Bargain wines for the new year
Overspent at Christmas? I know some great wines for a tight budget. In fact, I pride myself on knowing a lot of bargain wines. But it doesn’t hurt to check in with others every once in a while, to discover new deals.
With that in mind, I decided to ask staff from a handful of the newest wine shops and wine bars in Calgary for their current favourites. Here are their suggestions:
Zestos 2011 Old Vine Garnacha Vinos de Madrid, Spain
“This juicy, fresh, unoaked red is sourced from 40- to 50-year-old Grenache vines from high altitude vineyards surrounding the city of Madrid. The bright, refreshing notes of strawberry and cherry are accented by an intriguing hint of peppery spice,” says Jesse Willis, coowner of Vine Arts, a very cool new wine shop at 1310 First St. S.W. (403-2900700). “I thought this wine was an outstanding value when I first tasted it and it has since landed on many wine lover’s radars.”
Price: About $15 at Vine
Arts.
Drink: Now, with grilled meats or hearty winter stews, says Willis. Or, as the winemaker suggests, with pepperoni pizza.
Domaines Andre Aubert 2011 Viognier Donzere, France
Jesse Willis at Vine Arts says this wine is one of his favourite value white wines of 2012. “The wines plainJane label would lead most people to walk right past it on the shelf, but this delivers a ton of character and complexity for a reasonable price,” he says. “This delicious white offers classic Viognier aromas of fresh flowers and ripe apricots, with a voluptuous texture that makes it a great food wine as well. A definite crowd pleaser.” Price: About $15 at Vine Arts. Drink: Now, with a variety of dishes, includ- ing grilled seafood, roast chicken, or perhaps a goat cheese tart.
Domaine Rolet, Pre et Fils, Ros Brut, Crmant du Jura, Jura, France Non-vintage
Located between Burgundy, France and Switzerland, Jura isn’t exactly France’s most famous wine region, but this familyowned winery has been around since the 1940s. Their lovely pink wine is “a great example of a Cremant, which is a sparkling wine made in regions outside of Champagne using the traditional method. It’s a quality sparkling wine at an excellent price,” says Alanna Martineau, proprietor and director of wine at Wine-Ohs, one of the city’s newest wine bars.
“Jura is a lesser-known wine region in France. This is dry and refreshing, great as an aperitif or with food. Made from Poulsard, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.”
Price: About $50 a bottle on the wine list at WineOhs (811 First St. S.W., tel. 403-263-1650), or buy it to take home at Metrovino for about $25.
Drink: Now, chilled, with fresh salads with greens and citrus or apple, she says, or try it with a roast chicken or turkey leftovers, or some of the dishes on the Wine-Ohs menu. It even worked well with its housemade carrot soup garnished with ginger. Cellers Fuentes 2008
Solluna Priorat, Spain Erika Tocco is the wine director at the Vin Room West. The second location for the popular inner-city wine bar, it’s located at 8561 8A Ave. S.W. (403-587-353-8812.) She recommends a bargain wine from Cellers Fuentes, a Spanish winery renowned for its high-priced, elegant, powerful reds.
“This is an Old World blend comprised of 75 per cent Grenache, 15 per cent Carignane, and 10 per cent Merlot from the famous region of Priorat in Spain,” says Tocco.
“This wine exudes an elegant earthiness, dried flower complexity and minerality that reflects the dense slate soils — the famous ‘llicorella’ — that the old vines are grown in. Compared with its big brother Gran Clos, this wine shares all the same characteristics at a fraction of the price.”
Price: About $3.75 for a two-ounce pour or $48 a bottle at Vin Room West.
Drink: Now, with friends and some of the great food at the wine bar.