deVine Thoughts

Author: Dirk Chan

New to the store is the Austrian Riedel Veritas line of stems, it joins the ever popular Vinum Series that has long been is staple at deVine’s.

Riedel (pronounced Ree-dle) is the industry standard for stemware and decanters for the wine connoisseurs, it has been an illustrious history – family owned in Bohemia since 1756 (the same year as Mozart’s birthyear – it’s been that long!). With expert craftsmanship and a creative design team, their stemware and decanters are in high end restaurants and regular homes alike. It’s claim to fame is that the stemware was specifically and scientifically design so the first hit on your tongue accentuates the qualities of the grape varietal that the glass was designed for.

Besides the bestseller Vinum Bordeaux, Riesling, Scotch and Sparkling stems, we’ve brought in a bunch of new stems for your consideration (pictured going left to right):

Riedel Veritas New World Pinot Noir/Nebbiolo/Rose Champagne Glass – $41.99

Riedel Vinum Cognac/Brandy Glass – $39.99

Riedel Veritas Cocktail Coupe/Moscato d’Asti Glass – $41.99

Riedel Veritas Champagne Glass – $41.99

Riedel Bar Vinum Cognac/Hennessy Glass – $34.99

Riedel Vinum Grappa Glass – $29.49

For those interested in Riedel Decanters, here is a list:

Riedel Syrah Decanter – $39.99

Riedel Big Apple Decanter – $79.99

Riedel ‘O’ Decanter – $249.99

Return to devinewines.ca

Author: Dirk Chan

French pre-phylloxera Malbec vines from 1854(!!) are used to make the outstanding 2014 Bodegas Colomé Autentico Malbec – $55.99. Grapes from three vineyards (of four hectares each) planted in that year are still used to make wines at the Colomé winery. Located in the Upper Calchaquí Valley in Salta in the far north of Argentina, Colomé is reputed to be the oldest winery in Argentina, and also lays claims to own the world’s highest elevation vineyard.

Because the higher the altitude, the grapes are exposed directly to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, resulting in a thicker and darker skin to protect themselves. The fruit for this wine comes predominantly from the Santa Jakoba vineyard, so technically is a single vineyard bottling – the soils are sandy with layers of gravel which aid drainage. The vineyards are all biodynamically farmed.

Made with almost no intervention (no oak, no filtering, handmade), this has an intense inky colour with violet tones and deep, almost opaque black, very distinctive color. Aromas of ripe black fruit, cherries, white mulberry, figs and spice greet your nose. A robust, full-bodied and concentrated palate follows with fine-grained tannins, a crisp acidity and elegant minerally spiciness. This has both structure and balance. Amazing purity here and a finish that lingers for over a minute. You can taste the old vines and the sunshine!

Winemaker Thibaut Delmotte has made a gem of a wine. If you want to taste pure Malbec, then run don’t walk to get a taste of this new arrival! A great wine! Pair with grilled beef tenderloin.

Purchase Colomé wines online here:

2013 Bodegas Colomé Autentico Malbec (Calchaqui, Argentina) – $55.99

2013 Bodegas Colomé Lote Especial Tannat (Calchaqui, Argentina) – $30.99

Return to devinewines.ca

Author: Dirk Chan

Founded in 1996, Firestone Walker Brewing Company is a brewery in Paso Robles, Central Coast California, and in Buellton, California. Firestone Walker is California’s fourth-largest craft brewery. It was World Beer Cup Champion Brewery for mid-sized breweries in 2004, 2006, 2010, and 2012, and also winning three times at the Great American Beer Festival.

They began by brewing beers in the British tradition, but then joined the vanguard of breweries exploring the frontier of hoppy expression, and launched an extensive bourbon-barrel beer program, a dynamite sour program, and put a brilliant craft spin on the stodgiest of old world styles, the pilsner.

Original founder Adam Firestone, son of Brooks Firestone and great-great grandson of Harvey Firestone who started the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, and his brother-in-law David Walker. The brewery is modern, churns up to 80 batches per week through its tanks, they began canning beer in 2015, using a German-engineered KHS canning line built on the Paso Robles brewery campus that can produce and fill 400 cans per minute!

deVine’s is happy to have Firestone Walker on our shelves, you can try these new arrivals, all in a six pack cans configuration:

Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale (California, United States) – $22.49

Firestone Walker Pivo Hoppy Pilsner (California, United States) – $22.49

Firestone Walker Union Jack West Coast Style IPA (California, United States) – $22.49

Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion (California, United States) – $22.49

Have yourself a Firestone Walker Day!

Return to devinewines.ca

Author: Dirk Chan

Yet another new Gin from Manuel Barreira of Global Wine Merchants, the brand new Philadelphia Distillery Bluecoat American Dry Gin – $54.99 is the latest in the trendy American styled gin (featuring less/different juniper and more of the other botanicals) favored in new cocktail bars.

All Gins begin with Juniper berries and Bluecoat is no exception. However, Bluecoat exclusively utilizes organic juniper berries which transmit spicy, earthy notes as opposed ot the pungent pine-tree flavors of regular berries. A premium blend of oragnic American citrus peels and spices complement the rich juniper notes, giving Bluecoat its classic citrusy finish.

Only the smoothest, most flavorful cuts are bottled. The results are immediately noticeable: A quality spirit with a smooth and gentle mouth-feel, and a refreshingly light taste.

Purchase it online here..

Return to devinewines.ca

Author: Ed Fong

It has come to our attention a request has been submitted to the City of Edmonton for changes in zoning for 104th Street to support a mega-bar on 102 & 104th Street. deVines and many residents and other businesses are strongly against a 600 seat bar going in – do we want to end up being another bar street like Whyte Ave?

We are not opposed to vibrancy and licensed venues, but are opposed to something so large in scale that it could change the character of this neighbourhood drastically. Our Heritage Zoned street has a special “feel” and atmosphere to it, and a large venue of this size could destroy what we have worked so hard for quickly. It is a matter of compatibility with what is already in place on our street.

We ask all residents in our area to voice their disapproval to the city planner in writing before July 19. Please send to Carla Semeniuk, her email address is carla.semeniuk@edmonton.ca. Time is of the essence here everybody. Please act quickly to voice your opinion.

More detailed information in Ed’s official email letter to Carla here..

Return to devinewines.ca