deVine Thoughts

June 19, 2012

Lustau Sherries

Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 11:12 am

lusta_pxAuthor: Dirk Chan

deVine’s did a special order of Lustau sherries at the beginning of the year and they’ve finally arrived. Given the shortage of Sherry producers represented in Alberta, here is a chance to acquire some choice selections from this ancient (dates back to 1896) and reliable house, located in Jerez de la Frontera near Cadiz in Andalusia, the main town for sherry producers.

We’ve brought in two main ranges of sherries – the Solera Reserva range (saving specific amounts of sherries year after year for the purpose of blending a final product) and the Almacenista range (from cellars of a local businesmen who ages the sherries as a hobby rather than a profession). As well, we’re offering a few limited release sherries.

For the novice, sherries are fortified wines made from the indigenous white grape Palomino – they come in various styles (dizzying in fact there are so many) ranging from dry, light (Fino) to darker and heavier versions (Oloroso) to something in between (Amontillado) to dessert sweet ones (made from Moscatel or Pedro Ximenez grapes). Alcohol ranges from 15% up.

Terribly underappreciated and thus very affordable, sherries are unbelievably great for food pairing. Different styles of sherries can match beautifully with salads, soups, seafood stew, to ravioli to fois gras, or pour over ice cream or most oftenly used as a digestif (served slightly chilled). Experiment with sherry and you’ll discover a door that swings wide open to mystery and amazement.

Listed below are links to currently available Lustau’s. These are limited so please grab them while they last:

  • Lustau Almacenistra Oloroso Fino del Puerto – $29.99
  • Lustau Almacenista Pata de Gallina Dry Oloroso – $29.99
  • Lustau Manzanilla Papirusa – $16.99
  • Lustau Don Nuno Dry Solera Oloroso Reserva – $21.99
  • Lustau Palo Cortado Peninsula – $37.99
  • Lustau Palo Cortado Vides – $62.99
  • Lustau East India Solera – $21.99
  • Lustau Moscatel Emilin Solera Reserva – $23.99
  • Lustau Pedro Ximinez San Emilio Solera – $23.99
  • (more…)

    June 14, 2012

    Al Fresco Auction ends 6pm, Saturday, June 16th

    Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 3:32 pm

    danskee_12Author: Dirk Chan

    Many thanks to the participants and the volunteers and organizers of the 4th Annual 104th-Street Block Party saturday, it was a fun indeed for all concerned. Al Fresco may be over, but the auction in support of the Zebra Child Protection Centre is not. The auction will continue all this week and ends this Saturday, June 16th at 6pm. If you really want an item, we suggest you be in the store to bid in person at this time.

    However, if you can’t make it down to the store and want to place an absentee bid. All absentee bids must be to us by 3pm, Saturday, June 16th by sending an email to info@devinewines.ca. Please include item#, maximum bid, your contact info in the email and we will bid on your behalf in $10 increments up to your specified maximum.

    Note we have given an extra week’s time for bidding so that the street artists’ works can gain their maximum exposure and bidding potential. These wonderful works are now on full display at the store, along with all the other auction items. Pictured right is Auction Item #82 – Al Fresco Art by Danskee, already fetching a high bid of $1000 – you need to view this in person to grasp the scope of the piece!

    Winners will be contacted the week of June 18th – we’re asking the winners to come in to pickup and pay (only by cash or cheque made out to ‘Zebra Child Protection Centre’) for their winning items within 2 weeks of being contacted.

    Please visit our online auction page now.
    More street art after the jump..

    (more…)

    June 3, 2012

    4th Annual Al Fresco Block Party Saturday, June 9th

    Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 1:13 pm

    alfresco_zebra3Author: Dirk Chan

    The 104th-Street community is thrilled to present this coming Saturday, June 9, the 4th annual Al Fresco block party and fundraiser. So many people from the community have worked hard to plan this exciting day so we hope you can all join us for the festivities. Proceeds of numerous events will go towards this year’s charity of choice – the Zebra Child Protection Centre, a non-profit, community-based organization that was established in 2002 to improve the lives of children who have suffered abuse. Through Zebra’s community partnerships, the Centre is able to provide children and their families with essential social, medical and mental health services and supports. To find out more, please visit their website at http://www.zebracentre.ca

    Below please find the schedule of events for Saturday, June 9th:

    Schedule of Events:

    8:30am – 11:00am – DECL Pancake Breakfast , on 102 Ave & 104 Street by Ric’s Grill – (a minimum $2 donation to Zebra Child Protection Centre)

    9:00am – 3:00pm – Farmers Market

    Noon – Pride Parade starts on 107 Street and 102 Ave & travels to Churchill Square

    Noon – 8:00pm (last admittance 7:00pm) – Fine Wine, Beer & Spirits Tasting in the Melcor Parking Lot – $25 CASH ONLY donation to Zebra Child Protection Centre to access this area. (18 & over only)

    5:00pm – 7:00pm – Melcor Kids Zone! (Pocket Park behind Sobeys)

    5:00pm – 10:00pm – Extended Patios, , Fashion Alley and more from your favourite 104th Street Merchants!

    5:00pm – 11:00pm – The biggest “What the Truck?!” event yet, on 104th St north of Jasper Avenue (10 food trucks – come hungry)

    5:00pm – 11:00pm – Stage Performances, Fashion Show & Drag Queens!

    Stage Perfomances (5:00pm – 11:00pm):

    MitchMatic

    Polyesterday

    Axe & Smash

    Fashion Show (approx 6:30pm)

    Drag Queens

    Dusty Grooves

    Mass Choir

    AllOut DJ’s

    Souljah Fyah (approx 9:20pm)

    Dane & Junior Brown

    In the meantime our online auction is well under way – the auction is a major component of the fundraising for the Zebra Child Protection Centre. Over eighty items are now on display at deVine’s and bidding is accepted both at the store and online.

    This year, the auction will end at 6pm, Saturday, June 16th (a week after Al Fresco day). The extra week is because we want to give more time for bidding of the masterworks created by the various street artists. These works will be on display at deVine’s the week following Al Fresco Day. All absentee bids must be in by 3pm, Saturday, June 16th by sending an email to info@devinewines.ca. Winners will be contacted the week of June 18th – we’re asking the winners to claim their wins within 2 weeks of being contacted.

    Please visit our online auction page now.

    How Can I Help?


    Donate your time. The Al Fresco Planning Committee is always looking for eager volunteers to help us run this exciting event. If you would like to volunteer your time, please contact Caitlin McElhone at 780.761.6682 or email Caitlin here

    As well, see the various related Shaw TV interviews about Al Fresco:

    Barbara Spencer of the Zebra Child Protection Centre

    Al Fresco with deVine’s Ed Fong

    What the Truck?!

    DJ Junior Brown

    (more…)

    Powered by WordPress