Wine Archives - Page 9 of 22 - WineCollective Blog

United Way Calgary runs internal campaign

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Wil Knoll

From November 18^th to 21^st, United Way of Calgary and Area held an internal campaign in order to raise funds for the organization. WineCollective is always pleased to donate to United Way, and so we joined in on the fundraiser along with another 29 organizations.

During the course of the week, the United Way office fought for the highest bids on their favourite donations. The silent auction, which became quite competitive, earned $2700!

United Way of Calgary and Area is the largest non-governmental funder of human and social service programs in our city. In partnership with businesses, social service agencies, government and individuals, United Way works to build sustainable solutions to complex social issues and improve the lives of all Calgarians. We are proud to support United Way with their continuous fundraisers across the country. For this donation, the winner received several bottles of wine, along with a Tannic membership!

“Thank you again for your support of our event and, more importantly, the United Way itself. Without the generosity of people like you and organizations like yours, we wouldn’t be able to make the impact in the community that we do.”

– Luke Prudence, Campaign Associate.

We encourage our members to get involved and donate to United Way! Even more, you can visit their website for information on how to start your own office campaign, or stop by one of their upcoming events! We hope to continue to take part in their events that aim to better our city and communities.

Office gifts, holiday parties and more! How WineCollective can spruce up your corporate Christmas

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Wil Knoll

There is only one month until Christmas! Though that may be hard to believe, it is not at all difficult to find the perfect gift for your boss, employees or business partner. For the one who has worked their fingers to the bone this year, gift something that will really help them unwind!

WineCollective Holiday Packages are now available! From 1 month, to a full year of wine, find the perfect gift within your own, or the office, budget!

Score some Best Boss points with WineCollective!

There is no need to worry about wrapping or delivering your gift over the holidays, and vacation time is no problem either as Holiday shipments start in January! Regardless of where everyone is during the holiday season, they will receive a special surprise email on December 25^th, notifying them of your gift.

Our Holiday Packages also include a variety of additional perks and gifts including a one-year subscription to Vines Magazine, Tannic membership, corkscrews and dropstops!

For those in Calgary, Highfield by WineCollective carries and creates additional gifts and gift baskets. We can customize your basket with wine, liquor and even beer! No matter who is on your Christmas list, WineCollective will put together the perfect gift to suit their taste buds…provided that they are over 18!

WineCollective can also help with upcoming Christmas and holiday parties! Order wine, beer, and spirits for your festivities at 10% off! We’ll find the perfect pairing for your dinner and even provide customized tasting cards.

If monthly packages are out of range, purchase full cases of wine for single bottle gifts! Wrapped and tagged by us, there are no worries for you!

We would love to help make your corporate Christmas extra merry this year! For corporate orders, or more information, please call us at 1.855.501.9463.

Steve Brooks and Trust Cellars

Posted on November 21, 2014November 20, 2014 by BlackSquare

We were proud to be given the opportunity to meet with Steve Brooks from Trust Cellars, this fall. Winemaker and owner, Steve, also takes the time out of his busy schedule to travel and educate wine buyers on Walla Walla, his journey and wines. He visited Calgary with Bonvida Wines, to showcase his newly released wines.

We are featuring the 2011 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and 2012 Walla Walla Syrah. If you are already a Tannic member, don’t miss out on these limited releases. If you are not a Tannic member, join today and explore our curated selection of exceptional wines.

We found this great video of Steve talking about his past and his wines. The 2 minute clip highlights some of the things that we find special about Trust Cellars.

Cross-Canada Tasting

Posted on November 14, 2014October 29, 2020 by BlackSquare

We frequently talk about Canadian wines, as we are proud to help promote the growth and achievements from the Okanagan Valley to Gaspreau. We recently attended a fun event at Test Kitchen, highlighting producers from BC to Nova Scotia, including some Canadian made liqueurs!

If you are a member of WineCollective or Tannic, you should be familiar with Benjamin Bridge. From Gaspreau Valley, Jean-Benoit Deslauriers and Peter Gamble produce a line-up of still and sparkling wines. The sparkling wines are produced in méthode classique and are routinely compared to high-end Champagne houses. They are producing some of the most coveted sparkling wines in Canada. A fun and vivacious (and affordable) option from BB is Nova 7, which we always have in stock at Highfield by WineCollective! The newly released 2013 is more floral and restrained than previous vintages, we are a fan!

Benjamin Bridge Brut Rose

Winemaker / consultant Peter Gamble

Further west to Niagara, is Stratus Vineyards. Renowned for their ice wines, but also producing old-world style Cab Franc and mineral-driven Rieslings. Winemaker, Charles Baker, also produces his own Rieslings from vineyards nearby. If you are from Ontario, you will be familiar with these brands, but in Alberta you might have to do some digging, at local boutiques and trendy eateries to find these gems.

We have been following Laughing Stock for quite some time, we recently we given the opportunity to experience their 10 year vertical celebration of their wine Portfolio. In addition to the Bordeaux-style blend, they offer a Viognier that is bench-mark quality for the region, and fun blends that are knock-out value. We will have the newly released 2012 Portfolio in stock at Highfield by WineCollective, late next week!

LFNG Stock’s Blind Trust has the blend hidden under the capsule. Try guessing before you take a peak!

Tyler Harlton is rather new on the scene, opening in 2011, but he is making a large splash! You might have seen an article featuring him and his TH Wines in the current En Route Magazine. He is a young winemaker based in Summerland, but Tyler is not lacking in experience. Tyler, a Saskatchewan farm-boy, returned to his agricultural roots when he moved to Penticton in 2008. We highly recommend seeking out his first couple vintages, he will surely be a household name in no time. You can enjoy his Viognier at Alloy in Calgary, and several shops including Highfield by WineCollective.

Tyler Harlton

Canada is not only for wine, there is a market for liqueurs and spirits too! Ungava gin is produced with botanicals native to the Arctic tundra of the Ungava Peninsula in northern Quebec. There is also Cabot Trail Maple Cream, this will give your morning coffee a needed pick-up! Both of these can be found at Highfield by WineCollective in Calgary.

We had the chance to smell the 6 Arctic botanical in Ungava’s recipe!

We love to discover new and exciting Canadian products, let us know if you have any hidden gems that we should know about!

Discover Greek Wine!

Posted on November 12, 2014November 12, 2014 by Wil Knoll

Can you name any Greek wine varieties? Unfortunately, most wine lovers will stumble on this question, as the Greek wine industry remains a mystery to most.

Well, we would like to change this! We believe in the uniqueness of Greek wines and in wanting to educate both WineCollective members, and ourselves, we have included a Greek wine in November packages!

In order to prepare you for the 2011 Sigalas Asirtiko-Athiri, here is our need-to-know basics blog for Greek wine. This way, you can hold your own when tasting, or travelling to Greece!

So, if you asked yourself, what is Asirtiko or Athiri, this blog is for you!

Wine Regions of Greece

Macedonia: Located top north of Greece, Macedonia has replanted vineyards and upgraded to modern technology in recent years.

Epirus: One of the most mountainous regions in Greece. Nestled between the slopes of Mount Pindos, these vineyards are extremely difficult, yet satisfying, to cultivate.

Thessalia: On the southeastern slopes of Mount Olympos and neighbouring the Aegean Sea, Thessalia has a unique microclimate perfect for indigenous varietals.

Sterea Ellada: One of the oldest regions in Greece. Holding the city of Athens, this region is where Dionysus (the Greek God of Wine) introduced wine to the people.

Peloponnese: Most southern region on the continent. Vineyards are spread through hillsides and plateaus making the terroir throughout the region incredibly diverse.

Aegean Islands: Including the island of Santorini, where wine production thrives due to Mediterranean climate and volcanic soils.

Ionian Islands: Mostly parallel and west to Sterea Ellada, these islands including Cephalonia are green and mountainous.

There are many white grape varietals native to Greece, including those that compose November’s Greek wine!

Asyrtiko

Arguably Greece’s most known grape, Asyrtiko is native to Santorini, and maintains acidity as ripens, leaving a wine that is bright in acidity yet bone dry. The wine carries citrus and mineral notes from the volcanic soils of the island. It is also blended with Aidani and Athiri for VinSanto (holy wine). On the mainland, more mild and fruitier examples are created.

Athiri

Also originates from Santorini, and is even named after the island that is at times known as “Thira.” These wines are sweet and fruity with medium alcohol and low acidity.

Athiri vines at Domaine Sigalas

Lagorthi

Planted in the Pelaponnese, these wines are high in acidity from the concentration of malic acid in the grape. Notes of peach and melon are typical with herbal undertones.

Other white grapes include:

Aidani – typically used in blends
Malagousia
Robola – a noble grape, native to Greece grown in the high mountain ranges
Savatiano
White Muscat
Moschofilero
Roditis
Tsaoussi

While Greece grows the widly known and noble grapes of the world, they also have indigenous red grape varieties.

Agiorghitiko

Originating in the Peloponnese region, this red grape creates a wine with soft tannins. Winemakers can create everything from fresh aromatic reds from the variety to deep aged reds or even rose!

Xinomavro

Translating to ‘acid black’ Xinomavro wines have rich drying tannins and characteristics of gooseberry, olives, dried tomatoes and spice – a great pairing for Italian tomato dishes!

Harvest at Domaine Sigalas

Like most countries, Greece has their own class stamps and qualifications for quality wine and appellations. AOQS (Designation of Origin of Superior Quality) marks areas where historical winemaking took place. In these areas, there are limits on artificial additions in winemaking, and oaking and aging times. These wines are marked with a red band across the neck of the bottle.

AOC wines (Controlled Appellation of Origin) are marked with a blue band. In addition to the same restrictions as AOQS, these wines are sweet and must follow regulations on processes for additional sugars, either by creating fortified wines (adding alcohol – usually brandy – to the wine) or sun drying, where the grapes are left in the sun, bumping up their sugar levels.

We are very excited for WineCollective members to receive their 2011 Sigalas Asirtiko-Athiri in this month’s packages. If you have any questions about Greek wines, please contact us!

Don’t forget to rate and comment on the wine, as we’d love to see how you enjoy the Greek treat! Let us know if you would like to see more Greek wines on WineCollective!

Spring Mountain: Cain Vineyard

Posted on November 7, 2014November 7, 2014 by BlackSquare

Cain Vineyard & Winery was one of many hosts during Touch the Terroir. Chris Howell, manager and winemaker, along with his team entertained the large group of participants at the winery for the reception and dinner. It was a great chance to meet everyone and share Spring Mountain Wines.

20140930_121805 — Chris Howell, manager and winemaker of Cain, looking over the vines.

Cain Vineyard was also one of the wineries that we were able to spend time at during harvest. Our day started with a vineyard tour of a portion of the 550 acre ranch. 90 acres are currently planted to vineyards, with much of the property dense with trees. The majority of their grapes had already been harvested, with several blocks remaining. We walked through the rows of Cabernet vines with Chris Howell, Ashley Anderson-Bennett, vineyard manager and Ouzo ( the winery dog), inspecting the grapes’ ripeness.

We learned a trick to help determine how ripe a grape is off of the vine; if the flesh peels away from the seed easily, the grape is ripe, if you have to suck the pulp off the seed and skin with your tongue, it isn’t ready to pick.

20140930_130147 — At Cain, La Piedra in the distance, surrounded by Cabernet Sauvignon.

20140930_123205 — The journey to La Piedra.

20140930_123452 — Ouzo admiring the view from La Piedra.

The undulating rows that bow and dip across the hillside provide pockets of more fertile soil. A grape tasted from a dip will be more plump than a grape from the same vine, 20 yards away on a peak. There are also varying ripeness within the clusters, a grape at the bottom of the cluster can ripen quicker than a grape in the centre or top of the cluster. It is also interesting to taste the difference in flavour of grapes with different exposures to the sun. Whole clusters will look entirely different depending on whether they are on the east or west side of the vine.

20140930_124624 — Ashley, vineyard manager at Cain, imparting her wisdom as we sample many grapes.

20140930_124538 — Cabernet that was scheduled to be harvested in the next several days.

We were given the opportunity to harvest several rows of Cab Franc with the crew at Cain. Armed with a glove, bin and pruning sheers we made our way down rows of Cabernet Franc. It would be a painfully long harvest if amateurs were left to pick the grapes by hand. The experienced crew at Cain flew down the rows, completing about 4 rows/1 tonne in less than 30 minutes. They probably would have been faster if we weren’t there to get in their way!

Cain is experimenting with biodynamic farming, and has restricted this block of Cab Franc to strict biodynamic practices. Ashley says she is not 100% convinced of the benefits, but notes that there are positive differences.

20140930_120632 — 1 tonne of Cabernet Franc en route to the winery.

Another interesting factor to consider when visiting a vineyard, is the type of vegetation that surrounds the vineyards. Near the Cabernet Sauvignon, there is large California bay trees, with bay leaves that are quite strong in aroma and flavour. Similar to the herbs and brush that grows wild in Provence and Rhone, or the eucalyptus in McLaren Vale, the vegetation around the vineyards in Napa impart their qualities on the wines.

20140930_131515 — Ashley and Francois inspecting the fermenting grapes.

20140930_132004 — One of the large steel tanks undergoing a pump-over.

20140930_133848 — The barrel room at Cain.

We met associate winemaker François Bugué at the winery, where we inspected the grapes at different points in their fermentation. The winery team was busy with pump-overs, circulating the liquid from the bottom of the tank to the top. The juice flows through the cap of skins, increasing colour, tannins and flavours. The barrel room was also full of action!

20140930_132806 — Sampling different wines/grape juice and measuring sugar levels.

We tasted grape juice prior to fermentation, during fermentation and as a finished product. Although the wine is a product of the grapes and terroir, there are many people involved in the process of making a great wine!

Look out for very limited exclusive of Cain Five on Tannic next week!

The ever-growing wine industry in British Columbia

Posted on November 6, 2014December 2, 2014 by Wil Knoll

Early this week, WineCollective got the chance to take part in the B.C. Wine Institute’s B.C. Wine Seminar, hosted at Bar C in Calgary. With a lack of marketing and education on B.C. wines in most wine courses, the B.C. Wine Institute wanted to provide an exclusive look at the ever-growing wine industry in the beautiful Canadian province.

Much like Burgundy and Alsace, British Columbian wine regions are located at the perfect 30-50 degrees Latitude range for healthy vine growth. However, it wasn’t until the 1980’s that Canadians became convinced of the regions’ potential.

A brief history of BC wines!

1907: Earliest record of a serious attempt at grape production in Salmon Arm.

1930: Extensive plantings of labrusca varietals.

1974: Federal government brings in 4,000 vinifera vines for new plantings.

1990: VQA (Vitners Quality Alliance) standards are put into place.

1993: BC VQA wine sales reach $10 million.

2006: BC VQA wines sales reach $134 million. 133 wineries in operation.

2013: Mission Hill Family Estate Winery wins Best Pinot Noir at Decanter World Wine Awards.

Today: Over 220 wineries in B.C., and sales reach $205 million.

Today, winemakers in British Columbia aim to create wines with a sense of place. With hot temperatures through out the province, mineral rich soils, and a shorter growing season, B.C. wines are beginning to create a name for themselves when considering their characteristics. With a shorter growing period, grapes are harvested with higher acidity and sugar, which translates to less intervention by the winemaker. From north to south, the different B.C. regions are giving noble varieties a new place to thrive!

B.C. wine regions include the following. The Okanagan Valley is B.C.’s largest wine region, responsible for over 87% of all vineyard area.

Okanagan Valley (sub regions: Kelowna, Naramata, Okanagan Falls, Oliver and Osoyoos)
Similkameen Valley
Fraser Valley
Gulf Islands
Vancouver Island
Other B.C. regions (including Shuswap and Grand Forks)

White Grape Varieties in B.C.

Northern Okanagan and island regions are making delicious white wines from Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Viognier, and Pinot Blanc.

Red Grape Varieties in B.C.

Southern Okanagan has been able to produce everything from soft and fruity to big and bold red wines. Merlot leads in production followed by Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Gamay, Foch, Malbec and Petite Verdot.

Both Oliver and Osoyoos have over 1485 Growing Degree Days (GDD – a measure of heat that impact plant growth) in comparison to Napa Valley with 1450. With statistics like these, B.C. wine makers are beginning to experiment with new varieties such as Tempranillo, which requires plenty of sunny days.

Though the B.C. wine industry has sprouted in just over 20 years, it is still far behind from prestigious regions and even wineries. All together, B.C. produces 1 million cases of wine per year. Meanwhile, some wines (ex. Dr. Loosen Riesling) reaches 2.5 million cases per year on its own.

A ’boutique region,’ B.C. has something new to offer to the wine world and it is up to Canadians, like is, to spread the word! Visit WineCollective today for numerous Canadian features including:

Clos du Soleil Signature

Cedar Creek Mac & Fitz Red or White

Brickyard Riesling

We’d love to hear about your B.C. wine experiences. Have you visited a winery, or have an ultimate favourite B.C. wine? Share your story for a chance to win a Canadian wine gift pack!

Give the gift of wine! 2014 Holiday Packages are here!

Posted on November 5, 2014November 11, 2014 by Wil Knoll

Tis almost the season for packed malls, over due credit cards and big bellies. With Christmas just around the corner, we have the ultimate solution to all of these holiday headaches.

For family, friends and colleagues, gifting a WineCollective Holiday Package is the ultimate present for any wine lover on your list. With once a year discounts, you can keep giving beyond December with 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12-month gifts!

You can purchase any of our holiday packages, right up until December 31^st, just in case you missed a pal or two. All first shipments are sent out mid-January, with a gift email (including package details and log in essentials) sent to the receiver right on Christmas Day!

As a thank you for sharing WineCollective, each gift giver will receive a $10 gift certificate to help satisfy everyone’s wine needs around the dining table this holiday season. Additional treats are included in every holiday package for your gift receiver!

Check out our 2014 Holiday Packages!

As always, our gifts include tasting cards and access to WineCollective.ca, where members can view, rate and comment on the wines they receive.

If you have any questions about our Holiday Packages, or need a hand with your early Christmas shopping, please contact us at 1.855.501.9463.

Corporate gifting is also available, contact us today for multiple gift options.

Share the WineCollective experience, and delicious wines this holiday season!

WineCollective founder listed on Avenue Top 40 Under 40

Posted on November 3, 2014November 3, 2014 by Wil Knoll

Each year, Avenue Magazine recognizes 40 Calgarians under 40 for their accomplishments as educators, artists, innovators and entrepreneurs. We are very happy and proud to announce that WineCollective’s very own founder, David Gluzman, has made the cut for the 2014 year!

As President of WineCollective, and BlackSquare, David has “revolutionized how wine is sold online around the world.”

In 2009, David started WineCollective out of his home, fulfilling the wine experience using paper cutters and spreadsheets. Soon after, David realized that wine specific technology was needed to support the growth of the beloved wine club, and developed the Blackboxx platform.

Today, WineCollective ships “two Orca transport trucks” of wine every month to our members across Canada, and Blackboxx is used by wineries in Canada, Australia and Europe for their own wine clubs.

Since 2007, David has also co-run DemoCamp Calgary, where new entrepreneurs show off their fresh ideas, technologies and software to receive feedback and assistance from others.

From the non-stop attention and care to WineCollective and BlackSquare, David is a respected member of the wine and technology industries. On behalf of the WineCollective and BlackSquare staff, as well as our wine club members, Congratulations David!

Visiting Spring Mountain

Posted on October 31, 2014October 31, 2014 by BlackSquare

WineCollective was fortunate enough to visit Spring Mountain in September, and partake in their annual Touch the Terroir. Amber joined a handful of wine professionals who were given a comprehensive and exclusive experience with the people and vineyards of Spring Mountain.

Touch the Terroir is a program created by the Spring Mountain Association for wine professionals to be able to live and learn directly through the people creating the wine. A rare peak behind the curtain, where we were given the opportunity to get our hands dirty!

Wine map of Sonoma and Napa Valley from Apus Wine.

Spring Mountain

Spring Mountain is a small AVA within Napa Valley. Napa covers 225,000 acres and about 8,600 acres are within Spring Mountain’s borders. Napa Valley is broken down into 14 sub-appellations, including Spring Mountain. The mountain vineyards of Spring Mountain are a short distance from the town of St. Helena, about a 10 minute drive. Spring Mountain neighbours Sonoma to the south-west (on the western slopes of the Mayacamas range), Diamond Mountain to the north, Calistoga to the north-east and St. Helena directly east and south.

The larger Napa Valley was officially recognizes in 1989, not long after in 1993 Spring Mountain was established as an AVA. There are 1,000 acres under vine that are home to 27 vineyards. Approximately 30% of the wine producers are exported, or have been exported to Alberta. You can find small quantities of Paloma, Cain, Frias, Terra Valentine, Vineyard 7 & 8, and Barnett at boutique wine shops and restaurants. We have previously featured wines from all of these producers on WineCollective and Tannic.

View from Barnett vineyards. The rows appear to be spaced far apart, but it is actually the steep incline between the rows.

Vineyards in Spring Mountain are found hugging the mountain on steep slopes, where tending to the vines and harvest can be difficult, if not dangerous. The area is planted mainly to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but you can also find Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and a few white varietals (only 10% of the total plantings).

Morning fog over the vineyards at Spring Mountain.

Fog lifting around 9:30 am at Spring Mountain Vineyard.

AVA’s are created to further distinguish an area’s terroir, grouping together vineyards that have similar soil, elevation and climate. Spring Mountain’s elevation above the valley floor gives a temperate climate, with less temperature fluctuations from day to night. Vines are planted on rugged hillside terrain between 400-2,300 meters in rocky soils. Resulting wines are pronounced and distinguished due to the vine’s plight for nutrients and sun. The majority of vineyards are located above the fog line, where they are exposed to morning heat earlier in the day and cool earlier in the afternoons. The mountainous vineyards also receive more rainfall than the valley floor. However, the past couple of years have been drier than normal. Even within such s small growing region like Spring Mountain, there can be many differences from vineyard to vineyard. Neighbouring vineyards are composed of varying soil, deep or little impenetrable bedrock, and depending on the aspect receive more wind, rain or sun.

Winery dog at Paloma, Palo, giving a tour of the vineyards.

Further defining Spring Mountain from the rest, are the people. Home to a ‘everyone knows everyone’ small town community, the residence of Spring Mountain are welcoming and down-to-earth. Not only were the participants of Touch the Terroir invited to participate in harvest, the busiest time of year for winemakers, members of Spring Mountain opened their homes and were gracious hosts.

We look forward to sharing more of our Spring Mountain adventure, stay tuned for a sneak-peak of Cain Vineyards!

Meeting Paul of PB Hein Vineyards

Posted on October 29, 2014October 29, 2014 by Wil Knoll

Both the WineCollective team and club members have been fans of PB Hein Vineyards for quite some time, with previous features as far back as 2006 vintages. Known for his big and bold Napa Syrah, we were very excited to meet and sit down with owner and winemaker himself, Paul Bernard Hein, and taste through some new vintages of old favourites.

Paul Bernard Hein began personally making wine in 2002, and after earning a growing following he opened PB Hein Vineyards in St. Helena in 2005. His great grandfather, PJ Hein, owned 29,000 vines on Mount Veeder and today Paul’s winemaking philosophy doesn’t stray far from his great grandfather’s.

Tim & Owen (Plaid Cap Imports), Amber, Paul Hein

A humble farmer and winemaker, Paul “believes strongly in old world winemaking: small lots, bin fermentation and as little mechanical intervention as is humanly possible. Being ‘hands on’ with each bin allows us to produce the highest quality wines possible, albeit in small quantities.”

If you have previously tried any of the PB Hein wines, you may find similarities within. Amber mentioned that through the lineup and previous vintages, she found commonalities of hickory and mesquite spice flavours. As a winemaker, Paul has most definitely created a ‘signature’ that we happen to really enjoy!

Oak treatments contribute largely to the ‘spice’ component and signature of PB Vineyard wines. For Cabernet, Paul says he sticks to French oak, but when it comes to his Syrah, American and Hungarian oak are best, and the later creates a lovely additional sweetness.

“Oak is a toolbox for affecting wine.” Paul B. Hein

With California’s 4^th year in drought conditions, rain all dropped from 40” in the season to just 8. Fortunately for Paul, his giant well keeps the vines growing. However, 2014’s short season means less wine coming from Napa Valley and a definite price increase according to Paul.

Represented by Plaid Cap Imports, Owen and Tim, Paul has taken on another project for the brothers and now produces for them under the label, Chaos Wines, which we also got to taste!

2013 Chaos Rose

100% Syrah from a single vineyard. Heavily bodied for a rose with bright strawberry and cranberry notes. Silky on the palate with lovely balanced acidity. All Chaos wines also feature a hand painted design, created by Tim.

2009 Syrah

A lighter style Syrah for PB Hein with ripe fruits and undertones of spice. Paul says he introduces this wine for those who prefer white.

2010 Chaos Merlot

Rich ruby red in colour. Cassis and raisin notes with violet and rose. This wine spends 34 months in barrel and holds some weight with its 14% alcohol. Only 150 cases were produced.

2011 Trail Blazer

40% Cab, 30% Syrah, and 30% Petit Syrah. Dark fruits with earth and peppercorn, toasted oak mid-palate. The Cab gives a finish of clove and green pepper. After three years of culinary training, Paul spoke of the Trail Blazer as the wine for all meals, and his love of creating delicious dishes to pair.

2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

Aromas of the high alcohol (15.75%) are present, with warm stewed berries and leather. The tannins are big and sticky.

We’d love to hear how you’ve enjoyed previous PB Hein wines! Don’t forget to leave your notes and ratings on WineCollective.ca, and keep an eye out for upcoming vintages of both Chaos and PB Hein!

Spier visits Calgary

Posted on October 28, 2014 by BlackSquare

We visited with South African exports, Danie and Johan from Spier Winery last week. As part of their whirlwind adventure through North America and Europe, they made a quick stop in Calgary. WineCollective was able to steal some time with the duo, and re-visit our favourite S. African wines from Spier.

We have previously worked with a number of wines from Spier, the Signature Series Chenin Blanc, Pinotage and Shiraz. You might be surprised to know that Spier exports about 80% of their wine production to foreign markets. Some of the wines are not sold in South Africa at all. Danie made a point to try the Vintage Selection Cabernet, noting that they do not have access to it domestically.

20141024_134129 — Duck and prosciutto terrine with pickled fruit puree, grainy mustard and sourdough. Served with the Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc.

Hosted at Alloy, we enjoyed lunch from the newly launched menu while we sampled through a selection of Spier wines. The Signature series Chenin Blanc and Pinotage have been in Alberta for a while now and they represent 2 of 7 single varietal wines produced. The Creative Block series is a range of blends, creating wines “far greater than the sum of their parts.” The Creative Block 3, a blend of Shiraz, Mourvedre and Viognier is featured on Alloy’s current wine list. The higher end 21 Gables references the winery’s history and architecture in the region.

We look forward to bringing you more wines from Spier in the near future, stay tuned!