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Koyle Gran Reserva Syrah

Colchagua Valley, Chile

750 ml, $18.99

A 100% organic Syrah from Chile's Colchagua Valley, the Koyle Gran Reserva Syrah is a great wine to enjoy with spicy food (i.e. Thai cuisine), red peppery meats like BBQ or goat cheese. The vines are farmed biodynamically in granitic rocky soils, where the roots can bring minerality and complexity to the wine from the rocks. Aged in French oak barrels for fourteen months, it has aromas and flavours of dried herbs, earth, cassis, espresso and black fruit, along with a fresh, lengthy finish and elegant, fine tannins.

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LoosenBarry Walhalla Riesling

Mosel, Germany

750 ml, $45.99

This is a rare, special wine that is a collaboration between two of the world's top Riesling producers - Dr. Loosen in Mosel, Germany and Jim Barry Wines from Clare Valley, Australia. The 2016 LoosenBarry Walhalla Riesling is made from Mosel Riesling grapes, but in an Australian style, where it's made bone dry, lean, flinty and precise. The wine spends 2 years aging on lees in stainless steel followed by another year aging in bottle prior to release.

Features aromas of lime, mango, peach, lemongrass, pineapple & honey, with a medium body, sharp acidity and flavours of tropical fruit. You can cellar this wine —and be well rewarded—for up to 8 years!

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Gorgo Bardolino Chiaretto Rosé

Veneto, Italy

750 ml, $20.99

2020 vintages of rosé wines are starting to arrive, including this stunner from Veneto, Italy. The Gorgo Bardolino Chiaretto Rosé is a blend of Corvina, Rondinella & Molinara, which are classic grapes of the Veneto region. The Gorgo vineyard was established in 1973 in the village of Custoza, beginning with only 22 hectares and now stretching to over 60 hectares! The wine has fragrant aromas of fresh summer fruits like watermelon and apricots, with a dry, zesty, fruity and floral palate. Drinks well on its own or pair with sushi or cold meats!

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Peique Ramon Valle Mencia

Bierza, Castilla y Leon, Spain

750 ml, $28.99

From a family-owned winery in the village of Bierza, the Peique Ramon Valle is made from 100% Mencia grapes from vines that are 45-55 years old. The Peique winery started in 2001 after 90 years of growing grapes! It has aromas of red and black berries alongside a balsamic and mineral background. Sophisticated, lively and with a fresh mouthfeel, the palate has a great balance between fruit and minerality. The wine was aged 7 months in French, American & Russian oak barrels. Pair this wine with grilled meats or steak tartare!

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Pithon-Paillé Grololo Rouge

Loire Valley, France

750 ml, $35.99

Winemaker Jo Pithon is a star of the Loire, championing low intervention, biodynamic winemaking and wine growing practices. The result is pampered grapes producing faithful grapes year after year that are low in tannin, high in acid, and perfect for pairing with anything or drinking on its own. The name "Grololo" is a play on the Grolleau grape the wine is made from, a grape indigenous to the Loire Valley in France - it also happens to be children's slang for breasts, hence the cheeky label! Serve slightly chilled at 12 Celsius - this wine pairs with just about anything and is incredibly easy to drink!

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Natte Valleij Coastal Cinsault

Western Cape, South Africa

750 ml, $31.99

We love a wine with a cool story. Natte Valleij oozes a sense of history with its homestead, old wine cellars, brandy stills, magnificent mature gardens with ancient trees, pergolas and ponds that are all surrounded by whitewashed walls. It has been around since 1715, but it was only in 2005 after a 50 year hiatus that the farm began growing grapes again. During that hiatus, the Natte Valleij farm bred some of South Africa's finest racehorses for 27 years! This wine is 100% Cinsault from old bush vineyards spread across the Cape of Good Hope, and is super drinkable and fresh with flavours of rustic, juicy berries and peppery spice. Pair with roasted meats and veggies with flavourful sauces!

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Lyrarakis Vidiano Queen

Crete, Greece

750 ml, $26.99

Family-owned winery Domaine Lyrarakis was founded in 1966 in the Cretan village of Alagni, and this family played a pivotal role in saving Crete's indigenous grape varietals from extinction, including the Vidiano grape. Vidiano is considered a leading contender for the island's top white wine, and this wine is tasty. Aromas of apricot, citrus, and fresh peach balanced with noticeable white floral and herbal character makes for a juicy and irresistible glass.

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Bodegas Cota 45 UBE Paganilla 2018

Jerez, Spain

750 ml, $53.99

We're super stoked about this exciting, unique wine from Jerez, Spain - the winemaker, Ramiro Ibáñez, has his sights set on reviving tradition in Jerez and going back to making table wines from the grapes traditionally used to make fortified sherry wines. The Cota 45 UBE Paganilla, made from only two plots of 100% Palomino growing on the traditional Albariza soils of the "sherry triangle", has amazing complexity. It is a bright, powerful and concentrated wine that you don't come across very often, especially outside of Spain! On the nose, lime, green apple, nuts, fennel, tobacco, bread and licorice. On the palate, dry and full bodied but clean and crisp - it has a sherry-like taste (think apple must) with salty-lime peel. Pairs great with seafood or other briny dishes.

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Carmen DO Mezcla Tinto

Maule Valley, Chile

750 ml, $32.99

Hailing from Chile's Maule Valley (and one of its top producers), the Mezcla Tinto is a tasty red blend. Made from 60% Carignan, 30% Garnacha and 10% Pais, it has aromas of flowers and herbs like the countryside in spring, along with pollen and spices. The palate is balanced with fine tannins and flavours of sour cherries, purple fruit, violets and complex, exotic spices. The wine was fermented in concrete and matured in concrete egg for eight months. Suitable for aging, but very tasty right now!

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Bourdy Cremant du Jura

Jura, France

750 ml, $33.99

Our wine of the week hails from the Jura region in France - squeezed in between Burgundy and Switzerland. It's relatively unknown by the masses because only 10% of wine from this region is exported - so we're really lucky to have this Bourdy Cremant in Alberta! Made from 100% Chardonnay, this bright and engaging sparkling wine made in the traditional method will pair great with the entire meal, or drink as an aperitif. Bourdy is one of France's eldest winemaking families. With a light body and fine bubbles, this wine is best served chilled around 3-5 Celsius and enjoyed young. It has notes of apple, pear and fig with ginger and toast on the finish.

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Bill Downie Petit Verdot

Yarra Valley, Australia

750 ml, $33.99

This wine's creator, William Downie, was trained to make Pinot Noir in Burgundy, but has evolved to not mimic Burgundy and instead create wine that evokes his place on earth in Australia. Here he has taken Petit Verdot, a notoriously fickle grape, and created something outstanding in a region known mainly for quantity over quality. The wine is made up of 100% Petit Verdot from an organic, biodynamic vineyard in the Yarra Valley, made with spontaneous fermentation with wild yeasts followed by 8 months aging in stainless steel tanks. Features aromas of rich, dark berries, ink and violets, and on the palate its bright, juicy and fresh despite the rustic tannins. Pair this wine with grass-fed Alberta beef striploin!

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Cave Spring Gamay

Niagara Escarpment VQA, Canada

750 ml, $23.99

This wine is 100% Gamay, a grape which thrives on the hillsides of the Niagara Escarpment along Ontario's Niagara Peninsula. It was aged for 10 months in neutral French, Hungarian and American oak barrels. Featuring ripe aromas of blackberry, purple plum, cracked pepper and black tea, with hints of savoury herbs and spice. Fine tannins, black currant, black cherry and cacao round out the palate, with a plush and juicy finish. Pairs perfect with a tomato-based pizza, or a vegetable carpaccio.

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Peter Lehmann Layers White

Barossa, Australia

750 ml, $19.99

Peter Lehmann opened his winery in 1979 after working in the Australian wine industry for years beforehand, helping to revive vineyards with failing grapes. His company now works with over 140 growers across the length and breadth of the Barossa Valley region, with access to over 750 individual vineyard sites! The Layers White is a blend of Semillon, Muscat, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris - it's off-dry, so serve cold at 6-8 Degrees Celsius. It has aromas of citrus, peach and white flowers, with a light bodied, crisp palate with a delicate finish. This wine pairs well with calamari or a grilled shrimp salad - or most grilled seafood dishes!

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Clos La Coutale Malbec

Cahors, France

750 ml, $18.99

From a sixth generation winery in southwest France, Clos La Coutale in Cahors is a sixth generation winery. Made from the Malbec grape, this is a great wine to try if you're a fan of Argentinian Malbec and want to taste where the Malbec grape originated. This wine was matured in barrels and wooden casks for one year in order to get a good balance between tannins and fruit. Aromas of wood, spice and fruit complement the flavours of black fruit, liquorice and spice. It has a dry, broad texture and fleshy tannins. This wine drinks great now, but can age up to a decade to its excellent structure and acidity. It pairs well with heavy, French-inspired meat dishes such as Venison Champvallon:

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Ferrari Brut Trento DOC

Alto Adige, Italy

750 ml, $36.99

This Blanc de Blancs, traditional method sparkling wine is made from 100% Chardonnay picked in the Trento hills of Alto Adige. The winery, Ferrari has been producing world-class traditional method sparkling wine since 1902! It has a fresh and intense nose with notes of ripe Golden Delicious apples and wildflowers, with an underlying note of delicate yeast. The palate is harmonious and well-balanced, with notes of underripe fruit and crusty bread. Enjoy as an aperitif, or with sushi, shellfish or ceviche.

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Cirelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Abruzzo, Italy

750 ml, $23.99

This wine is a bright and refreshing take on Montepulciano - using organic farming, spontaneous fermentation, no fining or filtering, & low sulfur additions. A simpler Montepulciano that makes for easy drinking - and its light ABV of 12% makes this wine utterly crushable for drinking on its own or pairing with Italian pasta and meatballs. It has aromas of strawberry, fresh herbs and slightly floral notes. On the palate, medium to full bodied with ripe raspberry and strawberry notes, along with medium tannins and a refreshing acidity.

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Gillmore Mariposa Red Blend

Maule Valley, Chile

750 ml, $28.99

Gillmore is a family-owned winery founded in 1990 by Francisco Gillmore, and is now run by his daughter and her winemaking husband. The Mariposa is a red blend of 50% Syrah, 50% Merlot from low-yield, 50-year old organically farmed vineyards. It has abundant aromas of raspberries, strawberries and blackberries, followed by flowers, smoke and cured meat. It's elegant, fresh, dry and well-balanced. It pairs well with a fatty meat dish or blue cheese!

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Bodegas Canopy Ganadero Blanco

Méntrida, Toledo, Spain

750 ml, $21.99

Grown on 25 year old vines at 400 m above sea level, this 90% Macabeo, 5% White Grenache and 5% Verdejo is elegant and complex despite not being aged. The stunning label pays tribute to all the women who work in wine around the world. It has floral and grassy aromas, with hints of strawberry, fennel and peach, complemented by mineral and pineapple flavours. Its fresh taste and balanced acidity will transport you back to warmer days - perfect for pairing with a bowl of cold gazpacho.

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Clos Fornelli La Robe d'Ange Rouge 

Corsica, France

750 ml, $32.99

Produced at a family owned, practicing organic winery on the island of Corsica, France, this wine is made from 100% Sciacarello grapes, which produce a fresh and fruity wine. It's elegant and aromatic with a medium body, and its bright, well-integrated acidity makes it an easy drinking red wine. It has aromas and flavours of red fruits like cherry and strawberry, along with hints of white pepper and earth. Serve this wine lightly chilled - it pairs perfect with grilled fish and classic Mediterannean fare.  

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Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais Nouveau 2020

Beaujolais, France

750 ml, $19.99

This Beaujolais Nouveau is 100% Gamay from one of France's long-standing wineries - Maison Joseph Drouhin has always been involved in the production of Beaujolais wine, and in the early fifties was the first to bottle and ship Beajoulais Nouveau. The wine was made via semi carbonic maceration with full grape bunches for 4-10 days. It has intense aromas of blackberries and black currant, with a fine tannin structure and light body. Pairs well with pizza, haute cuisine and good cheer!