Wine

[troutman]

Originally Posted by calumniate

I like going to places like wine Ink. They have a more unique selection which imo is nice for gifts (something new for a wine drinker is always at least fun. Can pick up a wine from Bulgaria just to be sure). Plus they let you taste a whole bunch. However, I can't ever for the life of me remember the good ones I've had, so no recommendations there.

Get the free Vivino wine app for iPhone, and record the labels of the wine you like.

https://www.vivino.com

[Two Fivenagame]

Love wine

IMO i've always thought if you're going to give wine as a gift, you should buy it from a wine boutique like a JWebb or Bin 905 or something. That way, you can talk to someone who usually has a pretty good understanding of wine and what is in stock.

For my tastes, Canadian red wines are better value when you can keep them in a cellar for a few years, or you spend north of $30. Canadian Merlot is still likely your best bet for someone who likes Apothic Red.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

A few wines I've liked recently include:

most Barolo from Italy
most Brunello di Montalcino from Italy
most Bordeaux blends
Easton Zinfandel
Maligno from France
Wynn's Cab Sauv Black Label
Woah Nelly Pinot Noir
Thomas George Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
Poggiotondo Chianti Classico
Molly Dooker Australian Wines
Dona Paula Estate Malbec (the higher end one, maybe $30 is quite good)

[calgarywinning]

Canadian wines are very expensive in relation to what quality level you can buy from America, Italy and Australia. I used to buy a lot of Canadian wines, but now I stay away because the price/value is crazy.

Also, many of the red wines that are made in the Okanagan are not made to be cellared for a long period of time. I really, also like what one of the gentleman at burrowing owl said, he said the wine should taste good right away and you should drink it whenever you want.

One of my favourite wines is called Earthquake Zinfandel.. try it out next time you are at Willow Park or Bin 905. David Bruce Pinot Noir or Petite Syrah. At Superstore they have Zenato Amarone which is excellent. J Webb has an Etude syrah which is delicious.

[squiggs96]

Black Hills Nota Bene is one of the best wines I've ever had. I drink 2-3 bottles of red wine per week, and if I could only drink one, this would be it. It's $59 per bottle if you can find it. There were seven bottles left at the Co-op liquor store on 10th downtown a week ago. In my wine fridge I have a library of the 2007-2011 vintages. I drink a few bottles per year, and ensure I save one for cellaring. I do the same with Chateau St. Jean's Cinq Cepages, but those are usually $75-80, and outside the range.

Tinhorn Creek is a great winery, and I buy 3 cases a year from them, but look at the Oldfield Series rather than the regular varietals. The 2Bench Red is their best one. If you are looking for one bottle that will knock their socks off, this isn't it. Tinhorn's winery overall (wine/service/vineyard/wineclub/restaurant/view) is my favourite in BC.

Burrowing Owl is a great winery. I drink a lot of their merlot and pinot noir. Their cabernet sauvignon is also really nice. Overall it's my favourite winery in BC, based on all of their red wines. They are a little snobby and don't have a wine club though.

Painted Rock is really good too. Try their Red Icon, which is $55 I think. This one is most people's favourite, but I prefer their merlot, which is $40. The winery has the best view in BC, even better than Mission Hill and Cedar Creek, in my opinion.

[calgarywinning]

I've heard great this about the Nota Bene, so I guess I will have to try it. Just rarely buy that price point in wine. Burrowing owl is the best overall winery in the OK, the people at Blue Mountain are a close second. Stoneboat was really great but the brother would did the wine is now teaching in BC and I don't like their current vinter.

Where is painted rock? I would love to check this place out.

Originally Posted by squiggs96

Black Hills Nota Bene is one of the best wines I've ever had. I drink 2-3 bottles of red wine per week, and if I could only drink one, this would be it. It's $59 per bottle if you can find it. There were seven bottles left at the Co-op liquor store on 10th downtown a week ago. In my wine fridge I have a library of the 2007-2011 vintages. I drink a few bottles per year, and ensure I save one for cellaring. I do the same with Chateau St. Jean's Cinq Cepages, but those are usually $75-80, and outside the range.

Tinhorn Creek is a great winery, and I buy 3 cases a year from them, but look at the Oldfield Series rather than the regular varietals. The 2Bench Red is their best one. If you are looking for one bottle that will knock their socks off, this isn't it. Tinhorn's winery overall (wine/service/vineyard/wineclub/restaurant/view) is my favourite in BC.

Burrowing Owl is a great winery. I drink a lot of their merlot and pinot noir. Their cabernet sauvignon is also really nice. Overall it's my favourite winery in BC, based on all of their red wines. They are a little snobby and don't have a wine club though.

Painted Rock is really good too. Try their Red Icon, which is $55 I think. This one is most people's favourite, but I prefer their merlot, which is $40. The winery has the best view in BC, even better than Mission Hill and Cedar Creek, in my opinion.

[t0rrent98]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll surely look into those and do a bit of research and possibly do a little bit of tasting myself. As for buying it at the Costco liquor store, depending on the item they are cheaper than most places.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by calgarywinning

I've heard great this about the Nota Bene, so I guess I will have to try it. Just rarely buy that price point in wine. Burrowing owl is the best overall winery in the OK, the people at Blue Mountain are a close second. Stoneboat was really great but the brother would did the wine is now teaching in BC and I don't like their current vinter.

Where is painted rock? I would love to check this place out.

Painted Rock is just outside Penticton. If you are in Penticton and going to Vancouver via Keremeos, you turn left instead of going right at the end of the Skaha Lake. They just built a new tasting centre which is outstanding. Their customer service from the owners are also second to none. http://www.paintedrock.ca/

[Enoch Root]

There are literally thousands of wines to choose from. I would suggest that you find something that would be meaningful to the recipient, like somewhere that they have been, or a name or region or grape or something.

Once you have a theme, people could help you with more focused suggestions.

[edslunch]

Luigi Bosca Malbec - good value for a great wine. McManus Petite Syrah is my wife's go to wine

I second the recommendation to go to a higher end wine store - willow park, highlander, Kensington wine market, etc. - there are lots of them. The staff know their stuff and they usually have plenty of good wines under $20. Just tell them your price range and they'll give you something good.

[jtfrogger]

I enjoy and collect wine (I have over 500 bottles). If anyone wanted to buy me a gift for a certain dollar amount, I would prefer whatever amount they wanted to spend on me to go into a single bottle. I would much prefer a $60 bottle than three $20 bottles. And if you gave me six bottles of Apothic I would politely thank you and then probably turn them into sangria or mulled wine.

I find that most people that really appreciate wine will appreciate high quality wine regardless of the varietal or region it is from. But the more information you can get on her preferences, the better off you will be be. If you find out one or two wines that she likes (or region or varietal), it will be easier.

Once you have the best information that you have, I'd recommend going to a good wine store and letting the staff direct you. Places such as WineINK or Metrovino are great. They'll have unique wines and will help you with whatever information that you have. If you don't have much more information on her preferences, Costco does have good prices. They won't have staff to direct you much, but you will get good value from your purchase.

[CubicleGeek]

Joseph Phelps makes a killer cab at around $60 - they sell it at willow park or sometimes at Costco.

[calgarywinning]

Wow, looks like a beautiful winery. My parents live across the lake from this place in Kaleden. Will definitely be checking this out. Now I can't wait for summer.

Originally Posted by squiggs96

Painted Rock is just outside Penticton. If you are in Penticton and going to Vancouver via Keremeos, you turn left instead of going right at the end of the Skaha Lake. They just built a new tasting centre which is outstanding. Their customer service from the owners are also second to none. http://www.paintedrock.ca/

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by t0rrent98

I happen to get my Cousin's gf for my secret santa and I hear she loves to drink wine

The thing you need to know is whether her interests are on the deeper end of wine appreciation or on the quaffing end of appreciation.

If she's on the quaffing end, then just go with a wine from Troutman's lists and you will get something she stands a good chance of enjoying without spending so much. There would be no point in spending more because you'd be paying for something she wouldn't notice or wouldn't be important to her. Or you could get more bottles.

If she's on the deeper end of wine appreciation, then it's worthwhile spending the money on something that's going to be from a great region, is going to be cellared or is unique. You'll be paying for something that is meaningful well beyond the taste of the wine. That's the only circumstance in which I would recommend spending $60 for a bottle.

I do blind tastings in the industry, have judged wine professionally and have passed blind tastings and knowledge certifications. The truth is that you can get very good wine without dropping a tonne of money and the only reason to spend much more is if something special is going to be recognized by the person receiving it, which is largely intellectual and irrelevant to the average wine lover.

If I were you, I'd by a bottle of Asti DOCG and a red off one of Troutman's lists.

EDIT: Actually, seeing as it's December you might want to go with a Beaujolais Nouveaux. They are released annually on the third Thursday of November and their production process means their unique aromas are unstable and are gone within months. They're not expensive, can be enjoyable for aficionados and quaffers alike and are a little something special. I have a few bottles in the cellar now that have a cotton candy aroma that is lovely.

[Francis's Hairpiece]

Originally Posted by CubicleGeek

Joseph Phelps makes a killer cab at around $60 - they sell it at willow park or sometimes at Costco.

That is such a good wine. I'm drooling.

Joseph Phelps also makes a really nice Pinot Noir, available at Costco, for about $60.

If it's for a Christmas gift you could actually eat with Turkey Dinner, that's about as good as it gets for that price. Oh baby.

[Misterpants]

Why don't you get them the Kuraidori wine aerator. I believe Home Hardware may carry them...

http://www.homehardware.ca/en/rec/in...?Ntt=Kuraidori

[Francis's Hairpiece]

Originally Posted by edslunch

Luigi Bosca Malbec - good value for a great wine. McManus Petite Syrah is my wife's go to wine

I second the recommendation to go to a higher end wine store - willow park, highlander, Kensington wine market, etc. - there are lots of them. The staff know their stuff and they usually have plenty of good wines under $20. Just tell them your price range and they'll give you something good.

This sounds strange, but the Costco at Beacon Hill has a guy who looks like a mechanic, but knows his wine like you wouldn't believe. Working towards his level 3 WSET I believe I heard. Most of the rest of the staff is knowledgeable, but he's the best. Usually wears a plaid shirt.

And, the prices are very, very good. Definitely worth a look.

[GreenLantern]

Wines I find are consistently good and don't break the bank (prices are for SK, Alberta is cheaper):

Layer Cake (Malbec or Cab Sav) (~$30)
Cupcake (Red Velvet) (~$18)
Escudo Rojo (Chilean Red Blend) (definitely one of my favourites I have drank year after year, had a Chilean feller tell me it is the best Chilean wine he has found in Canada, I've been hooked ever since ) (~$20)


You should be able to get a bottle of all 3 for under $60 in Alberta. This is of course all related to my taste preference, I never claim to know anything about wine but I know what I like!

I don't drink white, but my GF loves Rieslings and Kung Fu Girl (~$30) is hands down her favourite out of any bottle I have ever bought her. I know most Alberta stores carry it as I always grab a few bottles on my way through.

[dsavillian]

Red Stiletto from Ruby Blues (Penticton, BC) is an awesome and unique red. You can get it at Coop for about $30, IIRC. It's an easy to drink blend. Don't have to worry about pairing it with food Just drink on the patio!

My favourite BC red by far.

[Blaster86]

Well, considering this is sort of my job. If you're looking for BC and the girl does like things like Apothic/Cupcake Red Velvet/Deadbolt/Insomina/Generic over the top fruit forward red with Gothic print; There's a newish one called Diabolica that's not too pricey and is pretty good without any of the residual sugar.

Fairview's Crooked Post Pinot Noir is the first vintage of their new Eagle Bluff property. Super light California styled Pinot. Good fruit and some earthiness to back it up, but it is super light. Also the Bucket O' Blood is one of the best Shiraz based wines in the Okanagan for my money.

The guy above me mentioned Ruby Blues, and they are a wonderful winery. Depending how old this girl is she could really connect with the 60s inspired flower-power labeling. The Red Stiletto is their best.

Lixier is pretty new, and used to supply grapes for Gray Monk, but if you like a bit of acidity their wines are really crisp. All of them. Except the gew, which is probably their best wine. Absolutely varietally perfect.

I'm big into the stuff coming out of the Okanagan Crush Pad in Summerland right now. Michael Bartier's whites are rock solid, both the un-oaked and barrel fermented chardonnays are right up there, the barrel fermented being both better quality and cheaper than Burrowing Owl's. The Haywire stuff is good if you don't mind thinking outside the barrel and inside concrete eggs. Even the reds have a minerality to them that is just super unique.

If you can get your hands on it, Silkscarf is probably the best little winery going in BC. We had some of their wines for a while and we had to literally beg and plead to get it. Look for the Ensemble Blend and the Malbec Cabernet. Malbecs are becoming increasingly popular in BC for blending.

From outside of Canada, Chasing Lions Cabernet is great value. Slightly more expensive than a staple like J. Lohr, but ten times better.

Zestos Old Vine Garnacha from Spain is fantastic value, tons of accolades and reviews. Still have a huge soft spot for Fuego, another old vine Garnacha.

Charles and Charles Shiraz Cab is really nice for a Washington State red. Good price point there too.

Raza Malbec is a bit on the cheaper side, but a good year in a bit in oak makes it present super well.

The entire Haarth line is wonderful. All organic, good price point. The Bonarda and the Malbec are the two good ones to look for there.

Some other wineries like Cassini, Aces (everything is poker themed, and their Meritage blend is absolutely fantastic for $20), Church and State, Kraze Legs are all producing some great wine. Prices are all being made more competitive by BC wineries now too, so the idea that BC wine is too expensive is going away. Slowly, but it's going.

Everything I've listed would be in reference to the current vintage available. If I get a chance, I will link the site that has most of my tasting notes. I always forget the URL. One thing to remember is wine is totally relative. I would has her what her favorite wines are, just in passing. Or ask someone close to her what they see her drinking most often and work from there.