bodied, with plenty of warmth and a long easy to enjoy finish. A fine red for the winter. Pair with grilled red meats. You can purchase it online here..

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Author: Dirk Chan

Happy New Year to one and all and may 2012 bring you good health, good luck, love and prosperity. Its hard to believe another year has passed. No New Years resolutions, I am never able to keep them, so instead, a few random thoughts about what we’re looking forward to in the upcoming year.

1) arriving this year are some great wines from all over the globe vintage 2009 – including California Pinot Noirs, yet another ‘Vintage of the Century’ 2009 Bordeaux, Alsace, Northern Rhone, Burgundy, South Africa and Washington. As well, the fabulous 2010 German Rieslings, 2008 California Cabernets, the great 2006 Barolo and Brunello’s. There’s an endless amount of great wines to look forward to in 2012

2) perhaps we’ll see a few Mexican Reds, Swiss Reds, the arrival of Brazilian wines, and hopefully more from Uruguay

3) I want to be surprised and find a wine for $120 that taste like a $100 wine

4) I’m dreaming but if Edmonton ever goes the way of Montreal and embraces BYO at restaurants, it would be a miracle

5) a few more new restaurants in the downtown core to expand on the already very fine selection

6) someone progressive and dynamic enough to work with the AGLC to enable a wine storage service for Edmontonians?

7) a deVine store renovation..to fix the water damage from November, and perhaps a little bit more..

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