Lyrarakis Red
Crete, Greece
750 ml, $21.99
The Lyrarakis Red is a deep red wine made from 75% Syrah and 25% Kotsifali, a grape indigenous to Crete, both of which have acclimatised perfectly to the island climate. The wine has aromas of dark fruit, sweet spices and pepper, accompanied by a rich fruity flavour complemented by a long peppery finish and fresh acidity.
It has a long aging potential but is also suitable for drinking now if paired with peppery or meaty dishes, like grilled meat (think beef SouvlakI!) and peppery cheese.
El Coto Garnacha Crianza
Rioja, Spain
750 ml, $19.99
In honour of International Garnacha Day on Friday, September 18, we picked one of our favourite Spanish garnacha wines for our wine of the week! The El Coto winemaking team focused on producing a wine that respects the character of the Rioja Garnacha without losing their signature barrel-aged wine style. Barrels with different toast levels were chosen to contribute complexity and structure while also preserving the character of Garnacha - and so El Coto's Crianza Garnacha was born. The wine has delicate cherry and red fruit aromas combined with mocha and cocoa, along with leather and earthy notes. It's bold and full bodied with balanced acidity and tannins, making it a perfect wine to pair with steak, hamburgers or a heavy bolognese pasta.
Suertes del Marques 7 Fuentes
Orotava Valley, Tenerife, Spain
750 ml, $29.99
Have you ever tried a wine from the Spanish Canary Islands? Now's your chance! Unique in terroir, characteristics and grapes (it's made from the very rare Listan Negro (90%) and Tintillo (10%) grapes), this wine is grown at organic vineyards in the northwestern corner of the island of Tenerife. The family-run Suertes del Marques winery has a great respect for tradition, but also practices low-intervention and natural pratices in their winemaking. It has aromas of red fruits and cracked pepper, juicy palate and spicy flavours on the finish. Pair this wine with cured meats and hard cheeses!
Suriol Cava Brut
Penedès, Spain
750 ml, $30.99
The Suriol family has lived and made wine at the same estate, Castell de Grabuac, in Font-Rubí, Penedés, since the 15th century. This dry (brut) Cava (the Catalonian term for sparkling wine) is made from 40% Macabeo, 30% Xarello, 30% Parellada from organic, 25 year old vineyards. It has rich flavors, freshness, and enjoys an elegant balance between fine bubbles and notes of bread yeast, honey and citrus. Enjoy as an aperitif, or pair with appetizers, cured meat or shellfish.
Hugel Classic Pinot Noir
Alsace, France
750 ml, $31.99
When you think of French pinot noir, you usually think of the Burgundy region - but this Pinot Noir from Famille Hugel is from Alsace and has a completely distinctive, supple character. You can enjoy this wine immediately or cellar for 2-4 years.
This wine has aromas of red fruit, cranberry, red currant, cherry, blossom, earth and leather. It's elegantly structure with a youthful freshness, light tannin and a smooth, fruity aftertaste. It would pair perfectly with grilled salmon!
K'sa Tete Pineau d'Aunis
Loire Valley, France
750ml, $31.99
Pineau d'Aunis is a lesser known grape variety primarily characterized by its black pepper notes. This K'sa Tête from Manoir de la Tête Rouge is 100% Pineau d'Aunis from a certified organic and biodynamic vineyard in the Loire Valley. Light bodied with smooth tannins, this spontaneously fermented wine is a perfect red for summer! With mint, black and white pepper and tart red fruit on the nose and a light fruity taste of cherry and raspberry, this wine pairs perfectly with a charcuterie plate or a spicy vegetable wok.
El Coto Crianza
Rioja, Spain
750 mL, $19.99
This 100% Tempranillo from El Coto Winery in Rioja, Spain has delicate aromas of cherry and red fruit, with notes of vanilla and toast. It has a medium body with a long finish. Its silky palate adds flavours of warm spices like vanilla and clove. El Coto's beautiful labels are based on a handcrafted engraving of a vignette of the winery's classic elements. Pair this wine with grilled fish or barbecued meats, or go for a regional pairing with some "Jamon Iberico" (Iberian Ham)!
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Castelo de Medina Verdejo Vendima Seleccionada 2018
Rueda, Spain
750 mL, $26.99
Bodegas Castelo de Medina was founded in 1996 by three wine lovers in the Rueda Designation of Origin (DO) in Western Spain. The winery features traditional Castillian architecture blended with modern wine making technology.
This wine is made from 100% Verdejo grapes, local to the area and grown at 600-700 m above sea level in the centre of the Duero River Basin. It has aromas of dill, fennel, anise and apple, plus the 3 months it spent in French oak gives the wine additional notes of toasted spice and pastry. It has a long fruity finish with reappearing herbal notes. Unlike many white wines, Verdejo isn't phased by food pairings like tomatoes or sharp vinaigrettes, so pair this wine with a Burrata Salad!
Ferdinand 2019 Graciano
Lodi, California
750 ml, $42.99
This wine is made from 100% Graciano from a sustainable, certified organic vineyard in California. Ferdinand Wines, started in 2010, is the side project of Evan Frazier, who works primarily for Kongsgaard in Napa Valley. Under the Ferdinand label, Evan focuses on growing traditionally Spanish varietals in California, such as Albarino and Graciano.
This Graciano is made from whole cluster, carbonic fermentation. Thanks to the Lodi fruit, it's vibrantly refreshing with balanced acidity and dense flavours. It has a ripe raspberry quality with flavours of black cherry, violet and spicy black pepper.
Pair this with chorizo grilled on the barbecue, blue cheese or spicy black tapenade for complementary, peppery flavours. Only limited quantities of this wine made it to Alberta, so scoop it up while you can!
Aglianico Sannio DOP 1st Vineyard
Campania, Italy
750 ml, $19.99
This wine is made from 100% Aglianico grapes from the Campania region. Sannio is a hilly area less than an hour north of Naples. The vineyard, Cantina di Solopaca, is one of the oldest farmer’s cooperatives in the region!
Ruby red in colour, this wine has aromas of red fruits, strawberries and raspberries, with a balanced, smooth and dry flavour. Serve it slightly chilled, at 16 to 18 Celsius.
Pair this with matured cheeses and grilled meats - or really experience the flavours of Campania with a Neopolitan-style, thin crust Margherita pizza!
Chateau Puech Haut Prestige Rosé
Languedoc-Roussillon, France
750 ml, $27.99
This certified organic rosé is made from Grenache and Cinsault grapes grown between the shores of the Mediterrannean and the Cévennes. It has an intense nose of fruit and citrus, with a focus on raspberries and other small red berries. With a fresh palate with highlights of rose petals, this wine is harmonious and well-balanced with a soft, subtle bitter melon rind finish.
It works great as an apertif, or served with salad, paella or grilled/stuffed vegetables.
Fun fact: the Chateau Puech-Haut winery is home to the world's largest "barrique", which contains a shop where the world's most expensive bag-in-box wines are sold!
Durdilly et Fils "Les Grandes Coasses" Beaujolais
Burgundy, France
750 ml, $23.99
Located in one of the highest vineyards in the Beaujolais appellation, this 100% Gamay from Durdilly et Fils (father and son) is one of the few 100% estate-bottled, hand harvested, indigenous yeast basic Beaujolais available. It's a light bodied, dry wine with high acidity, with a silky palate of raspberry and cherry notes. Its bright, fresh finish is enhanced by a short period of chilling. The earthiness of the wine would complement a mushroom risotto meal pairing. This wine is also available as part of our Chillable Reds summer six pack!
Seriously Cool Cinsault
Waterkloof, Stellenbosch, South Africa
750 ml, $24.99
This wine is fruity, soft and delicate, with bright cherry notes, a fresh cranberry texture, taut acidity and a long finish. Made from 100% Cinsault, a grape native to France - particularly in Minervois and Corbieres where it is used as a blender for its aromatics and juicy fruit. With lower yields it makes lovely, elegant, fruit forward and perfumed wines such as this. A little chill heightens the acidity and makes for a delicious and bright glass of wine with lots of juiciness and pretty aromatics. Pair it with a plate of spicy charcuterie. The winery is also one of the few in the Cape to have biodynamic status!
Little Engine Silver Chardonnay
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley BC VQA
750 ml, $42.99
Support local - well, as local as you can get with grape-based wine in Alberta - with the Silver Chardonnay from Little Engine. This small producer in the Okanagan Valley's Naramata Bench is named for the "little engine that could" and the obstacles we overcome in life.
This entry into their chardonnay series was produced with both used oak and stainless steel tanks, leading to subtle oak flavours. It has a fresh acidity with a crisp lingering finish. It has a nose of blososms, jasmine, honey, pear and pineapple, with a palate of subtle spice, citrus and pear. Pair this wine with a rich fish like tuna or salmon - and keep it hyper-local by sourcing the fish from BC as well!
Viña Tondonia Red Reserva
Rioja, Spain
750 ml, $67.99
This red Reserva is made from 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho, and 10% Graciano and Mazuelo, all grown in the López de Heredia Tondonia vineyard on the banks of the Ebro River. It was aged in American oak barrels for six years, which were crafted on-site in the López de Heredia coopery - unique in the region, as most wineries purchase oak barrels from other sources. This wine is rich yet very dry, with firm and well-balanced tannins. It has a light, fresh texture with notes of dried berries and vanilla. It can be cellared for 10 years if kept at a constant temperature and humidity. This versatile wine goes well with any meat dishes, no matter how they’re prepared!
Klinker Brick Rosé
Lodi, California
750 ml, $25.99
The Klinker Brick Rosé is from Lodi, California, a region less famous than Napa or Sonoma but no less important. The winery got its name from "klinker bricks", which are highly prized bricks that grace many of Lodi's historical buildings, including the winery owner's home. This rosé's mouthwatering acidity, crisp and refreshing texture, and notes of strawberry and white peach make for a perfect wine for a hot summer's day. Pair it with a classic Mediterannean-French dish like tuna nicoise and you have yourself the perfect summer meal!
Pfeiffer Rutherglen Topaque
Rutherglen, Australia
500 ml, $25.99
100% Muscadelle from the historic Rutherglen region of Australia, this fortified wine has a nose of honey, caramel and malt, with flavours of apricot and toffee. With a silky, luscious palate, along with well-balanced sweetness and acidity, this is a truly unique wine. While it's sweet, it makes for a great dessert on its own, or pour it over vanilla ice cream.
Pago Casa Gran - Casa Benasal White
Les Alcusses, Spain
750 ml, $24.99
This organic wine from southeastern Spain (near Valencia) comes from a vineyard with over 300 years of winemaking and cellaring history. Though made from Gewurtzraminer and Muscat grapes, this wine is less sweet than expected! It has a dry, refreshing and supple fruit finish with aromas of honey, flowers and lychee. Pair it with sushi, crudo or ceviche. Through their sustainability practices, Pago Casa Gran aims to "work with nature, not against her", so this wine not only tastes good - it feels good too.
Carmen Gran Reserva Carignan
Maule Valley, Chile
750 ml, $26.95
Bold, full-bodied with medium tannins, this 100% Carignan from Chile's first and oldest winery has dark fruit and berry flavours along with dried herbs and savoury spice. Pair it with grilled steaks or a traditional Chilean dish like Cazuela de Vacuno (beef stew).
Valserrano Crianza
Rioja, Spain
750 ml, $17.95
The Valserrano Crianza is 90% Tempranillo and 10% Mazuelo (aka Carignan) with 16 months aging in a blend of French and American oak. This wine exhibits the red berries and cinnamon spice characteristic of the style with a palate that is fresh, juicy and structured. It pairs great with a barbecued steak or other grilled meats - great for a backyard barbecue!