deVine Thoughts

Author: Ed Fong

The 104th-Street community is thrilled to announce Saturday, June 9 as the date of our annual Al Fresco block party and fundraiser. Mark your calendars and save the date for an action packed day of fun and excitement in the downtown core!

We are feverishly working on event programming to bring you a fabulous day that includes:

– The Downtown Edmonton Community League Pancake Breakfast running from 8 to 11 AM
– Edmonton Downtown Farmers’ Market operating between 9 AM to 3 PM
– A “Kids Zone”, run in cooperation with the City of Edmonton, opening from 4 to 8 PM
– The deVine Wines & Spirits and Yellowhead Brewery “Tasting Lot” and salon serving between 12 noon and 8 PM. You will have an opportunity to sample 90 different types of wine, beer and spirits in this urban enclave!
– Extended patios from your favorite restaurants and wine bars on 104th-St.
– Music from a lineup of great DJs and stage performers
– Fashion show and a drag show brought to you by some of Edmonton’s most fabulous Queens
– An armada of food trucks coming together for another, much anticipated “What the Truck” event
– Street food from some of Edmonton’s hippest and most fun-filled restaurants

Coming Together as a Community – “The businesses and residents along 104th-Street and surrounding area are excited to share the vibrancy in our growing community”, says Al Fresco Committee Chair Ed Fong. “Al Fresco celebrates the start of summer, and we wanted to do something special as a community to support a very worthy cause. This year, I am pleased to announce we will be supporting the Zebra Child Protection Centre.”

Al Fresco is not only a celebration, it is a grassroots fundraiser designed to bring the 104th-Street community together by uniting everyone in support of a great cause. Our goal, as a community, is to raise $15,000 for the Zebra Child Protection Centre and to create public awareness of the public service they offer.

Barbara Spencer, CEO of the Zebra Centre says “Our success at the Zebra Centre truly comes from the resiliency of the kids we work with and the strength of the community that supports our good works. The Centre is very fortunate to have been given this gift of support from such a vibrant community within Edmonton. In the words of a child…this is going to be ‘the best ever’ Al Fresco Block Party so far… look forward to seeing you there and sharing our zebra centre story with you.”

Zebra Child Protection Centre is 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

You can help us achieve our goals in many different ways.

1. Come downtown and celebrate with us on June 9. The restaurants, wine bars and food trucks will be donating a portion of their proceeds in support of Zebra. Net proceeds from the Downtown Community League Pancake Breakfast and the gate receipts from the “Tasting Lot” will be donated to Zebra.

2. Participate by bidding on our on-line silent auction. Last year, nearly $20,000 was raised for E4C’s Edmonton School Lunch Program. The on-line silent auction can be tracked on deVine Wine’s website at http://devinewines.ca/eventAuctions/alfresco_auction.html. Please bookmark this url and come back often, the online auction starts Wednesday, March 28th.

3. Donate an auction item. We are seeking auction items to make this our most successful to date. If you are interested in donating an item to the auction, please fill out the in-kind donation form and then email the completed form to Ed here.

4. Donate item(s) from the Zebra Centre’s “Top 5 Wish List”. The Zebra Centre needs:

– Non-perishable snacks & juice boxes
– Sweaters/hoodies for kids under 8 years of age
– Gift cards from teen related stores
– Jewelry for young teens
– Board games for children

Prior to Al Fresco, these items can be dropped off at deVine Wines and Spirits at 10111-104th-St. We will have drop boxes set up at the Zebra Information Table on the day of June 9 to receive any “Top 5 Wish List” donation items as well.

5. Make a cash donation. Please fill out the donation/tax receipt form here and then email the completed form to Ed here.

6. 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

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Author: Dirk Chan

Another Easter is upon us, and we are flooded with 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 cranberry fixings, here are a few favourites at deVine’s that will suit the bill nicely:

Bubbles:

Whites:

Rosés:

Reds:

Denouement:

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Author: Ed Fong

The 104th-Street community is thrilled to announce Saturday, June 9 as the date of our annual Al Fresco block party and fundraiser. Mark your calendars and save the date for an action packed day of fun and excitement in the downtown core!

We are feverishly working on event programming to bring you a fabulous day that includes:

– The Downtown Edmonton Community League Pancake Breakfast running from 8 to 11 AM
– Edmonton Downtown Farmers’ Market operating between 9 AM to 3 PM
– A “Kids Zone”, run in cooperation with the City of Edmonton, opening from 4 to 8 PM
– The deVine Wines & Spirits and Yellowhead Brewery “Tasting Lot” and salon serving between 12 noon and 8 PM. You will have an opportunity to sample 90 different types of wine, beer and spirits in this urban enclave!
– Extended patios from your favorite restaurants and wine bars on 104th-St.
– Music from a lineup of great DJs and stage performers
– Fashion show and a drag show brought to you by some of Edmonton’s most fabulous Queens
– An armada of food trucks coming together for another, much anticipated “What the Truck” event
– Street food from some of Edmonton’s hippest and most fun-filled restaurants

Coming Together as a Community – “The businesses and residents along 104th-Street and surrounding area are excited to share the vibrancy in our growing community”, says Al Fresco Committee Chair Ed Fong. “Al Fresco celebrates the start of summer, and we wanted to do something special as a community to support a very worthy cause. This year, I am pleased to announce we will be supporting the Zebra Child Protection Centre.”

Al Fresco is not only a celebration, it is a grassroots fundraiser designed to bring the 104th-Street community together by uniting everyone in support of a great cause. Our goal, as a community, is to raise $15,000 for the Zebra Child Protection Centre and to create public awareness of the public service they offer.

Barbara Spencer, CEO of the Zebra Centre says “Our success at the Zebra Centre truly comes from the resiliency of the kids we work with and the strength of the community that supports our good works. The Centre is very fortunate to have been given this gift of support from such a vibrant community within Edmonton. In the words of a child…this is going to be ‘the best ever’ Al Fresco Block Party so far… look forward to seeing you there and sharing our zebra centre story with you.”

Zebra Child Protection Centre is 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

You can help us achieve our goals in many different ways.

1. Come downtown and celebrate with us on June 9. The restaurants, wine bars and food trucks will be donating a portion of their proceeds in support of Zebra. Net proceeds from the Downtown Community League Pancake Breakfast and the gate receipts from the “Tasting Lot” will be donated to Zebra.

2. Participate by bidding on our on-line silent auction. Last year, nearly $20,000 was raised for E4C’s Edmonton School Lunch Program. The on-line silent auction can be tracked on deVine Wine’s website at http://devinewines.ca/eventAuctions/alfresco_auction.html. Please bookmark this url and come back often, the online auction starts Wednesday, March 28th.

3. Donate an auction item. We are seeking auction items to make this our most successful to date. If you are interested in donating an item to the auction, please fill out the in-kind donation form and then email the completed form to Ed here.

4. Donate item(s) from the Zebra Centre’s “Top 5 Wish List”. The Zebra Centre needs:

– Non-perishable snacks & juice boxes
– Sweaters/hoodies for kids under 8 years of age
– Gift cards from teen related stores
– Jewelry for young teens
– Board games for children

Prior to Al Fresco, these items can be dropped off at deVine Wines and Spirits at 10111-104th-St. We will have drop boxes set up at the Zebra Information Table on the day of June 9 to receive any “Top 5 Wish List” donation items as well.

5. Make a cash donation. Please fill out the donation/tax receipt form here and then email the completed form to Ed here.

6. 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

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Author: Dirk Chan

Many of the world’s most influential wine critics (Robert Parker Jr., James Suckling) have called the 2009 Bordeaux vintage the greatest ever, resulting in prices escalating even higher than the already proposterous pricing from the futures campaign from 2 years ago. However, having tasting many of the lesser wines already available in Alberta, I must say that this is going to be a vintage that may never shut down, definitely earlier drinking, a more forward vintage that fortunately can be appreciated sooner than most ‘classical’ vintages that demand much patience.

Take the latest Petit Chateaux arrival – the ever popular Chateau Haut Nadeau – $20.99. The 2005 of this wine was a deVine bestseller and there’s every indication the 2009 will be the same. Classic blend of Cabernet, Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc, this has ripe dark cherry fruit, a creme de cassis nose, very nice balance of acid and tannins, enough structure to age short-term and eminently enjoyable with red meat now with a half hour decant.

While we anxiously await the arrival of the 2009 Classified Growths from futures (many of which scored 95+ points from the in-bottle ratings that have been recently announced),we can enjoy the numerous Petit Chateaux at our disposal now. Don’t miss this legend of a vintage.

You can purchase the 2009 Haut Nadeau here..

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Author: Ed Fong

From March 2-11, 2012, the Downtown Busness Assocation presents the 9th Annual Downtown Dining Week. This is foodie heaven time because for $15, $25 and $50, the participating restaurants will be offering fabulous custom menus for these affordable prices. Make your reservations early to avoid disappointment as with each passing year, the event gets more and more popular with savvy diners.

Dine out to win awesome prizes, including the Grand Prize of a multi-course Dinner for Four at The Marc, with matching wines by deVine Wines & Spirits. You will receive a secret code with your bill at a participating restaurant, which can be entered at the Edmonton Journal Contest Page .. here..

Some of the best restaurants in town are involved. Check out the participating restaurants and their respective menus here.. here..

Visit the Edmonton Downton Business Association website here..

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our Top Drops series that focuses on top drawer wines has been immensely popular over the last several years. We’ve got some doozies planned for 2012.

You’re all probably were aware that deVine proprietors Ed Fong and Annabelle Evaristo visited Germany extensively last summer and the fruits of their winery visits have finally arrived. Over 50 exclusive new products are now on our shelves and this is Riesling heaven for the lover of that grape. In a rare white wine Top Drops, please join Ed and Annabelle on Saturday, March 31 for the wines of the Nahe, located in south-west Germany in the first of a series of Top Drops Germany over the course of 2012 including the Mosel, Rheingau and Rheinhessen regions to come. Featured will be the wines from the legendary and probably most sought after German producer overall, Helmut Donnhoff along with neighbours Helmut Hexamer and Emrich-Schonleber. We will be serving German food with this small and intimate sit-down tasting for 18 people – this event is already more than half full so register now to avoid disappointment. Book your spot here..

For April, we visit France and Bordeaux. The trio of Bordeaux vintages 2008, 2009 and 2010 is an exact replay of 1988, 1989 and 1990, the last time that we saw three great vintages in succession.The 2008’s will be forever in the shadow of the two subsequent campaigns, but the astute buyer will see it as an opportunity to score some deals (although when it comes to Bordeaux, it is all relative when you talk pricing). The Merlot based Pomerol region reigns supreme in 2008, but there are some excellent St. Emilions and some very fine left bank wines too. Join us for a detailed sampling of high end 2008 Bordeaux. Only 18 seats in this sit-down event, so grab your spots early to avoid disappointment. Book your spot here..

We hope to see some of you at one of these upcoming Top Drops events. In order to grow and move to the next level of wine enjoyment, you must taste better and better wines and expand your palate. Top Drops will take you to that next level of wine appreciation.

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Author: Dirk Chan

Valentine’s is coming up fast on Tuesday. So, you want that special wine to make the evening just perfect? Whether its a BYOB to a restaurant, or a special meal at home, here are some wine choices that will fill the bill nicely:

Sparkling Wines: – Bubbles are a must for any special celebration with Champagne being the ultimate.

1) NV Rolet Cremant du Jura Brut Rosé – $24.99 – lovely salmon colored sparkler that works with appetizers.

2) 2010 Michele Chiarlo Nivole Moscato d’Asti (375mL) – $15.99 – for those with a sweet tooth, this is light as a feather, amazing perfumy nose and sweet – an awesome pairing with fresh strawberries at the beginning or at the end of that special meal.

3) NV Gremillet Brut Rosé Saignee – $56.99 – stunning pink/ruby in color, this Champagne sings with rustic acidity, startling dryness – stellar look that impresses and well priced for Champagne.

4) 1998 Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Brut – $254.99 – one of the great names in Champagne, the orange label house, this is the top of the heap, the creme de la creme from Veuve. Its got complexity from aging and is drinking extremely well now. Elegant and sophisticated with obvious breed.

Whites: – great with opening courses and works well with fish or poultry as main courses:

1) 2009 Domaine Bernard Defaix Chablis – $26.99 – slatey and minerally Chardonnay that works well with food, from the great 2009 French vintage.

2) 2010 Emrich-Schonleber Monziger Fruhlingspatzchen Riesling Trocken – $39.99 – a minerally, dry German Riesling. Pair with food – this is for those that are non-believers or have never had a stellar Riesling, this will be your Riesling epiphany..

3) 2009 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Clos Hauserer – $60.99 – from the first Master of Wine in Europe, Zind-Humbrecht is one of the most respected producers in the world. Only slightly off-dry, lots of exotic fruit and layers of complexity.

Reds – when you want something impressive to drink with dinner or afterwards by the fireplace:

1) 2008 Umani Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Jorio – $19.99 – one of deVine’s favourites of late, this takes pizza and spaghetti wine to a new level.

2) 2008 Quiinta do Crasto Reserva Old Vines – $42.99 – Wine Spectator Top 100 wine that shines with an hour of decanting. Perennial favourite and consistently outstanding.

3) 2008 Keenan Cabernet Franc – $78.99 – fabulous Napa red that is distinctive and unsual, 100% CabFranc, stunning nose of flowers and violets and fruit aplenty that lingers on and on. Red meat pairing.

4) 2006 Leonetti Merlot – $99.99 – from a Washington producer famous for producing world class Merlot. Soft and velvety. Watch ‘Sideways’ with a bottle of Leonetti and you’ll not look at Merlot the same ever again.

5) 2001 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino Ugolaia – $149.99 – from the legendary 2001 vintage for Brunello’s, this single vineyard red will drink well with an hour’s decant and some braised meats. Fabulous sangiovese.

6) 1994 Dominus – $349.99 – A legendary American wine, one of the all time greats, the 1994 is near perfection and drinking magnificently. From Christian Moueix of Petrus fame.

7) 1983 Chateau Margaux – $1,199.99 – for those where money is no object, the 1983 Margaux has long been a favourite for any lover of Bordeaux from the Margaux appellation. Heralded as good as the 1982, this is singing right now, but will keep for another 20 years easily. Delicate yet powerful, classy and expressive, everything an aged First Growth Bordeaux should be. A memory maker.

Dessert – a must for Valentine’s:

1) 2009 Quady Elysium Black Muscat – 375mL – $13.99 – Lovely and inexpensive and one of the best wines to pair with chocolate based desserts.

2) 2007 Rudolf Rabl Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese – 375mL – $47.99 – a stellar Austrian white to be paired with fruit based desserts, the exotic tropical fruit and scintillating acidity make for a memorable combination of smell and taste.

3) 2004 Trabucchi Recioto della Valpolicella – 500mL – $61.99 – for chocolate or some blue-veined cheese and nuts, this is a comtemplative red dessert wine that calls for snuggling by the fireplace.

4) 2003 Chateau d’Yquem – 375mL – $329.99 – when only the best will do – d’Yquem is generally recognized as the best dessert wine in the world, and this out of this world stickie will stay with you for days. Serve closer to room temperature than fridge cold, by itself or with cambozola. A memorable end to any evening!

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Author: Dirk Chan

We have done the Tour de France before, now it is time to cycle our way through neighbouring Italy with fine red wines from the Veneto, Tuscany, Pietmonte and Veneto regions in our first Top Drops of the year – Tour of Italy.

Please join us as we taste Brunello’s (made with the Chianti grape, Sangiovese), Super Tuscans (Sangiovese and/or old world grape blends), Piedmonte’s Barolo and Barbaresco’s (with its purple colored Nebbiolo grape) and Veneto’s Amarone (with the indigenous dried grapes of Veneto) in this small scale exclusive tasting of just 18 of you. We’ll go through the various laws and regulations of each region, an overview of great vintages that you should be collecting, some great producers of each region and then sample the high end wines with a food pairing.

Not had high end Italians and want to discover what it is all about? – then this is the tasting for you. As usual, we’ll offer a surprise with age on it to see how these various reds age.Do book early to avoid disappointment as there are only 7 spots remaining.

Look out for upcoming Tops Drops this year – a series of German Rieslings from various regions (led by Ed & Annabelle who visited the region extensively in August of last year), 2008 Right Bank Bordeaux, Concha y Toro Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon Vertical, World Class French Whites and a Dominus of Napa Valley Vertical. Be sure to join us for one, some or all of these top-drawer events through 2012.

You can book for the Tour of Italy Top Drops online here..

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Author: Dirk Chan

Introducing Rock & Roll Ruby Tuesdays at deVine’s – every third Tuesday of the month from 2-6pm drop into the store to sample a full-bodied red wine that we are showcasing, and if you like the wine, you get 10% off when you purchase said wine. It’s time to Rock ‘N Roll.

Our first Rock & Roll Ruby Tuesday night is this coming Tuesday, January 17 and will feature the 2007 Falernia Reserva Carmenère (Elqui Valley, Chile) – $19.99.

Carmenère is the Jurassic Park grape, having almost become extinct until the settlers brought it from Bordeaux to Chile, where the grape has flourished. The Falernia oozes blackberry, black currant and vegetables on the nose. The palate is fruit forward with lots of plum, dark cherry and blackberries. Full-bodied, with plenty of warmth and a long easy to enjoy finish. A fine red for the winter. Pair with grilled red meats. You can purchase it online here..

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Author: Dirk Chan

Happy New Year to one and all and may 2012 bring you good health, good luck, love and prosperity. Its hard to believe another year has passed. No New Years resolutions, I am never able to keep them, so instead, a few random thoughts about what we’re looking forward to in the upcoming year.

1) arriving this year are some great wines from all over the globe vintage 2009 – including California Pinot Noirs, yet another ‘Vintage of the Century’ 2009 Bordeaux, Alsace, Northern Rhone, Burgundy, South Africa and Washington. As well, the fabulous 2010 German Rieslings, 2008 California Cabernets, the great 2006 Barolo and Brunello’s. There’s an endless amount of great wines to look forward to in 2012

2) perhaps we’ll see a few Mexican Reds, Swiss Reds, the arrival of Brazilian wines, and hopefully more from Uruguay

3) I want to be surprised and find a wine for $120 that taste like a $100 wine

4) I’m dreaming but if Edmonton ever goes the way of Montreal and embraces BYO at restaurants, it would be a miracle

5) a few more new restaurants in the downtown core to expand on the already very fine selection

6) someone progressive and dynamic enough to work with the AGLC to enable a wine storage service for Edmontonians?

7) a deVine store renovation..to fix the water damage from November, and perhaps a little bit more..

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