deVine Thoughts

Author: Devon Seagrave, Charton-Hobbs

Since its creation in 1772, Veuve Clicquot has played an instrumental role in establishing and evolving the Champagne industry, as we know it today. Located in Reims, France, Veuve Clicquot prides itself on using only the most distinct grapes reflecting Madame Clicquot’s motto “only one quality, the finest.”

Now, more than 200 years later, Veuve Clicquot Champagne inspires the world to “Be Clicquot”: modern, audacious and of premium quality. These values, set forth by the extraordinary Madame Clicquot, promise a remarkable experience with each sip of Veuve Clicquot Champagne.

Last year, the Veuve agent Charton-Hobbs offered a lovely yellow bicyclette. This year’s Yellow Contest runs from now till end of May, enter at deVine’s for an opportunity to take home a little piece of sunshine – a chance to win a beautiful Veuve Clicquot Bistro Patio Set – see photo. Good Luck to everyone!

In the meantime, here is our Veuve available products for your sipping pleasure:

NV Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut – $68.99

NV Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut (1.5L Magnum) – $149.99

NV Veuve Clicquot Demi-Sec – $74.99

2004 Veuve Clicquot Vintage Reserve Brut – $94.99

2004 Veuve Clicquot Vintage Rosé – $99.99

1990 Veuve Clicquot Cave Privée Brut – $299.99

1989 Veuve Clicquot Cave Privée Rosé Brut – $319.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

Join us on Saturday May 9th as we DRINK PINK to raise funds for breast cancer research in Alberta!

It’s near impossible to find someone whose life has not been touched by cancer. One of the leading causes of death in the world, it represents a tremendous burden on patients, families and societies. With the rising cost of treatment and the sheer number of individuals affected by the disease, the fight against cancer often feels like a losing battle . We CAN help make a difference in the lives of cancer patients, survivors and their families by fundraising to help the advancement of cancer research, prevention, and treatment.

On Mother’s Day weekend, deVine will host a stand-up rosé themed tasting with half of all ticket sales going to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. A perfect Mother’s Day gift, or just a great excuse to come out and taste some great wine in support of a universal cause!

Rosé can literally be made from any grape, it incorporates some of the color from the red grape via the skin contact method. Pretty much every wine producing region has one form or another, it is a great summer deck wine, a versatile food wine, a great picnic wine. It has been popular for a long time in Europe but has caught over in North America over the last few years.

Please support this worthy cause and sign up for Drink Pink
here..

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Author: Dirk Chan

deVine welcomes Pedro Almeida Santos, Export Manager of Quinta do Portal for a special sit down tasting and traversal of representative wines of this popular family-ran Douro producer on Thursday, April 9 @ 7pm – $40.

deVine has been a long time supporter of this winery, who over the last decade has achieved deserved recognition for producing quality and varietally correct wines at an affordable price.

Vines have been grown in their harsh and beautiful land for hundreds of years although Portal has only been around since 1986. Before that, they were known as Quinta Casal de Celeiros. There’s some fascinating history as Celeiros was one of the very earliest Quintas to employ women to tread grapes in the lagares, it is also the only property in the entire Douro region that was not affected by Phylloxera in the turn of the century. Also, they sold off a lot of their grapes in the 1960-1980’s to Sandeman. More stories to be had if you attend the tasting with Pedro on Thursday, April 9th.

We’ll be tasting through a vast range of Portal wines, both white and reds, and ending with one of the house’s greatest Vintage Ports, their stellar 1999. Only 34 spots available for this sitdown event. Please book early to avoid disappointment. The list of wines and tickets here..

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Author: Dirk Chan

Another Easter is fast upon us, and we tend to receive many Easter Dinner wine pairing requests. If you have an unique dinner planned other than the traditional turkey and ham, then by all means bring your menu into the store or drop us a line, and we would be happy to choose specific matches to enhance your special evening.

For those doing turkey and ham and all the traditional fixings, here are a few favourites at deVine’s that will suit the bill nicely:

Bubbles:

Whites:

Rosés:

Reds:

Denouement:

These are but just a few recommendations, there’s much more to choose from, but do shop early for the best selection.

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Author: Dirk Chan

Vintage of the century seems to be common place coming from Bordeaux, but less so elsewhere. However, the 2010 vintage of Barolo’s from northern Italy’s Piedmont region is such a great vintage. Hailed as the best vintage since the legendary 1971, 1978, 1982, 1989, 1990, 1996 and 2006 with many calling 2010 the greatest ever, it is surely something any wine connoisseur should be seeking out. Patience is required, and will be grandly rewarded.

There is small amounts coming into Alberta, and they are being snapped up pretty fast. Here is what’s currently available at deVine’s, all very limited:

2010 Vietti Barolo Rocche di Castiglione – $299.99

2010 Vietti Barolo Brunate – $249.99

2010 Vietti Barolo Lazzarito – $199.99

2010 Vietti Barolo Castiglione – 1.5L – $199.99

2010 Vietti Barolo Castiglione – $89.99

2010 E. Pira & Figli Barolo Cannubi Chiara Boschis – $139.99

2010 E. Pira & Figli Barolo Via Nuova Chiara Boschis – $114.99

2010 Aldo Conterno Barolo Cicala – $199.99

2010 Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia – $109.99

2010 Azelia Barolo San Rocco – $114.99

2010 Cavallotto Barolo Bricco Boschis – $109.99

2010 Conterno-Fantino Barolo Sori Ginestra – $114.99

2010 Poderi di Luigi Einaudi Barolo Cannubi – $114.99

2010 Poderi di Luigi Einaudi Barolo Terlo Vigna Costa Grimaldi – $104.99

2010 Poderi di Luigi Einaudi Barolo Terlo – $79.99

2010 Marcarini Barolo Brunate – $79.99

2010 Fontanafredda Barolo di Serralunga d’Alba – $47.99

2010 Serradenari Barolo Rocche di Castiglione – $44.99

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Author: Jim Phelan

For the first time in several years, deVine Wines & Spirits is hosting a formal sit-down beer tasting!

As craft beer’s market continues to gain traction, diversify, and expand, it truly has become a wonderful time to be a beer drinker. This expansion of great beer can also be quite confusing at times. What defines a certain beer style? How many different types of beer are there? What is the difference between craft and domestic brewing? How hoppy and bitter should an IPA be? We here at deVine’s might be able to help.

Join us on Saturday March 21st, for a sweeping sit-down survey course across the world of beer. Accessable to beginners and beer-geeks alike, we will taste through thirteen different products spanning from lagers to barley wines. We’ll be sticking to some of the most readily available styles seen in North America for this tasting, but with a few surprises thrown in for even the most seasoned beer guru! We will talk about what differentiates different styles of beer and where they came from, go over tasting techniques, look at how craft beer grew so popular over recent years, and even offer some basic beer and food pairings.

Only a dozen spots left as of this writing. You can register for this event here..

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Author: Dirk Chan

Another in a series of deVine’s 10th Anniversary tastings, we and International Wine Cellars welcome Johan Erasmus, General Manager of Glen Carlou, who will lead us through a set of six wines from their sparkling portfolio in this special sit-down event, scheduled for Thursday, February 19th at 7pm. Erasmus is an engaging and knowlegeable speaker who will inform and engage you with anecdotes, history and revealing wine talk.

Glen Carlou is located in Paarl (Southern Cape), South Africa and has been doing wonderful things in their short 28 year existence. Under the ownership and management of the world-renowned Hess Family (with additional holdings in USA, Australia and Argentina), Glen Carlou has been offering passionate and consistent wine for a great price for the last two decades and is now one of the country’s leading producers. Of special interest are the splendid Quartz Stone Chardonnay (oldest block single vineyard) and their Gravel Quarry Cabernet Sauvignon (best vines named after the distinctive gravel soils from the old quarry site where the winery stands today) and ending with the sweet dessert Welder Chenin Blanc (single vineyard under careful canopy management, and named after winemaker Arco Laarman’s nickname). Only 34 spots available for this tasting.

More details and registration for this event here..

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Author: Ed Fong

Ever wonder how deVine chooses what wines make it onto our shelves? Join us on Thursday, February 5th as we open 25 white and red German and Austrian wines not currently available in the Alberta market to taste, evaluate, and ultimately decide what will be listed.

Led by Ed Fong and the deVine team, this is a great opportunity to taste along with a group of wine professionals and have your voice heard in the listing process!

This is yet another one of our special 10th Anniversary tastings – only 18 spots available for this sit-down event so sign up fast to avoid disappointment. All proceeds from this tasting will be donated to further community development in Edmonton. PLEASE NOTE that this is a technical tasting and due to the number of wines being tasted spitting is mandatory to comply with liquor service regulations.

You can register for the unique event here..

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Author: Dirk Chan

Situated 700 to 1100 meters above sea level in Mendoza, Argentina, Achaval Ferrer was formed in 1998 and is famous for their old-vine Malbec. Today, winemaker and partner Roberto Cipresso is in charge.

The winery’s passion is to make great wines which are faithful gifts of the soil from where they begin. Under Italian and Argentinean ownership, their philosophy engulfs green harvesting, leaf thinning and minimalist interference, reduced yields all to produce a better end-product. Wide temperature changes (warm days and cool nights), desert-like climate, poor soil composition and irrigation waters from the pristine snowmelt off the Andes encourage the maturation process of grapes which converts into wines with character, profound structure and complexity. All of the Achaval wines are bottled unfiltered, and decanting is recommended.

There several single vineyard Malbecs that Achaval is famous for:

Finca Altamira is located La Consulta, Uco Valley and has existed since 1925, is 5.2 hectares on native rootstocks grown at 3400 feet above sea level. Only 825 cases made of this terroir driven Malbec.

Finca Bella Vista is 105 years old, with alluvial soil, rolling stones and layers of silt, 13 hectares that co-exists with olive trees at an altitude of 3100 feet. The yield is a measely .75 tons per acre (that is 1/3 of a bottle of wine per plant)resulting in great black fruit, the greatest depth and opulence and an endless finish. Under 1000 cases made.

Finca Mirador is 13 acres in the village of Medrano on alluvial and clay soil grown at 2400 feet above sea level on the west bank of the Tunuyan River. Half the vines were planted in 1928 and the other half in 1942, the latter pruned double-Guyot rootstocks. Very expressive nose, aged in new French barrels for 16 months. Only 843 cases made.

The Quimera blend of Malbec, Merlot, CabSau, CabFranc and Pett Verdot pays hommage to the Bordeaux style blend. Both their large production Cabernet Sauvignon and Mendoza Malbec have been bestsellers at deVines and represent excellent value.

deVine and Brett Norrie of Empson Wines will be hosting a special sit-down tasting of the Achaval Ferrer wines on Saturday, January 31st at 7pm where we’ll taste six wines including all of the aforementioned single vineyard Malbecs from the great 2009 vintage, all of which scored between 96 and 99 points from The Wine Advocate magazine.

Advanced registration is required, and can be done online
here..

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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 2015 with all the best for happiness, good health and prosperity.

May good fortune and luck follow you wherever you go and in everything you do for the coming year.

We thank you for your continued patronage!

From Ed, Annabelle, Chad, Dirk, Mark, Chris, Rick, Bill, Kandice, Jim, Bob and Darren

For the last minute shoppers, here are some gift recommendations:

Riedel Apple Decanter – $49.99

Franmara Wine Glass Marker – $4.99

Glencairn Malt Whiskey Glass – $14.99

Riedel Water Carafe – $59.99

Nuance Silver Spirit Wine Perfector – $44.99

Riedel Microfibre Polishing Cloth – $13.99

Franmara Two Prong Cork Extractor – $9.99

Torre & Tagus Clip Silicone Drink Markers – $7.99

Riedel Sommelier Mature Bordeaux Glass – $93.99

Franmara Steel Ice – $39.99