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Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival

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

Once again, the Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival will be in Banff, Alberta this upcoming weekend from May 30 to 31. Each year, the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel opens its ballroom for the #RMWFF, an event that attracts more wine and food lovers each and every year.

Tickets for the event are still available for the Friday night session, which I will also be attending, as well as Saturday afternoon for $29. If you have yet to visit this wine festival, I definitely recommend making a drive to the beautiful Rocky Mountains this weekend and experiencing the collection of fine food and wine.

The numerous wineries, breweries and restaurants are all sure to impress with their numerous tastings and samples. Keep an eye out for the following wineries and WineCollective favourites:

19 Crimes, Australia
Jacob’s Creek, Australia
CedarCrek, Canada
Mission Hill, Canada
Hester Creek, Canada
Chateau Trillol, France
Cameron Hughes, Italy and USA
J. Ramos Wines, Portugal
Saxenburg, South Africa
La Crema, USA

Considering this is also a food festival, there will also be amazing dishes to sample from some of Banff’s best restaurants. Balkan The Greek Restaurant will be serving chocolate baklava and The Bison Restaurant will have bison kabobs with kimchi. You will also find Elk & Oarsman, Nourish Bistro and numerous hotel restaurants with treats for everyone.

Watch for the event’s blog post next week and please let us know if you’re visiting Banff this weekend for the Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival. It is always great getting to meet our WineCollective members over a glass of our favourite beverage!

See you in Banff!

p.s. While WineCollective is always bragging about our local events here in Calgary, we would still love to hear about the wine festivals and tastings going on around the country. Let us know when you’re visiting a wine event in your city and tell us all about it so we can share with the WC community!

What is Vin Santo?

Posted on May 15, 2014May 15, 2014 by BlackSquare

Yesterday, we were delighted to have Giovanni Mazzoni visit the us from Castello di Meleto. We were treated to a great line-up of wines which included the first release of Vermentino, a 100% Sangiovese Rosato Chianti Classico, and we finished with their Vin Santo.

Vin Santo or ‘holy wine,’ is a dessert wine that is made in Italy. You can find Vin Santo produced in many styles, from very dry like a fino sherry, to as sweet as a late harvest wine. What distinguishes Vin Santo from other dessert wines is the vinification and ageing process. Rather than letting the grapes dry on the vine, they are harvested and left to dry on wooden racks in dry, ventilated rooms. The length of the drying process will determine the sweetness of the wine. Vin Santo may be left to dry for only a few weeks, while others allow the dessication process to concentrate the sugars for several months. The juice is then fermented in small casks that are sealed in concrete for a minimum of 3 years. Afterwards, the casks are cracked and Vin Santo is ready to be bottled.

Vin Santo can be found in most regions of Italy, and is produced under differing DOC regulations. In Tuscany, Vin Santo must have a minimum 16% alcohol and be comprised of Trebbiano and Malvasia (70%) with several other local varietals allowed for the remaining 30%. The Occhio di Pernice, or rosé style, must have at least 50% Sangiovese. The wines are aged a minimum of 3 years prior to release.

The 2007 Castello di Meleto Vin Santo del Chianti Classico is made of hand-harvested Trebbiano, Sangiovese and Malvasia. The grapes are left to dry for 3-4 months. Castello di Meleto ages the wine in 80-100L casks for 5 years above the wine cellar, much longer than the required minimum. The resulting wine is amber-caramel in colour, and you can tell by how it clings to the glass that it is rich and delicious! The nose is full of dried fruits, clover honey, roasted nuts, vanilla bean and nutmeg. As expected, the wine is lush and thick, coating your tongue in apricot and butterscotch. The finish lasts a lifetime and ends with a slightly elevated acidity. Giovanni suggests enjoying their Vin Santo with aged blue cheese.

WineCollective and Tannic members will be familiar with the Castello di Meleto wines. We have featured several of their previous vintages, including the 2004 Castello di Meleto Rainero and the 2005 Chianti Classico. We look forward to bringing you new wines from this great producer, stay tuned!

Colene Clemens Pinot on Tannic

Posted on May 6, 2014May 6, 2014 by BlackSquare

We are excited to introduce you to Colene Clemens Vineyards from Willamette Valley. Brand new to Alberta and with no presence currently outside the province, Colene Clemens is being featured this week on Tannic.

Only 2,200 cases are produced annually, and a very small allocation has arrived in Canada. We have brought in three estate Pinot Noirs from Colene Clemens’ 2011 vintage that offer great value from Oregon. They are named Victoria, Margo and Adriane.

The Basics:

Colene Clemens is family owned and operated, dedicated 100% to estate produced Pinot Noir
Joe and Vicki Stark established Colene Clemens (named after Vicki’s grandmother) in 2008
Originally 23 acres (planted in 2006), the estate has grown to 41 acres
Clones planted: Dijon 115, 667, 777 and Pommard
The estate is located on the western edge of Chehalem Mountains AVA
Winemaker Steve Goff has worked previously as assistant winemaker at Beaux Freres
Not overshadowing the Pinot, but equally impressive is the views from the tasting room (we highly recommend you visit!)

There are less than 25 cases still remaining in the province. Tannic members, log in at 9 am on Wednesday May 7th to secure your Colene Clemens Pinot!

Moms Love Wine!

Posted on April 28, 2014March 23, 2022 by Wil Knoll

With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, we want to help our WineCollective members find the perfect gift for the most special woman in their life. After work, cooking, laundry, cleaning and taking care of everyone in the fam, most moms would love to kick back with a glass of vino at the end of a long, hard day. And you, being the world’s best son or daughter can easily make that happen with a WineCollective store order or gift subscription!

We’ll be working hard this month to ship out all store orders for mom before Mother’s Day. If you make your store purchase before Monday, May 5^th, your wine will arrive for Sunday, May 11^th.

For mom’s that prefer java over wine, we suggest checking out our little sister CoffeeCollective for store orders and monthly gift subscriptions. Each month, CoffeeCollective features freshly roasted beans from a different Canadian roaster.

Currently, we have some amazing wines in our members-only store that are perfect for mom including:

Mauricio Lorca Fantasia

A sparkling wine from Mendoza, Argentina made from Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc. The wine is fresh with fruity and bouquet aromas and flavours! It’s a perfect edition to mimosas along with brunch.

2012 Colterenzio Lumo Blanc

For a mom as bright as sunshine, this Italian blend is composed of Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The palate is a citrus and tropical fruit salad with strong acidity and lifted finish of blanched almonds.

Purchasing from the store is a great option if you’re looking to get your mom a bottle or two of something special we have featured in our packages. However, WineCollective also offers gift subscriptions, which will keep the gift of wine coming! Purchase a gift subscription for your mother before April 30^th and the first shipment will arrive in May. Although your mother won’t receive the wines in time for Sunday brunch, you can easily print off the WineCollective gift email to put inside a card. Our gift emails explain the gift and process to the receiver as well as how to log in to their WineCollective.ca account so your mom will have something to look forward to.

If you’re looking to purchase a gift for mom we invite you to use our Mother’s Day coupon code MOMSLOVEWINE for $15 off a store or gift purchase over $50.

In celebration of Mother’s Day we’ve found a few women who dominate the wine industry, but do so with a few youngins hanging on their sides.

Elizabeth Grant Douglas – La Crema

Born in Niagara Falls, Elizabeth has worked at various wineries around Canada, France, and the United States. Today she is the director of winemaking at La Crema in the Sonoma Valley and manages to make perfect cool climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris while taking care of her 4-year-old son Malcolm.

Lise Asimont – Francis Ford Coppola Winery

As the Director of Growers Relations at the Francis Ford, Lise is responsible for overseeing cultivation and sourcing grapes from over 100 Napa Valley growers. While busy, Lise still finds time out of the vineyards for her two kids, 12 and nine.

Stephanie Honig – Honig Vineyard and Winery

While she handles public relations, Stephanie’s husband Michael is president of their family-owned estate. The two are raising their three kids, Sophia (6), Lola (4), and Sebastian (2) in their Napa Valley vineyards.

While we are positively sure the above moms love wine, we’re fairly certain yours does too! Feel free to contact us for assistance or any questions about ordering for Mother’s Day and be sure to use the coupon at checkout as all other orders without will be shipped with regular subscription packages mid-May.

For all of our WineCollective moms, Happy Mother’s Day! Cheers!

Uvas Felices

Posted on April 24, 2014April 24, 2014 by BlackSquare

Because happy grapes must taste better than sad grapes! Uvas Felices, or ‘Happy Grapes,’ is a group from Spain whose goal is to source and produce wines from premier regions and represent the authenticity of their terroir.

The wines are produced in extremely small volume, and we were lucky to be given the opportunity to try them. You might recognize the bold blue bottle below. We previously featured the Venta las Vacas 2010 in WineCollective and Tannic. We loved this wine so much, after selling out of the 2010, we have supply of the 2011 in the online members-only Store. Don’t miss out!

Last week, Amparo Soler from VILA VINITECA visited Calgary and brought four great wines from Uvas Felices. The wines, which are imported by Bonvida Wines in Alberta, were showcased at Vero Bistro in Calgary. Mark Bata of Bonvida hosted the night, with Amparo presenting the wines.

This was Executive Chef Jenny Chan’s first time preparing authentic Spanish cuisine. According to the Spaniards at the table, she nailed it! Be prepared to start salivating…

The night started with a glass of prosecco, and several generous tapas: lamb meatball, marinated squid, and bruschetta. The formal appetizer plate was a duo of Jamon Iberico de Bellota (Bellota Iberian ham) and tortilla de patatas tradicional (traditional Spanish omlette) with fried artichoke and olives. This was served with the 2009 La Locomotora.

La Locomotora has a unique label (like all the other Uvas Felices wines). The locomotive is reflective of the transportation in the area during the 40’s to 60’s. The wildflowers represent the over 80 different species of flowers found in Rioja.

Rape con salsa romesco (monkfish with ramesco sauce) was paired with the Paisajes Valsalado. Guiso de lentejas con chorizo (lentil stew with chorizo) was served with Paisajes La Pasada. The Paisajes or “Landscape” line embraces the distinct terroir of the vineyards.

“All wines are a look at the landscape. Valsalado Landscapes brings together 4 different varieties, 57 to 60 years of age randomly planted in one hectare of clay and gravel, located in the Logroño. Landscapes La Pasada comes from a farm planted with vines of Tempranillo Briones-57 to 60-year-old on a floor of gravel and clay. Landscapes Cecias from a 2.4 farm planted with Grenache than 85 years.” –Villa Viniteca

Yes, after 6 dishes we were quite full! Not full enough to pass on the lomo de cerdo asado con pisto manchego (roasted pork loin with pisto). Served with our favourite, Venta Las Vacas.

The dinner finished with helado de biscuit con turron de almendras (biscuit ice cream with almond nougat). The Spanish feast was a special treat to have at Vero Bistro! Keep tabs on their event calender to be sure you don’t miss out on the next one!

3 Easter feasts & wines to pair!

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Wil Knoll

With Easter right around the corner, the WineCollective team has decided to dig past the snow on the ground to the very small and patchy sections of green grass. We’re hopeful that after a festive weekend, the sun will start to shine and spring will be among us! To kick-start the bright and cheery season, we give to you several delicious recipes to boost typical Easter feasts and spring wine pairings that will absolutely bring sunshine to your table this weekend.

Brown Sugar Bourbon-Glazed Ham

For those of you that enjoy sweet, sweet ham on Easter, try this Bourbon-glazed goodness. The recipe is incredibly easily with a handful of ingredients including brown sugar, full shallot cloves and of course, Bourbon!

Wine Pairing

2012 Misha’s Limelight Riesling

From New Zealand, this Riesling has incredible balance between sweetness and acidity that will easily handle the sugar from the ham. Notes of pears, melons, white blossoms and minerality are present with a medium body that can definitely handle this filling dish.

2010 Sperling Old Vines Foch

This previously featured Maréchal Foch is sourced from 60 year old vines in Canada’s Okanagan Valley. Cherry and blueberry jam characteristics are rounded with oak and smoke notes. With the bourbon glaze, much of the rustic elements of the wine will show through and balance out the sweetness of the ham.

Honey-Curry Glazed Lamb with Roasted Grapes and Cranberries

Substantial amount of flavour from curry and honey combination. The lamb is grilled then oven baked to soak in all the juices while the roasted grapes and cranberries make for a festive topping.

Wine Pairing

2008 Charles Joguet Chenin Blanc

This wine is incredibly fresh and best served at a cool 12 degrees Celsius. Mouthwatering acidity combined with tropical notes, banana bread and honeycomb will pair delightfully with the different flavours and balance the curry spice.

2010 Kermit Lynch Côtes du Rhône

A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvèdre, this wine has all the components necessary to pair with the lamb recipe. Minerality, dark cherries and bramble fruit are carried through the palate and generous amounts of acidity and round tannins with handle the richness of the meal.

Ginger Ale Can Chicken

Similar to the much-loved beer can chicken, except this wine uses ginger ale, adding a whole different profile of flavour to the meat. The steam from the can creates a moist rich roasted flavour.

2012 Glen Carlou Unwooded Chardonnay

A refreshing Chardonnay that we’ve even posted an entire blog about it! High acidity meets the green orchard fruits and floral components with a creamy and velvety texture. It’ll match superbly with the ginger.

2011 Sister’s Run GSM

Recently featured, this wine is a blend of Grenache and Shiraz from Australia’s, Barossa Valley. The Shiraz will bring out the lively ginger spice. On the palate, stewed plums, blackberries and blueberries with fine tannins and nicely balanced acidity.

We hope you get to try out some of these amazing pairings and bring out some of the best in your traditional Easter feasts this weekend! If not, let us know what you enjoyed through the WineCollective.ca community, Facebook or Twitter page.

As always, feel free to contact us for more information on food pairings!

The wines of Portugal

Posted on March 28, 2014March 31, 2014 by Wil Knoll

There are several reasons as to why Portugal is and further becoming a widely reputable player in the wine industry. First, the country accounts for 50% of global cork production, and second, for its famous and much loved Port wine.

Apart from mastering skills and natural resources in cork oak tree forests and through out the Douro, the Portuguese have an overall love of quality food and wine. I know this not only through personal experience of my nationality, but also in the way that Portugal is becoming greatly appreciated for their overall wine production by critics, industry leaders and everyday wine drinkers.

Various varieties, of both red and white, are rooted and grown only in Portugal’s vineyards and as WineCollective searches for uncommon wines to share, these native grapes offer a unique branch to expand your palate. Some of these varieties include:

Many of these grapes have been transferred to countries of similar climate, such as Touriga Nacional in South Africa. Considering its aging potential, richness in colour and tannins, and intense full-bodied flavours, Touriga Nacional deserves to be listed as a noble grape.

There are 14 wine regions in Portugal, all with unique qualities in terroir, climate and grape varieties that allow for recognized specialties.

mapa_regioes — Image from Wines of Portugal, www.winesofportugal.info

The famous Alentejo is known for its bodacious and dry red wines made from varieties such as Borba, Évora, Trincadeira or Tinta Amarela and the widely planted Aragonez (Tempranillo) in addition to noble grapes like Cabernet. Equally as admired, the Douro has branched from its production of fortified wine and uses the typical varieties that are found in Port like Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Touriga Franca, and Touriga Nacional, in making its rich reds.

Last summer, a major trend in the wine industry was the adoration of Vinho Verde, or green wine. The region’s cooler climate and coastal breezes from both north and west creates light, crisp and aromatic wines from indigenous grapes named Alvarinho, Arinto and Trajadura.

2010 Esporão Reserva Red

A very popular wine in Portugal with aromas of spice, red berries, chocolate and oak. On the palate the wine is compact and dense with black fruit and firm tannins. Made from Aragonês, Trincadeira, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Alicante Bouschet.

WineCollective has featured many Portuguese wines in the past. These more recent selections may still be in your cellar!

2010 Monte da Ravasqueira Prova

Blend of Aragonez and Trincadeira. The name Prova means “taste” or “proof.” Mid-palate shows soft red fruits and the smoke and spice qualities come directly from terroir as no oak aging is used.

2012 Monte da Ravasqueira Serrana

White varieties of Antão Vaz and Arinto. Notes of stone fruit, green apple and orange peel. A balance of tropical and citrus flavours.

2005 Luis Pato Baga

Made from single grape variety Baga. Weighty core of earth and wood with sour cherry, blackberry and dark chocolate on the palate.

Baga is traditional served with Leitão or suckling pig. For some, the pairing may be out of reach, however, many pork-based Portuguese dishes go hand in hand with the wine such as Carne de Porco à Alentejana (pork, clams and potatoes) or a bean stew known as Feijoada. I would argue that my father makes the best of both, but for those willing to try, enjoy the recipe below!

1. In large bowl, combine wine, paprika, salt and pepper, blend well. Add garlic cloves, bay leaf, and cubed meat, turn meat in marinade to coat pieces. Marinate for 6 hours, turning occasionally.

2. Drain pork; reserve marinade. Pat cubes completely dry. Discard garlic and bay leaf. Melt 1 teaspoon of oil in large skillet. Add pork cubes, stirring frequently so that the meat colors quickly and evenly. Transfer with slotted spoon to a bowl.

3. Pour reserved marinade into skillet and bring to a boil over high heat, scraping off any brown particles clinging to the inside of pan. Boil briskly uncovered until marinade is reduced to 1 cup. Pour over pork and set aside.

4. In 6 to 8 quart pan, heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil; add onion and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently until onion is soft but not brown. Add garlic, tomatoes and crushed red pepper. Simmer, stirring constantly for 5 minutes.

5. Spread the clams, hinged side down, over the tomato sauce; cover the pan tightly and cook over medium to high heat for ten minutes or until clams open. Stir in reserved pork and juices. Simmer for 5 minutes to heat thoroughly. Sprinkle with parsley.

Understanding and reading up on Portugal’s unique grapes and their traits will become very helpful as the wines continue to boom in popularity. Whether we featured it, or you found it on your own, comment below and share with us your favourite Portuguese wine!

Support the care of Alzheimer’s patients with The Bellini Foundation and South by Southwest

Posted on March 5, 2014March 7, 2014 by Wil Knoll

One of WineCollective and Tannic’s go-to representatives, South by Southwest Wine Imports, is aiming to make a difference for the future of Alzheimer’s patients. Partnered with the Bellini Foundation, all funds raised in sales of the 2010 Passione e Visione will be donated towards the care of those suffering with Alzheimer’s in Alberta

This month, SBSW is launching a special wine from Domodimonti, a winery in Marches, Italy, owned by Dr. Francesco and his wife, Marisa Bellini. Apart from his wine expertise, Dr. Bellini, an Italian, Canadian doctor, is recognized for life changing medications not only for HIV but also, for Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Bellini is credited for the 3TC Epivir, a Hepatitis C vaccine that prevents HIV from turning into Aids. He is also known for his drug, Alzhemed, which prevents beta amyloid from forming abnormal growth in the brain that is linked to the fatal Alzheimer’s disease.

There are over 800,000 people in Canada living with Alzheimer’s disease, a number that is projected to double by 2030.

In hopes of one day finding a cure and in the meantime caring for those suffering with Alzheimer’s, SBSW and the Bellini Foundation are donating $20 per case sold of the Passione e Visione 2010 to support the care of Albertan’s living with Alzheimers.

We would love to join SBSW in their mission by asking our members to take part in this charitable donation by purchasing Passione e Vissione through Tannic.ca. In exchange for a premium wine, your donation will help in caring for those with the disease today.

Below are SBSW’s tasting notes on this upcoming feature.

2010 Passione e Visione

Grape: Petite Verdot

Eyes: Deep ruby red

Nose: Expresses notes of violet and red berry jam, perfectly harmonized with underlying aromas of leather and spice.

Mouth: The wine is delicate and well structured on the palate without any roughness. The soft and enveloping tannins give it harmony and elegance.

Food Pairing: Decant for an hour and serve alongside barbecued lamb chops, roast duck and aged cheese.

Keep an eye out for the upcoming opportunity of purchasing the Passione e Visione on Tannic and through South by Southwest Wine Imports at local retail locations. You can expect to see the Passione e Vision in the Tannic store later this month!

For more information, or to pre-order cases of the delicious Domodimonti feature, contact WineCollective or Tannic today.

Discover Naramata wines

Posted on February 20, 2014 by BlackSquare

Chances are you are familiar with the different wine regions in Canada, from BC to Nova Scotia. Within these larger regions of Fraser Valley, Okanagan Valley, Niagara, Prince Edward County and Tidal Bay, you can find smaller regions that further dictate a more specific wine style and quality. Naramata is one of these smaller regions located in the Okanagan Valley.

The Okanagan Valley is nestled in a pocket with the Shuswap and Kootenays to the north and east, and the Similkameen Valley to the west. Okanagan Valley is comprised of 11 different sub-regions with 122 licensed wineries. The Okanagan Valley produces the majority of B.C.’s wine, with “nearly 82 per cent of the total vineyard acreage in the province”- (WineBC.com)

Naramata is home to approximately 30 wineries. South of Kelowna and north of Okanagan Falls on the East bank of the Okanagan Lake, Naramata is home to many grape varietals. The soils and climate produce stunning Merlot and Pinot Noir, as well as full-bodied Pinot Gris, we like Kettle Valley’s. You can also find more unique plantings of Ehrenfelser, Pinot Blanc, and Pinotage at wineries like Lake Breeze Vineyards.

A few of the Lake Breeze wines available at the 'Flavours of Naramata' — A few of the Lake Breeze wines available at the ‘Flavours of Naramata’

Winemaker at Lake Breeze Vineyards, Garron Elmes.

What makes Naramata wines so special? The approximate 25 kms of winding roads and undulating hills lay atop granite rich soils. The granite provides a level of minerality to the wines and also provides a heat source for the vines. The mineral rich soil absorbs heat during the day and disperses the warmth through the evening. The vines wake-up in the morning with open leaves and ready for the heat of the day. Vineyards with a western slope that face the Okanagan Lake also benefit from the additional sunlight reflected off the water. This is why you will discover fully ripened and expressive varietals such as Syrah, this far north!

A visit to Naramata is definitely worth a trip! If you are short on vacation time, you can attend the Flavours of Naramata festival being held this evening in Calgary. At the Jack Singer Concert Hall Lobby, you can sample the wines from 18 different producers while being entertained by the Deanne Matley Trio!

IMAG4573 — Jennifer excited to start her Naramata journey!

If you are attending the event, let us know what you thought of the wines! WineCollective would love to hear about your favourite Naramata wineries and new wines you discovered.

A treat from Glen Carlou

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Wil Knoll

Less than an hour outside the beautiful Cape Town, the Glen Carlou estate is producing some of South Africa’s finest wines. While the winery was first established in 1985, it was taken over by Hess Family Estates in 2003. Hess is known for producing highly sought after New World wines and is partial owner to Bodega Colomé in Argentina, and the famous king of the Barossa Valley, Peter Lehmann Wines.

WineCollective’s CEO, Matthew, had the opportunity to visit the Glen Carlou winery in 2013, where he toured the vineyards, taste the wine with the winemaker and landed the very exclusive deal to bring their 2012 Unwooded Chardonnay to WineCollective members. Before our January packages were released, this wine was quite impossible to find anywhere in Canada.

Only at its second vintage, this Chardonnay is rare not just counting its limited availability. Unlike Glen Carlou’s two other Chardonnays, the Classic and single vineyard Quartz Stone, the Unwooded Chardonnay does not receive any oak treatment. Instead, it undergoes an entirely unique winemaking and aging process of its own.

Grapes are sourced from Glen Carlou’s rich vineyard slopes in the Paarl Valley region, where the estate is located. Aiming to make higher quantities of the Chardonnay, because of the first vintage’s popularity, grapes were harvested from mid January to mid February after reaching ideal maturity.

Winemaker Arco Laarman, imported cement egg-shaped tanks to Glen Carlou from France, which was used to ferment both the 2011 and 2012 vintage. These special eggs, that blends the benefits of wood and stainless steel, allows the juice to slowly adjust its temperature. It also gives optimal control of micro-oxygenation, or the process in which oxygen is introduced to the wine.

Another key difference is that the egg prevents the wine from rising, as it typically does with wood and an increase in temperature. The shape causes the fluid and lees to turn naturally and nourish the wine.

Without the use of wood for fermentation or aging, the 2012 Unwooded Chardonnay is left without the oaky qualities the Chardonnay varietal typically carries. Instead, the wine is fruity and full with a fresh minerality. This extraordinary Chardonnay is now Glen Carlou’s fastest selling white wine in South Africa.

The estate’s restaurant pairs this particular Chardonnay with home cured duck breast that marries rhubarb chitneu, celeriac and pear salad with citrus dressing. While this does sound delicious, the wine will also work wonderfully with grilled seafood or on its own.

WineCollective is very fortunate and excited to have the Unwooded Chardonnay in the Canadian market. We have some extra bottles available in our members only store if you’d like to make this your house white wine! Reach out to the online WineCollective community with your tasting notes and food pairings because we would all love to hear what you think about this rare and celebrated treat!

Terralsole at Briggs Kitchen and Bar in Calgary

Posted on November 15, 2013November 19, 2013 by BlackSquare

WineCollective and Tannic were invited to lunch by Fluid Imports, and we are excited to share all the details with you! We met with the Fluid crew at Briggs Kitchen and Bar to taste the new vintages from Terralsole. The kicker, we were hosted by the proprietor himself, Mario Bollag.

Willowpark 019 — Mario Bollag at the Willow Park Wine and Spirits Auction 2011. Photo from City Style Magazine.

What you should know about Mr. Mario Bollag:

He is Swiss
He can call his wines “girly”, and in his accent it sounds amazing (we may say feminine)
He is incredibly philanthropic; raising money for his charity Tè Solèy in Haiti (Mario lived in Haiti)
He is an animal lover, and it sounds like his dog is very spoiled
He is supportive of the arts; did you know he previously owned an art gallery?
He has a great love for music
His love and dedication to his family are apparent from the first time you meet him
He is a pescatarian! See, you can be vegetarian and appreciate red wine!
He visits Canada yearly, and is a great supporter of Canadian art and culture. The 2007 Brunello Riserva features a painting by Whitsler artist Lisa Geddes

Photo from Terralsole website of the Estate’s vineyards.

winery — Photo from the Terralsole website of the Estate’s house and Cantina.

Why are Terralsole wines amazing?

Mario does not confine Terralsole to convention, he is ground-breaking with his winemaking philosophy (he planted Cab Franc in Montalcino!)
Mario’s wife, Athena Tergis Bollag, plays her violin in the vineyards (that must make for elegant and sophisticated wines!)
Mario’s understanding of Sangiovese Grosso and his terroir is replicated in the wines he produces

Photo from Brigg’s website of the private dining room with a prime view of the kitchen.

Lunch at Briggs was a buffet of everything from the gnocchi and flatbread to the short ribs and 48oz tomahawk steak. Barely a crumb was leftover, not because the portions were small, but because Chef Xavier Lacave and his team produce nothing but the best! (check out the menu)

Tannic has featured Terralsole and have received great feedback. Here is what we tasted:

2008 Terralsole Rosso di Montalcino D.O.C
2008 Terralsole Brunello di Montalcino D.O.C.G.
2007 Terralsole Brunello di Montalcino Riserva D.O.C.G.
2006 Terralsole Coldoro Merlot I.G.T
2006 Terralsole Solista Syrah I.G.T.
2006 Terralsol Pasticcio I.G.T.

Join Tannic to be first in line to receive offerings of Terralsole’s new vintages!

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.

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