Saddle up these wines for your Stampede party

In these parts it seems like summer doesn’t really arrive until the dirt is flying, the rides are spinning and the pancakes are cooking at the Calgary Stampede.

The 10-day outdoor spectacle brings droves of visitors to the city from near and far. Many of us will be hosting out-of-province guests who make their way here for the summer shindig.

The chances are good you might be hosting a barbecue or attending a get-together. With that in mind, here are a few wines that pair well with Stampede exuberance.

TERRAZAS DE LOS ANDES

2015

Malbec Reserva

Mendoza, Argentina

I would hazard to wager a steak or two will be consumed over the next few days. Here’s a nice easy-drinking Malbec that would stand up to a steak or can be enjoyed on its own with friends.

Terrazas de los Andes was started 19 years ago and is owned by French conglomerate LVMH. The company focuses on the finer things in life, with labels ranging from fashion (Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Bvlgari, Hublot and TAG Heuer) to wine and spirits (Moet & Chandon, Hennessy, Dom Perignon, Veuve Clicquot, Cheval Blanc, Ardbeg and more). Not a bad lineup.

Located in Lujan de Cuyo, part of Mendoza, Argentina’s most important wine region, Terrazas de los Andes produces a range of wines from high-altitude vineyards in the foothills of the Andes Mountains.

This Malbec comes from one of their terrazas, or terraces. Medium-full-bodied, with soft tannins and a touch of sweetness, this red is fruit forward with flavours of blackberry, black cherry, mocha, all-spice, plum and vanilla. Price: About $22. Look for it at Co-op Wines Spirits Beer, Eastport Liquor Store, 4th Street Liquor and Wine, Highlander Wine and Spirits, Liquor Depot, Mission Wine and Liquor Merchants, New Discovery Fine Wines and Spirits, Olympia Liquor, Solo Liquor, Willow Park Wines & Spirits, Zyn the Wine Market. Drink: Now. Try it with a juicy grilled steak. Cork; 14 per cent alc./vol.

QUAILS’ GATE

2016

Chardonnay

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

One of the Okanagan Valley’s oldest wineries, Quails’ Gate produces top-notch wines throughout its range. The entrylevel offerings, like this vibrant Chardonnay, are particularly noteworthy, definitely punching above their price range.

It will be interesting to see if Quails’ Gate can maintain its impressive consistency with the departure of winemaker Nikki Callaway, who moved on to Laughing Stock Winery on June 18.

Callaway brought a notable freshness and purity to the wines and she will be hard to replace. But with an array of top vineyards in its stable, the winery will attract many fine resumes. Stay tuned.

With flavours of pear, lime, baked lemon, green apple, fresh cut herbs and a touch of brioche, this Chardonnay offers refreshing acidity on a medium body. All elements — acid, fruit and oak — coalesce together nicely.

Price: Around $22. It is widely available. Check a store in your neighbourhood.

Drink: Now. It would pair delightfully with rotisserie chicken or roast pork loin. Screw cap; 13 per cent alc./vol.

(If you have a bigger budget, or want to splurge for out-of-town visitors, or for yourself, the 2016 Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay from Quails’ Gate is truly sublime and definitely worth checking out. It costs around $45 and is in a few stores around town.)

ROCCA DELLE MACIE

2012

Riserva di Fizzano Gran Selezione Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy

Rocca delle Macie was born in 1973 when movie producer Italo Zingarelli purchased vineyards in the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany, about 50 kilometres south of Florence.

Zingarelli produced and distributed 80 films in his career, including the “Spaghetti westerns” They Call Me Trinity and Trinity is Still My Name. Zingarelli passed the winery on to his children, with youngest son Sergio now running it, along with his wife Daniela, his sister Sandra, his children Andrea and Giulia, and nephew Fabio.

The winery has four estates in Chianti and properties in Marrema, in southern Tuscany. This Gran Selezione — the best of the best from the Chianti Classico region — hails from a single vineyard at their Fizzano estate.

Medium-full bodied, dry and so lush, the powerful blend of 95 per cent Sangiovese and five per cent Merlot boasts flavours of black cherry, blackberry, leather, orange zest, violet and vanilla.

Price: About $40. Look for it at Craft Cellars and Heritage Wine and Spirits.

Drink: This could easily age up to a decade. If you open it now, decant it for an hour or so before drinking. Try it with grilled lamb, beef or veal parmigiana. Cork; 13.5 per cent alc./vol.

Contact Darren Oleksyn at dm.oleksyn@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter: @doleksyn. Looking for a specific wine mentioned here? Because wine inventories are always in flux, it’s a good idea to call the store before you go. Liquorconnect. com can give you an idea of stores that have carried the wines.