News Archives - Page 15 of 30 - WineCollective Blog

Preparing for your best cup of joe with CoffeeCollective

Posted on November 27, 2013October 29, 2020 by Wil Knoll

If you haven’t heard yet, WineCollective has a new brainchild that is warming the taste buds of beverage lovers, before noon. CoffeeCollective is our latest club, where members receive 2 lbs of fresh roasted beans from a featured Canadian roaster each month. If you have yet to check out the coffee club, then we suggest you do. In the meantime, here is a blog post to make you crave a hot steaming cup of coffee.

Not all coffee tastes the same. In fact, there are many elements in preparing your cup of joe, beyond the roast, that will effect the overall quality and taste of your coffee.

Fortunately, we at CoffeeCollective want to make sure you have all the information necessary to make a great cup of coffee. Being aware of the following five fundamental requirements to coffee making with ensure just that.

Equipment

Make sure you thoroughly clean your coffee maker between each use. It doesn’t matter if you use a Drip Brew or French Press, a build up of coffee grounds or oil will make your coffee taste bitter.

Coffee

For the best cup of coffee, make sure your beans are freshly roasted. If your bag is left open for more than 2 weeks you will notice a strong difference in taste. CoffeeCollective only buys the freshest beans from our featured roasters. If you need to store your coffee, put the tightly sealed bag in the freezer and remove beans for a weeks use.

Grind

For a consistent size in your coffee grounds use a Burr or Mill grinder. Grinding your coffee beans right before brew time will give you the best results for a hearty mug. Depending on your brewing method, adjust your grind to suit. Over grinding your coffee will make it over extracted and leave a bitter taste while under grinding will under extract your beans making the coffee taste flat. A helpful tip: rub grinds in between your fingers to feel out your preferred grind. Never reuse coffee grinds.

Water

Do not use tap, distilled or softened water for making coffee as it typically contains chlorine or a slight odour. Use filtered water instead and heat to 35°C or just after boil.

Coffee to Water

Use 1 Tbs of coffee per 6 ounces of water. Maintaining this coffee to ratio balance will help you always to prepare a hearty and flavourful cup.

Be sure to enjoy your coffee right after its brewed for its best aroma and taste. You can also keep your coffee in an insulated travel mug for up to two hours without loosing too much flavour. While these steps may seem amateur, many coffee lovers overlook the simple inconsistencies that alter the taste of their coffee. Following these simple steps, we guarantee will put you one step closer to preferring your own home brew and avoiding a crowded Tim Horton’s drive-thru.

To enjoy premium coffee roasts from small Canadian houses, check out CoffeeCollective today. We invite WineCollective members to use the coupon code WINECOLLECTIVE15 for $15 off your first CoffeeCollective shipment.

WineCollective weather advisory

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Wil Knoll

It’s time to bundle up; mittens, toques and scarves are now necessary to keep us all from the stone cold temperatures across Canada.

While our WineCollective shipping boxes are secure and safe for travel, they do not include built-in parkas for bottles, meaning your wine may be in risk of freezing should temperatures drop. Wine can freeze at -10°C, which is not uncommon in most Canadian cities.

For this reason, WineCollective has implemented a policy, delaying the the delivery of your wine should the weather not permit. If the weather is forecast to remain below – 20 degrees Celsius for an extended period of time, we will delay delivery until we feel it is safe to ship. As we aim to provide our club members with quality, convenience and experience, we do not want compromise the integrity of your wine.

With cold temperatures, wine has the ability to expand as it freezes forcing the cork seal to pop out, or screw cap to deform. With the airtight seal breached, the taste and quality of the wine can be altered.

Should your wine freeze without causing damage to the bottle it should still be drinkable. Try to thaw the wine at room temperature and consume it immediately, once it reaches your desired temperature. Unfortunately, with the freeze, the wine will no longer be able to maintain its usual cellaring potential. While frozen wine is sometimes welcomed for ice wine, slushy drinks or popsicles, typically it is best enjoyed in liquid form.

If shipping is delayed due to poor weather, you can expect an email notification from us. Please feel free to contact WineCollective today if you have any questions about our policy or frozen wine.

Stay warm!

Executive gifts at Madison & PAGE

Posted on November 8, 2013November 8, 2013 by Wil Knoll

Just a few days ago, WineCollective stumbled across Madison and PAGE, a gift shop located inside Fifth Avenue Place in Calgary’s downtown core.

Madison and PAGE holds a collection of accessories, leather bags and wallets, stationary and is also one of two stores in Calgary where you can find first-class pens and collectables. If you are looking for the perfect gift, you can find something for everyone at Madison and PAGE. Online, Madison and PAGE also offers Canada wide shipping, making it easy to send a great gift to family and friends across the country.

The shop was first opened in 1989 and began to fill the void in Calgary for stationary and office goods. From there, owner Anna Mandelkau says the store “organically developed based on client wants,” adding in leather goods, seasonal products and desk accessories.

Decanters and wine aerators can also be found at Madison and PAGE. What especially caught our eye was the five piece wine accessory set. A bottle shaped tool kit that includes a corkscrew bottle opener, drip stop ring, stopper, foil cutter and wine pourer. The store also carries Moleskin Wine Journals that will help you keep track of all the great wines WineCollective sends each month.

Branding is also available at the boutique. By engraving or monogramming, you can personalize a pen or iPhone case for a deserving employee. Because of its location, Madison and PAGE is readily prepared for corporate gifting.

Stop by Madison and PAGE today to pick up a gift or two for the upcoming holiday season, and of course, a little something for yourself.

2nd Level, Fifth Avenue Place
230, 425 1st St. SW
Calgary, AB.

Deloitte wine tasting in support of United Way

Posted on November 4, 2013November 5, 2013 by Wil Knoll

This past month, WineCollective joined Deloitte at their offices in downtown Calgary to host a wine tasting fundraiser for United Way.

Deloitte is a leading accounting firm in Canada that provides tax and financial consulting since being founded 1845. Apart from their professional services, Deloitte is a great supporter of United Way as they set up an array of events and fundraisers for the non-profit organization. Over the past 13 years, Deloitte’s worldwide group and staff have raised over $194 million for United Way. Deloitte’s Calgary offices have done numerous fundraisers for United Way this year including a chilli cook-off and throwing pie at one another’s faces.

Fortunately for WineCollective, many of Deloitte’s Canadian staff are club members. So when Senior Manager, Matt McMillan asked us to help with their wine tasting event, we were happy to take part!

WineCollective’s Amber brought 10 wines to the tasting, which she arranged in specific order for easy tasting (light to full body). From there, the Deloitte staff was free to sample the wines! Amber and I were available for any questions about the wine and WineCollective tasting cards were supplied for tasters to follow along.

The following wines were brought to the tasting.

2011 Benjamin Bridge Nova 7
2012 Monte da Ravaqueria Serrana
2011 Colle dei Venti Pecorino
2010 Recuerdo Torrontes
2008 Deep Sea Chardonnay
2010 Le Roc Blanc
2010 Brusco dei Barbi
2010 Versado Malbec
2010 Casa Viva Carmenere
2011 Suiker Bossie Pinotage

Deloitte’s staff favourited the Suiker Bossie Pinotage, as well as Benjamin Bridge’s Nova 7 and Le Roc Blanc.

We were happy to share our support of United Way with Deloitte and hope the participating staff enjoyed every wine! In all, Deloitte raised roughly $1,700 through the tasting. You can call WineCollective today for more details on your own wine tasting event or fundraiser.

Cured and couriered from Carnivore Club

Posted on October 29, 2013November 4, 2013 by Wil Knoll

We are very excited to introduce a new monthly club in Canada that may just be the perfect gift for any man in your life – unless he’s a vegetarian.

Carnivore Club is a monthly subscription that provides exclusive meat to club members. Each month, members receive 4 to 6 selections of “unique charcuterie, exotic terrines and artisan crafted jerky’s from around the world.”

The team at Carnivore Club ensures that you receive fresh and top quality selections that cannot be found at your local grocery store or butcher shop. Their partners are small producers because CC believes that they provide the furthest care and attention to their products.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7DzvI560QU#t=45

What’s great about Carnivore Club is each month, delivered right to your front door, comes a perfect wine pairing. They are also very generous in providing WineCollective members with $10 off their first shipment when you use the promo code WC10 at checkout.

The WineCollective team has already ordered our first shipment and it’s headed straight for our office. We plan on creating a perfect pairing between Carnivore Club and WineCollective selections. You can look forward to an upcoming blog post on what the office foodies cook up, recipe and wine pairing included!

Clos du Soleil mixed wines package now for sale!

Posted on October 23, 2013October 24, 2013 by Wil Knoll

Together with one of our most favourite wineries, Clos du Soleil, WineCollective has put together a mixed wines selection now available through our online store. This package includes one bottle of the 2012 Rose, two bottles of the 2011 Celestial and one bottle of the 2010 Signature.

Why love Clos du Soleil?

First of all, Clos du Soleil is a small artisan and Canadian winery! Located in the Similkameen Valley, Clos du Soleil is placed on the highest elevations of the Okanagan. Being 1300 feet higher than everyone else gives Clos du Soleil vineyards much cooler evenings, yet the hot desert heat of the Okanagan summer still reaches the upper Similkameen Valley. This area is also recognized as one of the newest wine appellations in the world.

Clos du Soleil is focused on super-premium quality wines, produced with a Bordeaux style. The winery says they are “where Old World elegance meets with a little New World/Canadian oomph.” Clos du Soleil wines are very rare with limited distribution to select restaurants and stores in Alberta and B.C. If you live in Canada’s central, east and north destinations, this is your chance to taste the wines of Clos du Soleil.

Canadian winemaker, Ann Sperling takes part in the Clos du Soleil team as winemaker and viticulturist. Her 30 years of experience that began at Sperling Vineyards has taken her around the world with her latest project, Versado in Mendoza, Argentina.

Mixed Wines Package

2010 Clos du Soleil Signature [1]

Varietals: 41% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Malbec. Alcohol: 14.2%. Production: 275 cases.

From the producer: “This superb blend is a true contender for B.C.’s place on the world stage of premium red wine. Unfiltered and unfined, there are notes of cassis and blackberry that greet the nose. They are echoed on the palate with a soft note of oak that complements the dark berry fruit balanced with good acidity and black plum freshness. Decanting this wine opens up multiple layers of ripe black fruits in addition to darker essences of cocoa and espresso. The finish is long and leaves you pondering the complexity of this very structured wine”

92 points – WineScores | 91 points – John Schreiner

2012 Clos du Soleil Rosé [1]

Varietals: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Alcohol: 12.2%. Production: 550 cases.

From the producer: “This rosé, made of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from 15 year-old vines, is a perfect everyday wine. The nose begins with sun kissed fresh strawberry, cranberry and vanilla bean. On the palate the sweet fruit continues with the addition of raspberries. A full mouth feel and long length make this a perfect food wine. It is summer in a bottle.”

92 points | John Schreiner

“This wine puts Clos du Soleil in the top tier of Rosé producers in British Columbia.” – The best Rosé 2013. Okanagan Spring Wine Festival

2011 Clos du Soleil Celestial [2]

Varietals: 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot. Alcohol: 14%. Production: 250 cases

From the producer: “The 18 months spent in French oak barriques gives it structure and a glimmer of spice. It opens up to bright notes of strawberry and sweet red cherries, with rich hints of espresso and chocolate. In the mouth it’s plummy, full and round; nicely framed by well-integrated, grainy tannins and weight. There is a long finish, and although very good today, it will reward patience in the cellar.”

“The wine begins with aromas of red fruit and vanilla. On the generous palate, there are flavours of cherries, plum, chocolate and tobacco, with long ripe tannins.”

90 points – John Schreiner

We also invite you to visit their Soleil 160 Wine Club to purchase more exclusive wines at a discount. The Soleil 160 Club offers members exceptional wines beyond the Signature, Celestial and Rosé at exceptional prices, as well as opportunities only available to their club subscribers.

We are eager for WineCollective members to get a glance of all that Clos du Soleil has to offer. Retail price for this selection is over $140, but for WineCollective members, we are happy to discount the Clos du Soleil package for $116.49. This package will also include tasting notes on the three wines. If not for yourself, the Clos du Soleil package makes a great gift for the upcoming holiday season. Call us today to arrange your order as a gift purchase.

Sign on and check out the WineCollective store today!

Rocky Mountain Festival Favourites

Posted on October 21, 2013October 21, 2013 by Wil Knoll

This past weekend, on Oct. 18, Amber and I took part in the 16^th annual Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival (RMWFF) in Calgary. While you may not have seen us working a booth, we did get the chance to wander the BMO Centre in search of wine, food, beer, vodka and some of our favourite WineCollective supporters.

This year, exhibitors included 162 wineries, 47 breweries, a variety of spirit distillers and plenty of food choices. There was no shortage of samples for the hundreds of guests that began filing in at 5 p.m.

Glassware Creations by Laurie

Many of the wine merchants and representatives that help WineCollective find their monthly-featured wines were able to share some of their favourites with Amber and myself. The 2011 Trivento Amado Sur Malbec is an impressive blend of Malbec, Syrah and Bonarda. We found this vintage to be forward with fresh fruit with notes of smoke and vanilla and overall, very smooth. This Malbec has also received 90 points from Robert Parker. We’re keeping this one on our radar for WC packages in the future.

Trivento Bodegas y Viñedos. Mendoza, Argentina

With plenty of food around the festival, we made some quick stops to some favourite vendors with impressive displays. The friendly staff at Sunterra Market featured a Chipotle Beef Brisket, with pineapple mango salsa and bourbon peppercorn sauce, with Parisian macarons for dessert. Kinjo Sushi and YYC famous owner, Peter Kinjo, were happy to share a variety of sushi that cleansed our palates for ice wine and vodka tastings that followed.

Sunterra Market and Kinjo Sushi & Grill

Fluid Imports made us a special treat from Double Cross Vodka (a favourite among WineCollective staff). Infused with white wine and cranberry, this cocktail was deliciously dangerous. The 7x-distilled Double Cross Vodka is incredibly smooth, pure, clean and crisp.

Fluid Imports and the Double Cross vodka and cranberry cocktail

Our last stop took us to Vintage West, representative of Cameron Hughes. While we didn’t get to taste the upcoming Tannic.ca feature, Lot 260, we were able to try the Ogio Prosecco, a sweet and very popular sparkling wine.

Cameron Hughes 2007 Lot 260, is a classic Barolo wine, made from Nebbiolo grapes in the Piedmont region of Italy. This wine is truly exceptional with flavours of strawberry, cherry and plum with fresh tobacco and balsamic notes. It is made and classified under DOCG and has received 93 points from Wine Spectator. Tannic members will be able to purchase the vintage this week.

Overall, the RMWFF appeared to host another successful festival. If you were able to attend, we would love to hear about your experience and favourites among the wine and food samples. Fortunately, if you were unable to make it to Calgary’s event, Edmonton is hosting their very own festival this upcoming weekend.

We would like to thank all the food exhibitors as well as Fluid Imports, Lanigan & Edwards Wine Merchants, Vintage West Wine Marketing and Select Wine Merchants for the generous samples. We look forward to featuring some of our finds in future WineCollective packages and attending the Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival again next year!

WineCollective 2013 Holiday Packages

Posted on October 18, 2013October 29, 2020 by Wil Knoll

We are very excited to announce that our WineCollective Holiday Packages are now available for the 2013 holiday season. Each wine subscription is wrapped in an educational experience that is delivered monthly to your recipient, anywhere across Canada.

This year, playing Santa Claus is easy. Skip the crowded malls, lines, wrapping paper and let us do all of the work. Packages range from$134.99 to $1489.99, making it a breeze to find a suitable gift for your colleague or nearest and dearest.

Packages include four to six bottles each month, with your choice of red or mixed wines. Decide between 1, 2, 3, 4 or 6-month subscription, or truly impress with a full year of wine. We are also happy to introduce quarterly shipments, if cellar space is an issue.

Unlike our regular gift subscriptions that are available throughout the year, WineCollective Holiday Packages include numerous perks for you and your gift recipient, as well as up to a 30% discount! Here’s a full list of reasons (besides the wine) that aholiday package is what you need to please all the grown-ups on your list. This is the gift that keeps on pouring.

– Give your gift recipient access to the online WineCollective community where they can rate and discuss the wines they receive each month

– Tasting cards delivered with each wine, giving your recipient some quality education of the wine’s characteristics and crafting.

– Access to the online store to buy even more wine!

– Choose between a gift email, which will be sent out to your recipient on December 25th, or a printable email you can stuff into a socking or give in a card. This email will give your recipient all the details for their WineCollective account and upcoming wine packages.

– Purchase 10 or more gifts for clients and receive a 10% discount

This year, our packages are going above and beyond as we’ve added a few extra gifts depending on your package selection.

– WineCollective tote bag

– WineCollective cork screw

– Wine guide

– CoffeeCollective coupon (our new brainchild!)

– Tannic.ca membership ($195 value)

– $2 donation for every month of your subscription to Rebuild the Zoo

Get your shopping done early and check out WineCollective for holiday packages today!

The Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Wil Knoll

Back for its 16^th year, The Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival is ready to spoil Calgary and Edmonton with wines from around the world and local cuisine from each city’s best restaurants.

Calgary’s festival takes place this weekend, October 18-19 at the BMO Centre, while Edmonton will get their taste on October 25-26 at the Shaw Conference Centre. Tickets are still available for each weekend’s Friday and Saturday and range from $15 to $36. A portion of these ticket sales will go to both SAIT and NAIT Culinary schools – who will also be present for some delicious food samples created by students.

Apart from wines, the festival will include samples of scotch, premium spirits and beer from industry leaders. If you prefer wine, bottles from every major wine region will have a place at the festival. From Bordeaux, France to Mendoza, Argentina, you will likely find a booth that holds all your favourites. Here are just a few of many wineries that will be present this weekend at Calgary’s Rocky Mountain Festival.

Peter Lehmann – Australia

Lakeview Cellars – Canada

Jackson-Triggs – Canada

Artisian Wine Company – Canada

La Spinetta – Italy

Fonseca – Portugal

Cameron Hughes – United States

Beringer – United States

Concha Y Toro – Chile

In addition to ticket pricing, sampling coupons can be purchased for $0.50. Each exhibitor requires a varying amount of coupons per sample.

If you’re in touch with Calgary’s dining scene, you may know that there are a ton of restaurants making a mark in gourmet cuisine. The Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival will host various venues that will be providing samples of their best dishes. You will find Sunterra, Market, Cobs Bread, Wine-Ohs Bistro & Cellar, Xocolat, Craft Beer Market and Black Betty Burger & Wine Bar all at the festival, not to discount the numerous other vendors that will also be attending.

This year, the festival is also adding to attendee experience by introducing an app that will allow goers to mark samples, tasting notes and post their favourites to social media. If you plan on attending the event, we would love to hear about your entire experience.

WineCollective has featured and favourited many of the wines that will be showcased at the festival. However, there will be many more wineries that will be happy to pour samples. Amber and I will be attending the event on Friday evening, meaning you should keep an eye out for a future blog of all the goodies we find and want to share.

Your guide to Thanksgiving wine

Posted on October 9, 2013October 9, 2013 by Wil Knoll

Cooking up a traditional Canadian Thanksgiving meal is a stressful ordeal if you’re hosting a large table of family and friends. While we can’t tell you exactly how to cook the best turkey ever, we can share our know-how of which wines to bring to the table for your guests.

But first, a history lesson! The first Thanksgiving celebrated in Canada was in Newfoundland back in 1578. An English explorer named Martin Frobisher unfortunately went through some troubles while sailing uncharted seas, losing many comrades through winter storms. After Frobisher’s ships were scattered for quite some time, they all managed to happily meet at Frobisher Bay where they all celebrated the reunion with a meal of thanks.

Although Canada had been celebrating Thanksgiving for well over 100 years, it was only officiated in 1957. It was stated, “A day of general Thanksgiving to the Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed – to be observed on the 2^nd Monday in October.”

Well apparently, many Canadians are thankful for wine, as it is sold more on Thanksgiving than any other day. The dilemma, however, is deciding which wine pairs with turkey, ham, stuffing, cranberry sauce, yams and pie. WineCollective has featured all of these wines that are versatile enough for everything you’ll be stuffing into your belly this upcoming weekend. We suggest that you offer several types of wine, as everyone’s palates are different.

Red Wine

Zinfandel can go a long way with a chunk of turkey. A vintage with lower tannins and alcohol with moisten the turkey and bring on flavours of cinnamon and vanilla, suited perfect for fall.

Try the 2010 Mazzocco Dry Creek (now available in the WineCollective store). It’s a big wine, but the cherry and red fruit notes make it very versatile and a pleasure to drink.

Pinot Noir has a lighter body, which makes it easy to pair with poultry. The cherry and cranberry flavours work especially well with ham.

If it’s still in your cellar from select July packages, pop open the 2009 Lynmar Estate Russian River Valley. This wine gives of warm cherry and cranberry notes that you may just want to pour on top your turkey– but please don’t.

White Wine

Riesling is a crisp option that acts as a great palate refresher. Besides turkey, it pairs well with yams, cranberries and… Pumpkin Pie!

We have a few Rieslings for sale now on WineCollective, including the 2009 Joh Jos Prum Kabinett (a favourite among Riesling fans). The wine is off dry with notes of stone fruit. Super fresh with tons of intricate layers.

Chenin Blanc is unfortunately not as popular as it should be, because it’s extremely delicious. Typically the wine is fresh with medium-high acidity; it shows tropical or citrus notes.

An upcoming wine is the October package is the 2008 Charles Joguet Touraine. Sadly, it won’t make it to you for this weekend but at least now you can look forward to turkey leftovers!

Sauvignon Blanc is a better match for a Thanksgiving feast than an oaky Chardonnay. The dry citrus taste is much more versatile.

A previously featured wine, the 2011 Veramonte Sauvignon La Gloria Reserva would be great to have on your table this weekend. It shows of lemon and lime notes that will work really well if your dishes tend to have more spice.

Hopefully you still have a few of these bottles in your cellar so you can show off to family and friends this weekend. If not, we invite you to check out our partners, Willow Park Wines & Spirits, for their Thanksgiving sale from October 9 – 13, where you can potentially find some of the above wines at up to 49% off.

Let us know if you get to try any of these wines with your turkey dinner and how you enjoyed it. A general rule of thumb would be to serve a wine that is higher in acidity and low in alcohol – considering you’ll likely be drinking all day on top of a already heavy meal.

We hope your Thanksgiving weekend is filled with family, friends, blessings and wine.

Happy Thanksgiving from WineCollective.

4th Annual Fort McMurray Wine Auction

Posted on October 2, 2013October 2, 2013 by Wil Knoll

In support of Big Brothers Big Sisters Wood Buffalo, Fort McMurray will be hosting their 4^th SMS Equipment Wine Auction this Saturday, October 5^th. Each year this event welcomes 450 guests to take part in both a silent auction and raffle for numerous prestigious wines and spirits.

2012 Fort McMurray Wine Auction. Courtesy Big Brothers Big Sisters Wood Buffalo

Many of the wines to be featured in the auction are extremely rare and valuable. For example, wine hunter Dr. Carl Deane recently found a 1962 Chateau de la Riviere Fronsac, after a 22 km trail in caverns underneath the Bordeaux estate. This exact wine will be sold this weekend as part of the silent auction. Last year, the auction raised $120,000.

The Fort McMurray auction will be held at Sawridge Inn and Conference Centre, which has been transformed into a whimsical “outdoor” park thanks to planning by Events With Vizability. The event will also feature the CEDA International tasting room ($40) with 5 tasting booths.

Performances by Juno nominee Suzie McNeil and local artist Becca Hess will also take place, making the entire evening full of entertainment. Tickets (which are more than likely 90% sold out) sell for $200 or 10 for $1900.

2012 Fort McMurray Wine Auction. Courtesy Big Brothers Big Sisters Wood Buffalo

Apart from some major corporate sponsors such as, Suncor Energy and ConocoPhillips Canada, WineCollective and Tannic have also made donations for both raffle prizes and the silent auction. We have included:

Silent Auction

– WineCollective: 3 months of our Evolution package delivered

– Tannic membership valued at $195 and $100 credit towards Tannic purchase

Raffle Prizes

– Tannic membership and a 6 pack of previously featured wines, a $650 value

We hope the event is truly successful and can’t wait to hear from our auction and raffle winners. If you can’t get to the event this weekend, keep an eye out for next years Fort McMurray Wine Auction and visit their website.

Premium Italian Wines

Posted on September 27, 2013 by Wil Knoll

Since the 2^nd century B.C., Italian wine has flourished in production and artistry. Over thousands of years in perfecting technique, Italy has been awarded superior status in the wine world, renowned for its complex reds and fresh whites. Today, Italy is responsible for 1/3 of the world’s wine.

The annual production of Italian wine (41.6 million hl) is spread across 20 regions. While most are recognized, several regions and their sub-appellations such as Tuscany and Piedmont are praised for creating high-end premium wines.

Within all regions, Government controls (overseen by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) are in place to classify wines produced in the country. The classifications distinguish premium wines from table wines and are a great way for you to determine which bottle to bring home.

1. DOCG – Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin)

This classification, which includes 21 appellations, was created in 1992 in order to highlight historically known regions that produce the highest of quality wines. Each bottle is sealed with a government number across the cap or cork.

2. DOC – Denominazione di Origine Controlla (Denomination of Controlled Origin)

Instated in 1963 to place conditions on wineries aiming to create higher quality wines that could compete with French wines that were dominating the wine market.

3. IGT – Indicazione Geografica Tipica (Typical Geographical Indication)

Helps to distinguish regions making great wines, however, are not prestigious enough for DOC class.

4. Vini di Tavola (Table Wine)

Classification requires loose guidelines for winemakers to follow.

Tuscany

This much loved wine region produces the third largest amount of DOC/G wines in Italy. While many varieties grow in Tuscany, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese grapes thrive in the dry climate and make up most of the wines made in the region. For example, well-known Tuscan wines such as Super Tuscans, Chianti and Brunello de Montalcino consist mainly of the two varieties. Tuscan whites include Pinot Blanc and Pinot Grigio, however, Trebbiano is a native grape to the region that is a fundamental variety in Tuscan Vin Santo or ‘holy wine.’

Wine: 2008 Tenuta di Biserno Bibbona IGT. 96 points

Wine Advocate called this vintage “drop dead gorgeous.” The estate is hidden among the hills of Bibbona, a sub-appellation in western Tuscany. Made from Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is brilliant with its complex nose of dark fruits, chocolate and spicy oak.

Piedmont

The region of Piedmont has the largest number of DOC and DOCG areas and best-known premium wines. Barbera, Barolo, Nebbiolo and Moscato d’Asti are all created under top classifications. In fact, wines made in the sub-appellation of Barolo (made primarily of Nebbiolo) became one of the first to receive DOCG status. Barolo wines are known as the King of Italian wines and are made for cellaring as they become velvety with age. Barbera grapes, grown in the same area as Barolo, are also popular with their fruity and delicate flavours. Additionally, the region is quite famous for Vermouth, as the liquor originated in Piedmont.

Wine: Sandrone 2008 Barolo Cannubi Boschis DOCG. 98 points

The vineyard of the Sandrone estate is said to be one of the greatest sights in the entire Barolo region. Nebbiolo grapes make up the flagship wine, which has received 100 points for previous vintages. The 2008 Barolo is a deep and intense red-black colour with aromatics of red cherries and concentrated flavours of dark fruit. The producer recommends that this wine lay in the cellar for 10-20 years.

Currently, WineCollective’s partner Tannic is featuring these premium Italian wines, among others. A quick and easy sign up for a Tannic membership will give you weekly access to some of the best and most unique wines around the world. If a membership isn’t your thing, we’re happy to offer some knowledge in high-end Italian wine classifications and regions that you can use during future shopping experiences.

Ciao!