deVine Thoughts

Author: Dirk Chan
From all of us at deVine’s to you and yours, we wish you a very Happy New Year in 2023 with all the best for happiness, good health and prosperity.

May good health and fortune and luck follow you wherever you go and in all that you do for the coming year. We thank you for your continued patronage!

Ed, Annabelle, Chad, Dirk, Kandice, Llyr, Brad, Bob and Mark

Here are some New Years Wine recommendations for your consideration. Have a fun New Years, and remember to drink responsibly.

First, pictured (left to right)
NV De Chanceny Cremant de Loire Brut (Loire Valley, France) – $24.99
2020 Pittnauer Pitt-Nat Sparkling Rose (Burgenland, Austria) – $39.99
NV Champagne Agrapart Terroirs Grand Cru Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs (Champagne, France) – $139.99
2010 Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon x Lady Gaga Limited Edition Brut (Champagne, France) – $369.99

Sparkling
NV Pere Ventura Chic Barcelona Cava Brut (Penedès, Spain) – $18.99
NV La Jara Brut Prosecco (Veneto, Italy) – $21.49
2021 Huber Sparkling Rosé (Traisental, Austria) – $24.99
2019 13th Street Gamay Blanc de Noir (Ontario, Canada) – $38.99

Champagne
NV Champagne Baron-Fuente Grande Reserve Brut (Champagne, France) – 375mL $42.99
NV Champagne Liebart-Regnier Les Sols Bruns Demi-Sec (Champagne, France) – $62.99
NV Champagne Philipponnat Royale Reserve (Champagne, France) – $78.99
NV Piper-Heidsieck Brut Lipstick Edition (Champagne, France) – $94.99
NV Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut (Champagne, France) – $104.99
NV Champagne La Rogerie La Grande Vie Grand Cru (Champagne, France) – $114.99
NV Taittinger Brut Les Folies de la Marquetterie (Champagne, France) – $124.99
2014 Bereche et Fils Le Cran Ludes Extra Brut Premier Cru (Champagne, France) – $154.99
NV Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Tradition Extra Brut (Champagne, France) – $181.99
2004 Bollinger R.D. Extra Brut (Champagne, France) – $379.99

Something Sweet & Sparkling
2021 Vietti Moscato d’Asti (Piedmont, Italy) – $40.99

Here are our store hours leading up to the New Years:

Tuesday, Dec 27 – Closed
Wednesday, Dec 28 thru Friday, Dec 30 – 11-7pm
Saturday, Dec 31 – 11-6pm
Sunday, Jan 1 – Closed

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Author: Dirk Chan

From all of us at deVine’s to you and yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in 2023 with all the best for good health, happiness and prosperity. Take good care of yourselves and your love ones as we look forward to a banner new year!

We thank you for your continued patronage!

Ed, Annabelle, Chad, Dirk,  Kandice, Llyr, Brad, Bob and Mark

Holidays Store Hours

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Author: Dirk Chan

The deadline for delivery before Christmas is midnight Thursday, December 22nd.

All orders placed thereafter will be delivered on Wednesday, December 28th.
Merry Christmas everybody!

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Author: Dirk Chan
Wow…Christmas is almost upon us, so here is our annual picks to accompany the classic turkey and/or ham dinner with all its fixings. Start your evening off with a sparkling wine,followed by whites, reds, a dessert wine and perhaps a lovely port to end off the evening. With the year we’ve all been through, perhaps it is time to go big this year!!

Sparkling Wines
Sparkling wines are a great way to start any function whether its a greeting aperitif or to pair with appetizers. Lively and clean, these will get everyone ready for what’s to come next.

NV La Jara Brut Prosecco (Veneto, Italy) – $21.49

NV Domaine Rosier Cuvee Ma Maison Cremant de Limoux (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) – $23.99

2021 Huber Sparkling Rosé (Traisental, Austria) – $25.99

2020 Pittnauer Pitt-Nat Sparkling Rose (Burgenland, Austria) – $39.99

Champagne
Now if you serve Champagne, your audience will immediately know you’re here to do some serious partaking and celebrating.

NV Champagne Baron-Fuente Grande Reserve Brut (Champagne, France) – $52.99

NV Champagne Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut (Champagne, France) – $59.99

NV Champagne Philipponnat Royale Reserve (Champagne, France) – $78.99

2011 Champagne Gardet Charles Rose de Saignee Brut Premier Cru (Champagne, France) – $119.99

NV Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Tradition Extra Brut (Champagne, France) – $181.99

2004 Bollinger R.D. Extra Brut (Champagne, France) – $379.99

Whites & Pinks

Whites with a touch of sweetness is preferred because of the sweetness of some of the fixings – candied yams, cranberry sauce, and honey for the glazed ham. A completely dry white will seem more austere and void of fruit due to the sweetness of the food so I recommend Rieslings (dry or off-dry, both work), Gewurztraminers or other Germanic or Alsace varietals. Having said that, some will always go with a dry creamy Chardonnay or Chenon irregardless and that’s perfectly fine. Also, don’t forget that rosés work really well too!

2020 Chai du Grand Vaudasniere Vouvray (Vouvray, France) – $24.99

2021 Wild Goose Autumn Gold (BC – Okanagan, Canada) – $25.99

2021 Illahe Vineyards Pinot Gris (Oregon – Willamette Valley, United States) – $34.99


2020 Hiedler Ried Thal Gruner Veltliner (Kamptal, Austria) – $44.99

2018 Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese (Mosel, Germany) – $63.99

2020 Les Vins de Vienne Condrieu (Condrieu, France) – $69.99

2018 Louis Jadot Meursault Premier Cru Les Genevrieres (Burgundy – Cote de Beaune, France) – $147.99

2021 Edoardo Miroglio Soli Rosé (Thracian Valley, Bulgaria) – $21.49

2021 Château de Trinquevedel Tavel (Rhone Valley, France) – $31.99

Reds
For reds, try to avoid the big oaky tannic monsters. Oak and tannins are the enemies when pairing with slightly sweet food, try for a red with lots of up-front fruit, little oak and a soft tannins like a Beaujolais (served slightly chilled) or a Pinot Noir.

2020 Andreas Bender Pinot Noir (Pfalz, Germany) – $25.99

2019 13th Street Gamay (Ontario – Niagara, Canada) – $26.99

2017 Johanneshof Reinisch St. Laurent (Thermenregion, Austria) – $29.99

2020 Bodegas Arzuaga Navarro La Planta Tempranillo (Ribera del Duero, Spain) – $30.99

2017 Travaglini Giancarlo Gattinara (Piedmont, Italy) – $42.99

2010 Lopez de Heredia Vina Bosconia Reserva (Rioja, Spain) – $56.99

2018 Tardieu-Laurent Crozes-Hermitage Vieilles Vignes (Rhone Valley, France) – $67.99

2017 Rocche Costamagna Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata (Piedmont, Italy) – $79.99

2016 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon (California – Napa Valley, United States) – $94.99

2017 Ferraton Pere & Fils Cote Rotie Lieu Dit Montmain (Rhone Valley, France) – $109.99

2011 Château Teyssier Vieux Chateau Mazerat (Bordeaux – St. Emilion, France) – $139.99

2018 Gambal-Work Bentrock Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir (California – Central Coast, United States) – $157.99

2009 Le Carre (Bordeaux – St. Emilion, France) – $229.99

2001 Azelia Barolo Bricco Fiasco (Piedmont, Italy) – $289.99

2005 Château La Providence (Bordeaux – Pomerol, France) – $349.99

Dessert
As for dessert, remember dessert wine should be sweeter than the dessert itself.

2017 Domäne Wachau Beerenauslese Terrassen (Wachau, Austria) -375mL – $35.99

2019 Château Doisy-Daene (Bordeaux – Sauternes, France) – 375mL – $49.99

2019 Gehringer Brothers Signature Series Riesling Icewine (BC – Okanagan, Canada) – 375mL -$57.99

2011 Château Climens Premier Cru (Bordeaux – Barsac, France) – 375mL – $114.99

Port (Post Dinner)
Port is always good for the final touches of a meal whether its a ruby or a tawny. Try with blue-veined cheeses and roasted nuts.

2002 Quevedo Colheita (Douro, Portugal) – 375mL – $37.99

NV Taylor Fladgate Historic Limited Edition Reserve Tawny Port (Douro, Portugal) – $54.99


2018 Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $84.99

1983 Fonseca Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $269.99

1957 Kopke Colheita (Douro, Portugal) – $349.99

Finally, if you are pressed for time, try out our December Mixed Case – $245.24 or our December Club 6-Pack – $177.45 where a lot of the wines would pair well with Christmas dinner.

Note our hours of operations leading up to Christmas and between Christmas and New Years.

Everyone, enjoy the holiday season. Best wishes for good health and happiness to everyone!

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the 2018 Tommasi Rafael Valpolicella Classico Superiore (Veneto, Italy) – $23.99 (regularly $28.49).

The Tommasi story is that of a pioneer spirit that started in 1902 that has blazed across four generations. Today, the estate owns 599 hectares of land in some of Italy’s most intriguing and prestigious winemaking regions – including Veneto of course but branches out to Puglia, Montalcino, Maremma, Lombardy and Campania.

Our feature this week is their Rafael Valpolicella, a delicious easy drinking red with aromas recalling dried spices, leather and cherry with the palate flavors being intense, with spicy, sweet cherry notes. Beautifully balanced and very expressive. This wine balances red and black fruit flavors with sage, mint and marjoram. Carried by velvety tannins and mouthwatering acidity, the wine turns savory with exposure to air.

Rafael pairs wonderfully with a platter of cured meats and cheese.

Note this will be our last weekly offer for the year, we’ll return with new offers January 9, 2023.

2018 Tommasi Rafael Valpolicella Classico Superiore (Veneto, Italy) – $23.99, (regularly $28.49)

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online features this week are the 2017 Georg Mosbacher Sauvignon Blanc (Rheinpfalz, Germany) – $29.99 (regularly $36.99) and the 2018 Mezzacorona Dinotte Red (Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy) – $15.99 (regularly $19.99)

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Sabine Mosbacher and Jürgen Düringer are based in the heart of the best area of the Pfalz, and the estate comprises 21 hectares. Their wines are never showy, never rich nor heavy, but excel through finesse and supreme elegance. They have now converted fully to organic viticulture, and all harvesting is done by hand.

The history of the estate is that ancestors of the Mosbacher family have lived and worked as vintners in Forst for more than 200 years. The “modern” version of the estate was formed in 1920 by Richard Mosbacher Sr. (1898-1977) who founded the current estate together with his sisters and named it after their father Georg hence “Weingut Georg Mosbacher Erben”. The curved “M” which decorates their wine labels goes back to these first years.

This week’s feature white, their Georg Mosbacher’s Sauvignon Blanc presents itself in the glass as a light yellow with greenish reflections while the expressive bouquet of this white wine unfolds with notes of yellow kiwi, grapefruit and gooseberry. The green aromas of apples, gooseberries and fresh lemongrass complement the variety of aromas and deliver a freshness that is also reflected on the palate. Love its fruity playfulness and juicy length, which is in perfect balance with the clear acid structure. An elegant, refined and juicy Sauvignon Blanc.

Meanwhile, Trentino is a land rich in natural beauty, history, castles and traditions. Mezzacorona is staple in Trentino. Since 1904, it has been producing elegant and fragrant wines, genuine and special like the land from where they are derived from.

Mezzacorona lies at the foot of the majestic Italian Dolomites mountains. Its vineyards with their characteristic of the region pergola trellising, run from Lake Garda to the foothills of the towering Dolomites. A fresh and wild breeze blows from the over 400 lakes and numerous glaciers of the surrounding mountains, peaking at over 9,000 feet.

This week’s feature red, their Dinotte Red Blend expresses the aromatic richness of two noble varietals of the Dolomites – Teroldego and Marzemino, combined with an international varietal, Merlot, for elegance and softness. Teroldego, with its profound flavors of red currants, blackberry, and blueberry, provides a full-bodied structure. Marzemino brings a pleasant juicy character that creates a soft, velvety, palate pleasing wine. The Red Blend is balanced with the addition of Merlot to add aromatic notes of vanilla and cocoa.

Dinotte (Italian meaning “the night”) has great fruity flavors of blackberry and blueberry fruits with a juicy character and a soft, smooth palate. It is an ideal pairing for hearty appetizers and spicy cuisine, as well as savory sauces, baked pastas, and grilled or roasted meats.

2017 Georg Mosbacher Sauvignon Blanc (Rheinpfalz, Germany) – $29.99 (regularly $36.99)

2018 Mezzacorona Dinotte Red (Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy) – $15.99 (regularly $19.99)

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Author: Dirk Chan

Mark your calendar – deVine Days – Friday, Dec 16 through Sunday, Dec 18 is a three day weekend affair this year – our annual “Thank You!” for your ongoing support and patronage.

deVine Wines will be offering our customers a 10% discount* on all in-store items (yes, including wine, beer, spirits and vintage keeper, vintage room products). No rain-checks and does not apply to products already discounted (cases of the month, bin-ends, tastings and weekly online offer). For your shopping convenience, you can also shop online during that weekend as our entire inventory is available via our website that is available to you 24 hours a day. Enjoy shopping in the comforts of your own home. Note you won’t see the 10% discount when you order online in the system generated confirmation but rather it will be applied by us in the backend and you will see it on our second email confirmation when your order has been processed.

You can also visit us in the store during our regular store hours .

In addition to the sale, do take advantage of our free delivery within Edmonton city limits option with a minimum $50 purchase – we deliver monday through fridays in the afternoon.

This is our biggest sale of the year to give everybody some much needed cheer! Shop early for best selection. Don’t miss out, its a great opportunity to do all your Xmas and New Year needs.

At this time of year, please remember those in need. Please bring a package for the Edmonton Food Bank or drop some money into the cash box by our till if you’re coming into to the store. For those taking advantage of our free delivery within Edmonton city limits, you can hand over a care package to our driver. Thank you in advance.

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the 2018 Hartenberg Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz (Stellenbosch, South Africa) – $21.99 (regularly $24.99).

On the slopes of Bottelary Hills bordering Stellenbosch, 50km east of Cape Town is the Hartenberg Family Vineyards, where nature provides the perfect backdrop to grow, produce and share award-winning wines. The name Hartenberg comes from the Africaans language and means “heart of the mountain”.

Hartenberg’s Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz blend is the best selling wine in the Hartenberg portfolio. First produced in 1990 it is now celebrating its 28th vintage. Nine different soil types and very different micro climatic conditions make the wines so special. Produced from dedicated vineyard blocks, in addition to a mixture of grapes that ‘haven’t quite cracked the nod’ for Hartenberg’s High-End wines.

This is a juicy, easy drinking wine showing bright red fruits, earth, wood spice, truffles and fruit cake with friendly, dry tannins. Pair with a hearty beef stew.

2018 Hartenberg Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz (Stellenbosch, South Africa) – $21.99 (regularly $24.99

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