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Holiday Gifting & Giving

It is that time of year when we all try to put in a little extra effort to spread joy and help those in need. We have put together a great opportunity to help you finish all the shopping on your ‘nice’ list, as well as give back to your community.

Are you a Canadian:

  • Charity?
  • Alumni association?
  • Company with a mission?
  • Non-profit organization?

If so, we would like to help you raise $$ while you finish your Holiday shopping. WineCollective and Canada Craft Club have built a significant following for our yearly Holiday Gifts – they are jammed full of delicious boutique wines and craft beer, super savings and bonus treats! We would like you to help us sell more Holiday gifts, and reward your cause for helping us spreading the word.

In the past, we have partnered with alumni associations and non-profits to help share our awesome Holiday Gift ideas with more people, and in return, we give back to these organizations. We ship across the country – expanding your reach and opportunity to fundraise from coast to coast.

How does it work?

  1. Reach out to us and let us know about you and your group, and your fundraising goals.
  2. Let us know how you plan to spread the word.
  3. You will receive a custom coupon code to share with family, friends, co-workers, or whoever you want.
  4. We will provide you with the information needed to share on your social media and email list.
  5. The coupon code will give the user $20 off their Holiday gift purchase*.
  6. AND each time the coupon code is used, your group will receive $20.
  7. You have until December 31st to get as many purchases as possible.
  8. And then you are paid!

What do we need from you?

  • Excitement – Let us know you are really into this opportunity!
  • Marketing – Let us know how you would promote this offer and encourage people to support your initiative.
  • Communication – Keep in touch. We will do our best to help support you in whatever way we can to make sure this is a success for everyone.

We think this is a pretty easy fundraiser, who wouldn’t want to give the gift of wine or craft beer delivered to your door each month? Your friends and followers can do their Holiday shopping and donate to a good cause at the same time – what’s better than that?

Are you interested? Get in touch and we can provide more details, learn about your mission, and find the best way to help you, help us!

*Minimum spend required to apply coupon codes.


Success for ARTS in September

Last month we were host to ARTS Senior Animal Rescue. Throughout the month, customers at Highfield could purchase bottles of wine with a portion of the proceeds going to the non-profit. We also collected donations from patrons throughout the month, and held a meet n’ greet with some of their ‘adoptables’. Can you think of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon- sampling wine and petting furry friends?

We are happy to report that with your help, we raised $790 for ARTS, and one of lucky seniors found its forever home! Thanks again for all who joined us and donated!

Stay tuned for our upcoming monthly partnerships, like the donation drive for the Mustard Seed that is running until October 31st.


Parent Pairings: Back to School Edition

We’re so excited to watch the beautiful leaves fall, don our cozy sweaters, and wander the dog park without fighting the dog into snow booties. For anyone attending classes, teaching students, or paying for those things to happen (parents, you know what I’m talking about) we offer a toast to you!

Parents, we suggest starting September with an optimistic approach called wineglass half-full (or full, we’re not judging.) As the maker of meals, official chauffeur, number one fan and proudest cheerleader; these pairings were designed with you in mind!

1. For the parents perpetually stuck ferrying their rugrats between school and soccer practice, give your sip and snack a boost with a yogurt tube and the Annex Ale Project’s Norm-Core Pale Ale. Upgrade to a romantic evening by sharing the crushed granola bar from the bottom of your bag with your partner and antagonizing that referee as a family.

Annex Norm Core

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. September is a smorgasbord of postponed August birthday parties, not to mention all of the actual September birthdays! It’s go-time on the weekends, balancing multiple birthday parties and ballet before the sun sets on Saturday. Savour the delightful combination of a chocolate pudding cup and a fruity Malbec like the Humberto from Canale Estate, hidden in a travel mug, to remind you that weekends are supposed to be fun and relaxing. Layers of blueberry pie and vanilla in the wine will mix beautifully with the milky chocolate.

3. Too exhausted to make yourself a snack after staying up late to make your ungrateful kids their lunches? Munch those peanut butter and jelly sandwich crusts with a bold, jammy Cabernet Sauvignon like Vinovalie’s Terreo to match the fruit preserves and balance the acidity of the peanut butter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. On a crisp fall evening when you need a break, let the kids reign free in an unsupervised frenzy and take a moment for yourself. Sneak away with a peelable string cheese stick, and devour it as you slam and lock the bathroom door to keep their tiny, sticky fingers out. Open your secret bottle of Cab Sauv (we recommend strategically placing the Avia Cabernet Sauvignon all over the house) and run yourself a hot bath with some stolen, yet effervescent Paw Patrol bubble bath.

To help you survive the month, we’ve combined all of these delicious and necessary bottles into the perfect #ParentPairings mixed package, available to members now, at WineCollective.ca.

Students! You’ve slogged through twelve years of mandatory schooling, and now you’re making your higher-level path with post-secondary! With all of the lectures, labs, and late nights writing papers (or bonding with classmates,) we’ve paired classic comfort foods with fabulous alcohol! All hail grading on a curve!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Fall is here, and it’s time to replace the school supplies that disappeared over the summer! For the old school yellow pencil lovers out there, WineCollective Two is the beverage of choice. Sharpen your writing utensils and sip on the wine that surpasses all expectations (just like you, right?) This Shiraz is going to accent the mineral smell from pencil shavings and add a tart cranberry note with a hint of vanilla, to accentuate your hidden potential.

2. When your paper is due Friday evening, make sure you sustain yourself with some classic one-minute ramen. Boil the water, throw those crunchy noodles in a bowl, and prepare to scald yourself because it’s seriously hot! Pop open a bottle of Cuvée Jean-Paul to cool down and enjoy the matching savoury notes from the rustic herb flavour in the wine, with the mystery spice satchel from the ramen.

3. Proven* to help with synonyms when other words escape you, this pairing is a sure-fire hit for late night writing sessions (and asking for extensions!) Grab a slice of leftover pepperoni pizza, borrow your neighbour’s ice bucket and crack open a refreshing bottle of Più Gioia Pinot Grigio. Let the vegetal and herbal notes of the wine create a full meal with the microwaved tomato sauce and sausage playfully mingling.

When the cold frost blows across campus and getting to the dining hall involves crossing the vast Arctic tundra that now separates you from lunch, opt for the Asheville Brewing Ninja Porter instead! Hunker down somewhere warm and enjoy the roasted coffee to keep you awake, nutty chocolate for sustenance and sweet caramel as a bonus treat! A+ for this delicious combo.

*Pinot Grigio has not been verified against a thesaurus to help with synonyms but is recommended by 9/10 university alumni that work at WineCollective. (That last employee prefers reds.)


Rosé All Day, Every Day!

This year, we’re pairing the hottest season with the hottest wine trend – welcome aboard the Rosé train!  You may have noticed your local wine shops and restaurants focusing more on this delicious style, and we are cheering them on!

Here are just a few reasons why we love Rose:

  1. The mercury can get a little high during the summer, so having something cool and refreshing to drink is key. Rosé provides the delicious flavours of red wine but in a lighter style.
  2. Pairing foods with Rosé is so easy! You don’t have as much of the tannic structure you get from red wine, so the possibilities are wide open. Rosé also has a little more oomph than chilled white wines so you can pair with heartier plates.
  3. A variety of styles to suit any palate. Rosé ranges from light and delicate to robust and flavour forward.  

Long gone are the days of sickly sweet pink wines! The Rosé produced these days offers incredible complexity and depth of flavour; it’s a great alternative to white wines for red wine drinkers!

Rosé is a summer staple, it has been a popular trend in Europe for decades and word is spreading. The increase in popularity has reached wineries and winemakers around the world who are now investing their time and resources into producing the highest quality of Rosé. Production of Rosé has expanded from France, Italy, Spain and America to countries such as Greece, South Africa and New Zealand. Rosé is now being considered a serious style of wine worldwide.

The styles of Rosé reach far and wide! The range of grape varietals used has expanded significantly over the years. The primary grapes used include Grenache, Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah to name a few. Each varietal produces a different profile on the flavour spectrum, from light and dry to full-bodied and fruity. Rosé is considered one of the most food-friendly styles of wine. With a moderate flavour profile, it is incredibly versatile, pairing best with warm climate cuisine. Below you’ll find a list of the top ten styles and flavour profiles of Rosé accompanied by suggested food pairings.

Grenache

Profile: Fruity, floral, dry and acidic

Flavour: Strawberry, raspberry, watermelon, cucumber and a hint of lemon zest

Pairing: Dishes with aromatic spices and nightshades. Also, Middle Eastern or Indian and Greek

Provence

(usually a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvedre and Syrah)

Profile: Fresh, lean, fruity and dry.

Flavour: Rose petal, fresh watermelon, minerality and hints of spice.

Pairing: Steak salad, seafood, lighter salads or pasta.

Pinot Noir

Profile: Elegant, fruity, dry and acidic

Flavour: Strawberry, citrus zest, watermelon, celery and earthy notes

Pairing: Green or floral spices, savoury seafood, braised lamb or chicken

Tempranillo

Profile: Savoury, light and fruity.

Flavour: Raspberry, strawberry, watermelon, and herbaceous characteristics.

Pairing: Tapas, grilled vegetables and Spanish cuisines.

Sangiovese

Profile: Bold, dry and fruity

Flavour: Cherry, strawberry, clove, allspice and red fruit. Hints of a slight bitterness

Pairing: Chinese, Thai curry, Italian dishes and Moroccan cuisine

Tavel

Profile: Rich, savoury, full-bodied and structured.

Flavour: Summer berries such as cherry, hints of spice, nuttiness and earthy characteristics.

Pairing: Seafood Pasta, cold fish appetizers, herb sausage and brisket

Mourvèdre

Profile: Floral, fruity and full-bodied.

Flavour: Red fruit, floral notes, cherry, pomegranate, plum and sweet anise.

Pairing: Spicy Asian dishes or Mexican cuisine.

Syrah

Profile: Savoury, full-bodied, rich and dry.

Flavour: White pepper, red pepper flakes, cherry and grapefruit. Subtle notes of floral and cured meat.

Pairing: Linguine, shrimp, paella, grilled meats, pizza and chilli.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Profile: Savory, fresh, and acidic.

Flavour: Green bell pepper, cherry, black currant, minerality and a zesty aroma.

Pairing: Beef, lamb, tuna steak and salmon dishes.

Zinfandel

Profile: Sweet, refreshing, and fruity.

Flavour: Peach, strawberry, succulent pear, cotton candy and green melon.

Pairing: Seafood, glazed ham, spicy Thai.

Over the last few years, Rosé has really taken off in North America. Every time we open our Facebook or Instagram, we see images of people enjoying Rosé by the pool, on the lake or with friends in the backyard – and we can’t help but want to join!

We invite you to celebrate the Summer of Rosé with us, use the coupon code ROSEEVERYDAY18 to receive 20% off when you sign up for a new WineCollective subscription or when you place an order in our members-only store! Then, show us what’s in your glass this summer by tagging @winecollective in your photos. And for those of you still having flashbacks to the overly sweet flavours of Rosé, be sure to give these wines a second chance at making your taste buds burst, we promise you won’t be disappointed!

 


Spread The WineCollective Love

 

Love is abundant this February, and we don’t just mean flowers and chocolate! We couldn’t spend our days searching for, tasting, writing about and sharing the most amazing wines from all over the world without our members; we love you guys! So, in keeping with February’s Valentine’s Day – Love is in the Air vibe, we have decided to express our warm fuzzy feelings to our members and their nearest and dearest through our relaunched referral program.

During the month of February, anyone you refer will receive a $25 credit upon signing up for a new WineCollective subscription, and you will receive a $25 credit for each referee who signs up using your name in the referral field! This credit can be applied towards an upcoming subscription payment, or you can use it in our online WineCollective Store to get even more of the wine you love.

Need another reason to tell your friends and family how much you love us? Offer them the coupon code 2LOVEWINE so that they can receive 25% off the first 2 months, when they sign up for their new WineCollective subscription in the month of February.

And a little something extra while you’re waiting for all that referral credit to roll in; use the coupon code LOVEWINE2018 to receive $20 off all orders of $100 or more in the WineCollective online store during the month of February. So much love!

 



This New Year Has an Australian Accent


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you excited about all that 2018 has to offer? So are we! We are looking forward to another year of bringing you the best wines from all over the world and we wanted to start the New Year by showing our support for one of one of our very favourite wine producing nations, Australia. Australia Day is on January 26th and we have decided to show our appreciation for their remarkable wine industry by celebrating all month long!

Did you know that the oldest winery in Australia is Wyndham Estate Winery? Located in New South Wales, it was established in 1828. We think that Australia’s wine industry is fascinating and we think you’ll agree, here are 10 things we found most interesting about the world of wine Down Under:

1. Australia is the fourth largest exporter of wine in the world, with around 700 000 000 litres of wine exported annually.

2. Over 1 billion litres of Australian wine are consumed each year, this math tells us that Australians really like drinking their own wine!

3. More than 2400 wineries thrive throughout Australia over 6 states, with the most planted varietal being Shiraz.

4. Australia has a large organic wine industry and has even hosted the International Biodynamic Wine Forum that includes organic and biodynamic vineyard owners from around the world.

5. The oldest Australian wine producing region is Barossa Valley, you may recognize this as the home of one of our favourite producers, Schild Estate.

6. Australia’s terrain did not originally produce any native grape varietals suitable for winemaking; all varietals for production were transplanted in order to create Australia’s wine industry.

7. Barossa Valley is home to old vine Shiraz and Grenache crops dating back as far as the 1840’s, Australia’s first vines arrived in Sydney in 1788, however it took some time for the vines to thrive.

8. Sometime around 1875, a devastating outbreak of phylloxera (tiny vine eating insects) nearly abolished Australia’s wine industry by destroying thousands of hectares of crops. The cure for this plague came from the discovery that American vines were not susceptible to the damages caused by the insects. American vines were planted and European vines were grafted into the plants, creating a hybrid that was immune to this disease, ultimately saving the Australian wine industry. It took almost a century for the Australian wine industry to recover from this disaster.

9. Following the phylloxera outbreak, Australia’s wine industry was mainly focussed on sweet, fortified wine production. Now, Australia is one of the only countries that produces every major style of wine and there are over 60 wine producing regions throughout the country.

10. Australian wines have won awards at almost every major international wine competition, while setting records worldwide for the price of a single bottle.

In celebration of this great nation, we will be offering discounts on all Australian wines the whole month of January, don’t miss your chance to stock your cellar with some of our Aussie favourites!

Check out our members only WineCollective store to find all Australian wines discounted an additional 10% off our already reduced member pricing!

Not a member? Use the coupon AUSTRALIAMONTH to receive $15 off your first delivery, and gain access to all the savings!

 


Last Minute Holiday Gifts

Let’s face it, the holidays have a way of sneaking up on us. That doesn’t mean that your loved ones and ‘besties’ aren’t important, but sometimes your best intentions of gifting the perfect present gets pushed to the last minute. While you have been busy attending school winter concerts, company parties, baking dozens of cookies and prepping for family feasts, we have put together some of the easiest and most enjoyable holiday gifts.

All gifts are available to purchase until December 31st – you have tons of time!

All gifts begin shipping in January – give them wine/beer when they need it the most!

12 month gift options – your present lasts all year!

Bonus *FREE bottle of wine/beer each month!

Wine Gifts from $149.99 – $1,549.99

Beer Gifts from $69.99 – $999.99

Eau Claire Distillery Cocktail Caddy $109.99

All Australian Wine package $149.99

*Free bottle is a $25 wine or $15 beer gift card included in each month, in the 2-12 month gift options.


Backyard Bashes with WineCollective

Do you want to be the host or hostess with the mostest this season? At WineCollective, we have been gathering trendy ideas for creating a lasting impression at your summer gathering and we wanted to share some of our awesome finds with you, just in time for Canada Day!

Not-so-seaside Soiree

Land locked and looking for the perfect beach party this summer? Look no further, we found some great, no beach required ideas for throwing the perfect not-so-seaside beach soiree. When we think of hosting, the name Martha Stewart comes to mind. Check out this awesome recipe from Martha to create your very own stove top clam bake, perfect for creating the ultimate beach party in your own backyard. 

Clam bake photo and recipe from marthastewart.com

To pair with this delicious grouping of seafood, we recommend a delightful Portuguese Arinto, or perhaps a lovely French Muscadet easily enjoyed in our backyard ready Wine 2 Go cups

For some seaside decor, we liked the idea of writing guests names on pebbles to create beachy table place cards for your guests. Follow that up by draping an old fishing net and some sandbox toys over your bar and spend the evening imagining the crashing waves rolling in.

Campire Cookout

Looking for a more rustic approach to your Canada Day festivities? How about a campfire cookout complete with a build it yourself s’mores bar? Use Hi Miss Puff’s idea of  extra large mason jars to hold your chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows. No fire pit required with these awesome do it yourself s’mores pots we found from Elisabeth Mcknight’s blog.

Photo and s’smore pots from Elizabeth McKnight.

Still want all the campfire coziness without the smoke and tiresome wood chopping? We loved the idea of this smokeless twilight fire pit from Sunset, to brighten up your party. And ditch the unsightly plastic coolers and complete your outdoorsy theme while keeping your beer cold in this super clever canoe cooler from RusticWeddingChic.com.

Photo and string light fire pit idea from Sunset.

Twilight Social

Prefer more of a classic garden party motif, complete with a welcoming ambience and good times all around? We’ve got you covered with some awesome ideas for creating a stunning twilight social.

Photo from ID Lights.

The best part about this theme is the opportunity to use so many kinds of lights to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere. For this look, we recommend finding all kinds of interesting bulbs and lanterns to keep the idea fresh, while delicately accentuating the natural beauty of your yard. We love trees wrapped in lights and lights hanging from branches and fences and pretty much everything!

Although we enjoy the idea of using mason jars as lanterns, we prefer our version of this classic look. Use these specially designed bottle lights to turn your empty wine bottles into beautiful lanterns; casting romantic rays on your pathways and gathering areas, or use them as centrepieces to softly illuminate your starlit dinner.

For this twinkling atmosphere, we suggest some equally dazzling fare such as these delicious and beautiful Nordic open faced smoked salmon tea sandwiches , an ideal way to incorporate your garden into your cuisine, perfectly paired with a delicate and juicy rosé.

We would love to hear about some of your summer or Canada Day entertaining ideas, we hope you have enjoyed ours! Get in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @WineCollective to share your ideas for creating an inspired gathering this season!


An Exclusive Tell-All: My Love Affair With Wine

I used to know that I enjoyed wine, but I honestly couldn’t have told you exactly why. I loved the taste, of course, but I was sure that I hated all Merlot and that white wine in general was just ‘okay’. I enjoyed the smell, but to me, all reds just smelled like wine, or if I was getting really creative, like grapes. All white wine tasted like juice, and I tended to drink it as such, without paying much attention to it at all. I was completely content with my limited wine knowledge, because I honestly had no idea how limited it was… until I joined the WineCollective team.

For the last several months I have been surrounded by my very impressive team of wine professionals and they honestly blow me away with their knowledge and love for wine. I remember the first time we did a wine tasting in the office, it was during my very first week working at WineCollective as the Customer Service Coordinator. I probably sat with an inch of California Merlot in my glass for an hour, trying to identify the things that the rest of the team were saying they smelled and tasted. Plum, cedar, vanilla, strawberry, rhubarb… what?? Since when are all of these things, and more, present in this one glass of wine? How have I missed this for all these years? And so my wine education began.

Since that day, I have focussed on learning about wine, I even enrolled in wine school and have completed my Level 1 WSET course through Fine Vintage Ltd.. I now find wine amazing! Not only because it’s delicious, but also because of the culture that exists around it, the generations of families whose way of life rely on the wine industry and the intricacies in each and every wine making process.

 

Here are some of my favourite wine related discoveries:

  • Wine is about 7000 years old!
  • There are over 10,000 grape varietals, about 1,400 of them are used to make wine.
  • Maybe the most obvious, but I swear it never occurred to me, the type of wine, ex. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio is the grape varietal used to make that wine.
  • Shiraz and Syrah are the same grape. Shiraz is grown in warmer climates like Australia, while Syrah is grown in cooler climates like Northern France.
  • Climate, region, growing season, altitude and winemaking practices all have drastic influences on each bottle of wine produced, so a complete dislike for one particular varietal, worldwide, would take a lot of research to confirm.
  • Cabernet Sauvignon was created by combining Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc and recent DNA testing has proven that Cabernet Franc is also a parent of Merlot
  • White wine only tastes like juice if you drink it as such. I have been most surprised by my gained knowledge of white wines! I’ve found beautiful, tantalizing aromas and flavours  in white wines such as peaches, passion fruit, pineapple, honey, caramel, vanilla and so many more, what’s not to love?
  • Riesling, though delicious, can smell and sometimes taste mildly like petrol or rubber bands, usually more apparent in aged wines. This can take some getting used to, however there are many other beautiful flavours present in Riesling to focus on.
  • “Sweet wine” is actually a style of wine, for example Ports or Sauternes. Describing the majority of wines as sweet in inaccurate. Sweetness may be implied by the flavours present in the wine, but there is actually very little sugar in the majority of quality white and red wines, which are mainly categorized as dry wines.

I could go on and on. My family and friends lovingly refer to me as a wine snob now, but I would say that the difference in my attitude towards wine is that I’m actually paying attention. I’m looking for more in wine than I ever have. It takes practice to be able to identify the complexities in wine and I have a lot to learn, but I am definitely enjoying the process. I encourage anyone who has never explored wine this way to try it out. Spend some time looking at, smelling and really tasting the wine in your glass. Don’t get discouraged if at first you don’t smell or taste anything but grapes, keep trying and you will surely enjoy what you find!

Want to talk wine or have questions about WineCollective? Pick up the phone or send a note to Jessica!

thecellar@winecollective.ca

1-855-501-WINE(9463)


For all the Wine-Lover Mothers

We can all agree, Mom deserves a HUGE thanks, and not just on Mother’s Day. We have created a gift that allows you to show your Mom how grateful you are for months to come!

Sign her up for a 1, 2, or 3 month gift of wine, and we will be sure to spoil Mom with extra goodies. The first shipment will be received in June, which means you have until the end of May to shop for Mom!

  • Includes our favourite previously featured, new, exclusive and for Moms-Only wines
  • Each gift package comes with a $25 Gift Certificate to use in our online wine shop
  • With 2 months of wine, we will also send Mom a Project Candy Box filled with sweets
  • The 3 month gift includes the candy and a WineCollective tasting card album

       

 

If you want to give some instant gratification, we also have a ‘ship now’ option. This 6 bottle mixed pack has good value and some extras for Mom. We will be shipping out these gifts as they are ordered, within 48 hours of purchase. However,  we cannot guarantee that the delivery will occur prior to May 14th.

Moms love beer, just as much as wine! We have you covered if she pours brews more often than vino. Canada Craft Club has a one-time delivery of craft beers, that come with the most practical flowers around, tulips!


Cheers to Canada’s 150th birthday!

The entries submitted, the public voted, the winners announced, and now the bottles have been labeled.

We held a wine label design contest with Konzelmann Winery to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. The theme in mind, faithful wine lovers submitted nostalgic photos and creative designs in Canadiana spirit.

Here are the two labels you selected, which will be featured on the Konzelmann Lakefront Series Merlot and Riesling. Hayley V. submitted the winning label for the Konzelmann Lakefront Series Merlot. Hayley noted that she used warm colours and maple leaves to showcase her favourite Canadian season, autumn. She also shared, “My family takes a drive every spring to see the moose in Algonquin and for the past two years we have been fortunate enough to take friends from Ireland and Australia with us.”

Kayleen H.’s design won the label contest for the Konzelmann Lakefront Series Riesling. Contestants submitted artwork to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. Kayleen is already a fan of Konzelmann wine, their peach wine is a staple at her ‘girls night’! The photo was taken in Georgian Bay at Present Island, “part of cottage country where good laughs and much wine has occurred.”

The Konzelmann crew has been hard at work to ensure labeling perfection.  We are proud to launch these wines, exclusively to our WineCollective members.

Both of these wines will be featured in WineCollective April editions, en route to members April 17th. If you are not a member, you still have time to join and receive these limited edition features!