deVine Thoughts

Author: Dirk Chan

New on Google Maps is a virtual tour of deVine’s – check it out.

View Larger Map

You can take a complete virtual tour of the store, try zooming in and out in various sections, fun!…

(more…)

Author: Dirk Chan

In the early 1970’s, Francis Darroze hunted throughout the Gascony countryside for the best barrels
of Armagnacs from various estates. In more than 40 years, the Darroze Collection grew and today
there is a very impressive selection of 250 different Armagnacs from 30 properties spanning more than
50 vintages. Francis’ son Marc, a trained oenologist takes care of the Armagnac aging today.

Bas Armagnac is a region in southwest France near Gascony, is one of three plantation areas in the
Armagnac area where grapes for the distillation of the Armagnac eau-de-vie can be cultivated. This distinctive brandy is distilled from grapes Colombard, Ugni Blanc and Baco 22A. Volume of production is much smaller than the more famous Cognac region. Armagnac is only distilled once (versus twice in Cognac’s), and is the oldest brandy distilled in France, and in the past was consumed for its therapeutic benefits.

While the law required a minimum of ten years of aging in oak barrels, Darroze will wait 15 or more years before releasing. deVine did a special order for the Darroze Collection of single estate and single vintage Bas Armagnacs for your consideration. Most of the vintages we’ve selected are those vintages where wine at a world wide level were not as successful, so as to provide vintage dated spirits for those hard to find birthyears. Very limited availability on these, so grab while supply lasts.

1963 Francis Darroze Chateau de Gaube – $424.99

1964 Francis Darroze Chateau de Gaube – $424.99

1974 Francis Darroze Domaine de Saubin – $224.99

1979 Francis Darroze Domaine de Busquet – $187.99

1982 Francis Darroze Domaine de Busquet – $181.99

1986 Francis Darroze Domaine de Bertruc – $159.99

1992 Francis Darroze Domaine de Rieston – $144.99

Other vintages not linked but available for sale include 1965, 1966, 1967, 1972, 1983, 1999 and 2000.

(more…)

Author: Dirk Chan

Time to look forward to what to drink to bring in the New Year. There are so many choices to celebrate with, from nexpensive sparklers from Australia, Spanish Cava, Italian Prosecco, sparklers from France and then the ultimate with French Champagne.

Champagne is in great demand these days: availability is low and the dwindling supply is quickly snapped up by enthusiasts around the world; the soaring price increases do not deter buyers who want the ultimate in celebratory wine. deVine has searched high and low to bring these products for your consideration and listed below are some of our favourites.

1) NV Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava (Penedes, Spain) – $17.49

2) NV Vedova “Fordue” Extra Dry Prosecco (Veneto, Italy) – $18.99

3) NV François Lichtle Méthode Traditionnelle Rosé (Alsace, France) – $26.49

4) NV Langlois-Château Brut Rosé (Loire Valley, France) – $26.99

5) NV Domaine Chandon Blanc de Noir (California) – $33.49

6) NV Cave Spring Blancs de Blanc Brut (Ontario – Niagara) – $38.99

7) NV Bruno Gobillard Brut (Champagne, France) – $49.99

8) NV Piper-Heidsieck Brut (Champagne, France) – $59.99

9) 2004 Camille Saves Grand Cru Brut Millesime (Champagne, France) – $69.99

10) 2002 Devaux D de Devaux La Cuvee (Champagne, France) – $102.99

11) 2002 Bollinger La Grande Année Rosé Brut (Champagne, France) – $239.99

12) 1998 Krug Brut (Champagne, France) – $324.99

13) NV Armand de Brignac Ace of Spades Brut (Champagne, France) – $349.99

14) 2002 Moet & Chandon Dom Pérignon Brut (Champagne, France) -1.5L – $499.99

15) 1998 Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Francaises (Champagne, France) – $539.99

16) 2002 Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé (Champagne, France) – $639.99

Happy New Year Everyone!

(more…)

Author: Dirk Chan

deVine’s offers all of your Christmas gifting needs. Pictured is a gift basket of wine. You can customize your basket by adding stemware or other sundry items. Many styles of baskets available and the wine possibilities are endless. Do give us some lead time to wrap.

For those who want sampler packs that offer a taste of a larger variety, we have three offerings:

1) the Twelve Days of Christmas Beer Sampler – $91.17 with a focus on seasonal holiday season releasesl . Only 40 cases available so grab yours while supply lasts. Some of the beers in this package is already out of stock at the government warehouse.

2) the December’s Mixed Case – $208.84 is an eclectic mix for everyday drinking with several wines suitable for the traditional Christmas turkey dinner.

3) the Wine Spectator magazine issues their Top 100 wines every year around this time. This year, we’re offering a mixed case of nine wines that made the grade in 2012, plus one from 2011 and two wines from 2010 to complete the mixed case. The Wine Spectator Top 100 Mix Case – $299.39 would serve as wonderful Christmas presents, have your own Spectator tasting or enjoy these highly regarded wines for yourself at your leisure.

We have also just received many nic nacs that would be great as stocking stuffers, new Riedel and Schott Zwiesel stemware and much more, drop by the store to visit if we can be of any assistance.

(more…)

Author: Ed Fong

Save the date! The businesses on 104th-St. are coming together on Tuesday, December 4 to say a collective “THANK YOU!” for your support throughout the year.

Please come visit us and enjoy the many special offers and activities provided by the following merchants and restaurants for your holiday festive season pleasure. We wish to say a collective Thank you to the residents and visitors to our street for your year round support. Without you, our valued customers, we would not be here!

deVine Wines & Spirits (4 PM to 10 PM), 10111-104th-St.
www.devinewines.ca or phone 780.421.9463
· 10% discount on all in-stock regularly priced wines and spirits (in store shopping only and no rain checks) – excludes beer and wines stored in our vintage keeper/vintage room and special cases of the month.
· Enjoy a free wine tasting while you shop and browse

· unadvertised in-store products between 15-20% off
· Enter your name for a chance to win a gift basket of wine

Please contact the individual businesses below if you require further information.

104st Grill (all day promotion), 10190-104th-St.
www.104stgrill.com or phone 780.429.4333
· 25% discount on your bill for parties up to four (4) guests

Blue Plate Diner (4 PM to 10 PM), 10145-104th-St.
www.blueplatediner.ca or phone 780.429.0740
· 25% off all food (discount is not applicable to beverage alcohol)

Blunt Salon (all day sale), Icon II Tower, 10142-104th-St.
www.bluntsaloninc.com or phone 780.498.1899
· 25% discount on all haircuts and styling

Bubble Buzz (all day sale), Icon Tower II, 10140-104th-St.
www.bubblebuzz.ca or phone 780.761.2899
· Purchase one drink and receive a 50% discount on your second drink
· Come down and enjoy relaxing board games while you savor our drink creations

Carbon Environmental Boutique (all day sale), 10184-104th-St.
www.carbonboutique.com or phone 780.498.1900
· A full day sale event
· In-store draw for a $50 gift certificate
· Free hot Christmas beverages

The Cask and Barrel (4PM to Close), 10041-104th-St.
www.thecaskandbarrel.ca or phone 780.498.1224
· 25% off your entire bill from 4 PM until close

Coup (garment boutique) (all day sale), #101, 10137-104th-St.
www.coupboutique.com or phone 780.756.3032
· 25% discount on all clothing
· In-store draw for a private shopping night

Credo Coffee (all day promotion), Icon Tower I, 10134-104th-St.
www.credocoffee.ca or phone 780.935-5546
· Purchase or reload a gift card, and obtain an extra 10% of credit

Dauphine (all day sale), 10129-104th-St.
Phone 780.421-4410
· 10% discount on all packaged items and Christmas orders placed before Dec 15, 2012

Evoolution (all day sale), Icon Tower I, 10130-104th-St.
www.evoolution.ca or phone 587.521.3445
· 10% discount on all oils, vinegars (excluding bottles over $250) and salts

Eye Care Group (all day sale from 9 AM to 9 PM), 10360-Jasper Ave.
www.eyecaregroup.ca or phone 780.437.2020
· Champagne reception from 4 PM to 9 PM
· All eyewear orders 25% off (frame & Rx lenses)

The Helm Clothing (all day sale), 10125-104th-St.
www.thehelmclothing.com or phone 780.425.4344
· Enjoy a 10% discount on our entire inventory of fine menswear

Lit Wine Bar (6 PM to Close), Icon Tower I, 10132-104th-St.

www.litwinebar.ca or phone 780.757.6688
· Enjoy half priced wine by the glass or by the bottle from 6 PM till close

Mercer Tavern (all day promotion), 10363-104th-St.
www.mercertavern.com or phone 587.521.1911
· 25% discount on your food purchase

Pangaea Market (all day sale), 10150-104th-St.
Phone 780.425.9890
· 10% off your order

Roast Coffeehouse + Wine Bar (all day sale), 10359-104th-St.
www.roastcoffee.com or phone 587.521.1563
· 20% off retail (includes serveware, whole bean coffee, brewing equipment)
· Free 12 ounce brewed coffee

Tony the Tailor Ltd. (all day chance to win), 10172-104th-St.
www.edmontontailor.com or phone 780.426.4654
· 5 In-store draws for a $15 Off Dry-cleaning Gift Certificate

Tzin Wine & Tapas (all day sale), 10115-104th-St.
www.tzin.ca or phone 780.428.8946
10% off on all gift certificates sold that day. Tzin will donate the 10% your save to their Movembe

(more…)

Guest Blogger: Katherine Hoy

Call for Volunteers: Jingle on Indoor Santa Claus Parade

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Want to spread goodwill and cheer this holiday season? Looking for a sure-fire way onto Santa’s “Nice” list? Why not volunteer for the Downtown Business Association’s 25thth Annual Jingle On Indoor Santa Claus Parade on Sunday, December 2!

We are filling 150 volunteer positions including Marshals, Pacers, Parade Security and Banner Carriers. It’s a one-day, 6-hour commitment (plus Volunteer Orientation). All volunteers will receive a t-shirt, training and a chance to win fabulous draw prizes at Volunteer Orientation Night.

This is great opportunity for individuals, families, schools, teams and community groups to give back. Help the DBA and Santa make
thousands of children happy on Sunday, December 2!

Colourful floats, mascots, marching bands, theatre groups, dancers and others will jingle their way through Commerce Place, Manulife Place, and Edmonton City Centre Malls. The highlight is the arrival of Santa who takes a break from the North Pole for a pre-Christmas visit with all of Edmonton’s good boys and girls.

Free candy for the kids. And best of all, you don’t have to worry about the weather!

Visit edmontondowntown.com for more information on this event. To volunteer for the Jingle On Indoor Santa Claus Parade, go here..

(more…)

Author: Annabelle Evaristo

We’ve been planning for quite some time a glorious week of celebration of the wines of Portugal which begins with the Portuguese Wine Festival on Tuesday, November 13th at deVine’s from 7pm to 9:30pm!

Winemakers and/or winery representatives from several Portuguese wineries will be here to talk wine with you on a personal level. Sample over 20 different wines, beers and liqueurs which will be served by the representatives. Not very often will you have an opportunity to rub shoulders with this many winemakers. To make it even more enticing, all in-stock Portuguese wines will be discounted 10% that evening for the attendees of the festival.

Tickets are $30 each and can be order by phone – 780-421-9463 or online here..

Feature Winery – One of the feature wineries at the festival is Fita Preta Vinhos and co-founder and enologist Antonio Macanita. Producing “highly individual wines with a distinctive Portuguese character” has been the motto of Macanita and co-founder David Booth (who unfortunately passed away suddenly earlier this year).

The winery is located in the Alentejo region, a large province in the south of the country, lying between the cool waters of the Atlantic Ocean and arid interior of southern Spain. The combination of poor rocky soils and the 3000 hours of sunshine per year, low summer rainfall ensure grapes mature fully producing wines that have a distinctive fruit character and represent a true expression of the terroir.

Macanita has worked with leading wineries around the world (Merryvale and Rudd in Napa, d’Arenberg in McLaren Vale, and Chateau Lynch Bages in Pauillac). Please join us next tuesday and sample several Fita Preta wines, and to say hello to Antonio, one of many winemakers at deVine’s that evening.

A Winemaker’s Dinner with matching wines will then be held at Sabor Divino on Wednesday, November 14th – book your tickets here.., followed by the very popular Annual Roy Hersh Port Tasting at the Royal Glenora Club on Friday, November 16th (already sold out). Please make every effort to join us for one or all of these events during this festive week in celebration of Portuguese wines and culture.

(more…)

Author: Chris Arnold

On Saturday November 3rd, deVine will be hosting our first ever Top Drops: Single Malt Scotch tasting. If you’re familiar with our Top Drops series you know that these events are a great opportunity to taste through several top shelf bottles you wouldn’t ordinarily get to try.

With Whiskies ranging from the classy Auchentoshan 18 year old with its layered honey, vanilla, and citrus notes to Bruichladdich’s infamous Octomore 4.2 Comus (the most heavily peated whisky in the world), we’ll explore unique whiskies from the major regions, with a slight bias towards the smoky drams of Islay. As well, we will also spend some time focusing on the under-appreciated art of food and whisky pairing.

The final menu is set and it proves to be impressive across the board. There are only a few spots remaining for this sit-down event as of this writing so sign up now to avoid disappointment. You can book your spot here.. We will also offer 5% off those drams tasted at the event that night.

deVine is pleased to welcome back our old friend Jimmy Clooney who will co-host this special event.

(more…)

Author: Dirk Chan

This coming Saturday, October 13th is the second of two Top Drops: German Rieslings. This time, we’ll focus on the famous regions of the Mosel, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer and the Rheingau, where many famous producers reside.

Full-bodied, and perhaps less minerally than the Nahe that was previously featured in a March Top Drops, this one will showcase a totally different fruitier style of Riesling
with bolder flavors, some diesel qualities and rich ripe abundant yellow stone fruits.

Featured will be the wines from the legendary and most expensive German producer Egon Muller along with other notables including Joh J. Christoffel that many of you are familiar with and for dessert, there will be a rare Beerenauslese from Reinhard Beate Knebel. All three top drawer producers.

For those of you who have not had your German Riesling epiphany, this is your chance to acquire this feeling. We will be serving interesting food pairings to showcase the versatility of the grape. Hurry and register for this small and intimate sit-down tasting for 18 people. Book your spot here..

(more…)

Author: Dirk Chan

Thanksgiving is in a few days, so here are some Turkey friendly wines for that special dinner:

Bubbles:

1) NV Reversanti Prosecco – $16.49 – a deVine bestseller over the last year, the momentum continues unabated for this Prosecco.

2) NV Langlois-Chateau Cremant de Loire – $26.99 – from the Bollinger house (the one James Bond drinks), this Cremant is given the same careful attention as the Bolly’s, great price for the quality.

3) Raventos i Blanc Cava de Nit – $29.99 – handcrafted Rosado from one of the most prestigious Cava makers from Spain, organic and beautifully nuanced.

4) NV Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label La Fridge Brut – $71.99 – great packaging, La Fridge keeps a bottle of Veuve at serving temperature for up to two hours. The great yellow label brut that’s instantly recognizable throughout the world.

5) 2000 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne – $244.99 – a class act, made from 100% Chardonnay, superb in every sense. No need to go after the $300+ ones when you can have this one.

Whites:

1) 2009 Chai du Grand Vaudasniere Vouvray – $21.99 – an amazing Chenin Blanc that is slightly off-dry but would be amazing with the turkey and the fixings, fab orange blossom nose.

2) 2010 Belland-Chapuis Le Vallon Sancerre – $34.99 – very impressive Sauvignon Blanc for those who want a dry white, more minerally than overtly fruity, everything in its place.

3) 2009 Egon Muller Mosel Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett – $54.99 – Sweet Riesling from one of the most sought after houses in Germany. Expensive but easily worth the tariff if you want the best.

4) 2008 Ridge Monte Bello Chardonnay – $74.99 – for the Chardonnay lover who wants something top drawer. Finesse, butter, slate and apple & pineapple notes galore. Big white.

5) NV Domaine de la Vinconniere Pinot Noir Rosé – $16.99 – a great price for a fine bottle of pink that would go with turkey extremely well. Fruity, yet has some structure from the Pinot Noir grape.

Reds:

1) 2010 Domaine Bulliat Morgon Cuvee du Colombier – $21.99 – Beaujolais is always a great choice for Turkey dinner, here is a new producer that has made a Beaujolais Cru with stone fruit aromas, a lovely crimson color and tasty clean fruit. And organic too.

2) 2011 Don Rodolfo Pinot Noir – $15.49 – great varietal character in this inexpensive best seller. Strawberry & cherry fruit.

3) 2010 Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir – $54.99 – from one of South Africa’s best producers, there is terroir and character to this Pinot, very French yet speaks from the South Africa language.Lovely with a gentle decant.

4) 2009 Louis Jadot Beaune Boucherottes 1er Cru – $59.99 – from the stellar 09 vintage, this is a Premiere Cru worth tasting young as it hasn’t closed down yet. Vibrant, fruity and svelt, a gentle decant would open it up marvellously.

5) 2007 Bodegas Carchelo Canalizo – $44.99 – here is something more full-bodied from Spain, with spice, earch, pepper, and cherry notes from its mix of Syrah, Monastrell and Tempranillo.

6) 2006 Leonetti Merlot – $99.99 – for those who insists on something big, here is lovely, velvety Merlot in its drinking prime.

7) 2006 Rolf Binder Hanisch Shiraz – $139.99 – finesse based Shiraz from one of the great vineyards in the Barossa. Dense yet inviting.

Dessert:

1) 2011 La Spinetta Bricco Quagia Moscato d’Asti – $25.99 – slightly spritzy, perfume nose and light as a feather – pair with strawberries & cream or a fruit flan – yum!

2) 2001 Chateau de Fesles Bonnezeaux – 375mL – $54.99 – world class dessert wine with orange blossoms, stone fruits, roasted nuts, honey and beeswax and stellar balance.

3) 2001 Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey – 375mL – $94.99 – mind-blowing right now, with an smorg of stone and tropical fruits. Full-bodied, oily, spicy and extremely long. Singing at a high pitch indeed. Serve slightly cold only. Nectar for the gods.

Port:

1) 1965 Messias Colheita – $119.99 – great nutty and creme brulee notes, pair with blue-veined cheeses.

2) 1999 Sandeman Vintage Port – $34.99 – the giveaway port of the year. Earlier drinking and it is drinking splendidly. A fraction of what other VP’s costs. Highly recommended.

3) 1991 Graham’s Vintage Port – $121.99 – 21 years young and drinking well. Pair with Stilton and roasted nuts.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

(more…)