Mikaela Desmarais

97-point Rose and more Warm Weather Wines

Hi Everyone!

I did a cartoonish double-take, the kind that Adam Sandler or Krusty the Clown would do, when I looked out the window. If I had coffee in my mouth it would have sprayed. On the way down from my hotel room, heading towards breakfast, I looked to my right and saw sideways snow, already accumulating on the cars outside. The front desk staff must have seen my wide-eyed Three Stooges expression because they both said in unison “Welcome to Edmonton”. That was Saturday.

But I’m back home now, having successfully collected my son from university, and it seems like Vancouver, in contrast, will be getting a lovely streak of pleasant weather over the next couple of weeks. I take no pleasure in informing you that you are not ready for it. Do you have crisp, aromatic white wines from the world’s most famous Amarone producer? Do you have lush, creamy Provençale Rosés that will drown your patio in happiness? No?

Fret not, dear drinker, for I bring you awesome:

Quintarelli “Ca’ del Merlo” Bianco Secco 2017, Veneto IGT, Italy. By the time Guiseppe Quintarelli passed in 2012, he was such a mythical figure that many wine drinkers questioned whether he was real in the first place. A pioneer in concentration and intensity, Guiseppe led the Amarone movement away from rustic, oxidative wines, and towards purity of fruit and centre-of-the-sun mass and body (and even heavier price tags). This crisply structured white wine, half Garganega and the rest Trebbiano-Chardonnay-Sauvignon Blanc, is like the antidote to his glass-melting Amarones, conservatively nosed with white flowers and honeysuckle, and sneakily rich rather than obviously so, the body hides behind the structure. Very lovely, actually. Lees-stirred for texture and layers but not barrel-aged, great minerality, will theoretically age like a Loire wine but let’s not kid each other. Not yet reviewed, 2 6-packs available, $69.98 +tax

Rimauresq MAGNUM (1.5L) Rosé Cru Classique 2016, Côtes de Provence AOC, France. Because sometimes, the whole party has to know how awesome you is. Although the Cotes de Provence appellation is vast (and frequently dilute, as more and more producers cut corners to cash in on the hype), only 23 producers earned the title of Cru Classé (Classified Growth) in 1955, and Rimauresq – named after the “Real Mauresque” river that flows through the property – is often considered to be the top of the heap. Grenache and Cinsault (along with their weird cousins) are grown on north-facing slopes, so as not to overripen with the baked fruit notes that can befall that sun-drenched Mediterranean region. After a quick crush with minimal maceration and no barrel aging, we get a pale salmon-tinged glory of red fruit, spice and fresh melons. Big and generous and creamy but fresh and crisp – a gorgeous expression of Provence and a dandy way to win friends and influence people. Allow me to influence you when we pour this in the River District Vintage Room on Saturday at 3pm. 97 points Decanter, Platinum/Best In Show – Decanter World Wine Awards, 15 Magnums (1.5L) available, $81.98 +tax

Caves d’Esclans Whispering Angel 2018, Côtes de Provence AOP, France. Although the Pitt/Jolie wine called Miraval finally broke the dam on Provençale Rosé sales, one wine has risen above the ensuing flood to enjoy sustained buzz and actually outsell Miraval in many countries, and it happened based on word of mouth alone, Whispering Angel doesn’t market itself. Already an accomplished Bordeaux winemaker at Margaux’s Chateau Prieur-Lachine, Sacha Lachine (boy Sacha, not girl Sacha, because France) dove into Provence head first just over a decade ago and loosed his Terminator-esque Bordeaux ethics – optical sorting table, severe winery cleanliness, dominatrix-style vineyard management – upon a region historically known for picking stuff up off the ground and dusting it off. Sacha’s laser focus on purity of fruit shines through the vanilla-laced nose, and the chewy, mouthwatering body and clean finish remind me very much of being on a big boat in the sunshine. I don’t expect to have this for very long, I never do. Not yet reviewed (although it tends to consistently score around 93 points). 4 cases available, $42.98 +tax

Penner-Ash Viognier 2016, Willamette and Rogue Valley, Oregon. They don’t make much Viognier in Oregon, but Lynn Penner-Ash has never really paid mind to what anyone else is doing, a trait that was gloriously on display when I met her and her husband Ron 3 years ago at her winery in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Lynn comes at viticulture from a science perch, and bumped around Stag’s Leap and Chateau St Jean before landing in the Willamette in the late ‘80s. Her main gig is of course Pinot (two of which landed in WS Top 100) but she makes a tiny batch of Viognier – so tiny that it’s not even listed on the website (or submitted for review) – and it’s to die for. Neither as aromatic nor as oily as a Condrieu, but far more generous and rich than comparably priced Australian or BC offerings, jasmine and lime dance around pink apple and honeysuckle. Pretty and vibrant, with considerable afterburn. 2 6-packs available, $41.98 +tax

Until next time, Happy Drinking!

New Year, New Wines!

December can be correlated with one word: overload. Holiday party overload, shopping overload and in-laws overload. In December you attend one too many holiday parties, overuse the term “so how have things been with you”, decide that chocolate and Christmas cookies don’t have calories for the whimsical 31 days, and most likely reach for the same bold red and bubbly prosecco on each special occasion.  January, on the other hand, is correlated with a much different word: new. New year, new you, new beginnings - we’ve all heard it and probably said one of these phrases at least once by now. If you are someone looking to dive into the world in new in 2019, why not start with wine! Instead of reaching for that same Pinot Grigio or Cab Sauv, why not try a new varietal that you may have never even heard of? We understand, trying new things can be scary, especially when it comes to changing your beloved house red or white, so to make this easier, we've created a list of new varietals that have similar flavour profiles to the wines you love.

If you like Cab Sauv, try:

  • Carmenere

  • Petit Verdot

  • Touriga Nacional


If you like Pinot Noir, try:

  • Gamay

  • Corvina

  • Mencia


If you like Chardonnay, try:

  • Viognier

  • Marsanne

  • Chenin Blanc


If you like Sauvignon Blanc, try:

  • Albarino

  • Muscadet

  • Semillon


Have a different varietal you love and are looking for a new alternative? let us know in the comments below, and we'll give you an expert recommendation!

Great Gifts From the Vintage Room with Quinot Matthee!

The holidays are just around the corner, and with the holidays comes dinner parties, gifts and a whole lot of small talk. If you're looking for a bottle to impress a new boss, the in-laws or just a fantastic and tasty treat to share with family and friends, our Vintage Room Expert Quinot has the perfect bottles for you!

Looking for a bottle that's smooth on the inside and outside? Look no further than the Raymond Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2015! Rated 95 points by Decanter World Wine Awards, this bottle is sure to impress during the holidays!

Watch the video to find out why he recommends this stunning bottle or read the transcript below!

Hi, my name is Quinot and I am the Vintage Room Consultant at Everything Wine Langley, today we are going to feature a fantastic holiday pick from Napa Valley, The 2015 Raymond Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. This is made by the Philippe Marcus team, who is one of the best winemakers in the world and is helping the winemaking team at Raymond with this exclusive Cabernet Sauvignon! it's a beautiful bottle with a velvet label so it's smooth on the inside and outside! This wine will go really well with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and even a charcuterie board!
Thanks so much for watching, I hope to see you in our Vintage Room in the near future!
Find the bottle here. 

If white wine is more your vino of choice for the holidays, we have a fantastic choice from Secret Indulgence! It's a 92-point Chardonnay that goes great with holiday fare! Learn more about this wine by watching this video, or check out the full transcript below!

Hi, my name is Quinot and I'm the Vintage Room Consultant at Everything Wine Langley. Today I'm going to be talking about a fantastic holiday wine, the 2015 Chardonnay by Evoluna. This featured 2015 Evoluna by Secret Indulgence is a fantastic Chardonnay from the Sonoma Coast in St Helena. This wine has notes of pear and dried apricot and vanilla bean. This fantastic Chardonnay is perfect for the holidays, and pairs with classic holiday favoutires like turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce, fish with lemon sauce, or a simple popcorn and a movie! Thanks for watching today, our Vintage Rooms have many wines just like this for the holidays and you can find this in all our Vintage Rooms. This one is $59.99 and 92 points!

Find the bottle here.

Why Wine and Chocolate make "Awkward Friends"

We often get questions from customers around Halloween, Christmas and Valentines Day asking which wines and chocolates to pair together. It's a question that stumps many wine professionals, simply because the two are quite difficult to pair. In the words of Wine Folly's author, Madeline Puckette, the two are just "awkward friends".

On their own, chocolate and wine are two delicious and sometimes luxurious individuals, which is why they are often given as gifts during festive holidays, birthdays, etc. Think about a romantic movie you once saw - what does the guy always get the girl to say "I love you", "I want to be with you", or the classic "I really messed up"? He comes to the door with wine and chocolates in hand. What you don't see in the movie is how those two taste when put together - in reality, it would really wreck that "cute" moment when she pairs the gift and is left with an over-powered and less than romantic taste her mouth.

So why don't these two flavours always work? Wine and chocolate both have very strong flavours that compete for the same taste buds in your mouth. When pairing wine and food, the idea is to showcase one "star flavour" or have two flavours that can complement each other such as sweet and spicy. When wine and chocolate are paired together the wine usually ends up tasting a bit (or a lot) sour and ultimately leaves us with a rejection to the pairing.

Our alternative to pairing wine and chocolate? Drink wine with flavours of chocolately goodness. For example:

Have a favourite wine you enjoy drinking on Halloween? Let us know in the comments below, and check out our list of Spook-Tacular wines on sale from Oct 26th-31st!

Wines for Turkey, Tofurkey and Pumpkin Pie!

Whether you're celebrating Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving this year, we think we can all agree that the anticipation for delicious food (followed by a fantastic food coma) is running high. It's about this time when we start to strategically plan out where to put each festive dish, so you can have as much food on that plate as possible, knowing you'll be feeling as stuffed as that turkey you just ate.  You know not to fill up on salad... you've got the rest of the year to eat those leafy greens.

With so many different flavours from earthy Brussel sprouts to creamy garlic mash potatoes to that sweet, cinnamony pumpkin pie, it's hard to choose that perfect bottle of wine to pair with your meal. But fear not, pumpkin-spiced enthusiast, here is our Thanksgiving pairing guide to make sure those flavours are amplified by the wine you're sipping and the food you're eating.

Turkey & Chardonnay:
First off, let's start with the true star of every Thanksgiving dinner, turkey or tofurkey! We recommend pairing the bird (or the tofu bird) with a lightly oaked Chardonnay! A Chardonnay that has been lightly oaked will be bright, acidic and juicy with just a hint of richness to compliment a rich and buttery turkey.
Recommendation: R Collection Chardonnay!


Roasted Root Vegetables & Pinot Noir
Nothing says fall like a colourful plate of buttery roasted root vegetables. If these find their way onto your Thanksgiving plate, we recommend pairing it with a juicy red with balanced acidity and notes of sweet spices that will complement the strong vegetable flavours.
Recommendation: Meiomi Pinot Noir

Stuffing & Merlot: 
Something guaranteed to take up nearly half your plate? Stuffing - the food that seems too good to only eat once a year. We'd recommend a wine with soft tannins that won't over-power the medley of flavours found in stuffing. Try this Thanksgiving favourite with Merlot!
Recommendation: Curious Incident Merlot


Smoked Ham & Tempranillo
A big smoky ham deserves a big, bold and full-bodied red wine! We'd recommend a Tempranillo. Since a smoked ham is juicier, less sweet and less salty and offers more texture, a wine with sweet spices and berry flavours would compliment the dish quite nicely!
Recommendation: Alceo Tempranillo 2015

Pumpkin Pie & Prosecco
We need to take back what we said about Turkey being the star of Thanksgiving, we all know it's really pumpkin pie. This year, pair the sweet treat with a glass of fruity Prosecco. The chilled effervescence in the bottle of bubbly will elevate and lift the pie's spiced filling and denseness of the crust.
Recommendation: Cecilia Beretta Prosecco


Want to know where to find these wines? Check them out on our sale page here. Or, stop by any of our locations on Saturday, October 6th to taste these fantastic Thanksgiving-worthy wines!

Everything Wine Expert Suggestions with Nick Blewett!

Our Vintage Room Expert picks continue with our Victoria Vintage Room Expert, Nick Blewett! Read the full transcript of the video below, or check out the video on our YouTube channel!

You can find Nick's pick here. 

nickblewett

Hello everyone!

I'm Nick, Vintage Room Expert from Everything Wine in Victoria. I'd like to talk to you today about a 91-point wine from Secret Indulgence in St. Helena, California! It's a 2015 American Vintage red blend. It contains 65% Zinfandel and 35% Petite Syrah, most of which is sourced from Sonoma County, but some as well from Livermore in the central coast.

The body is big and dark and bold with dark flavours black cherry, blackberry, as well as some spices and mineral notes. Both Jeb Dunnuck as well as Robert Parker's Wine Advocate have scored this bottle 91 points! I would pair this with smoky BBQ ribs or a nice rib-eye steak!

Vi-know more about Bordeaux with Rob Carras!

Time to learn more about the world-famous wine region, Bordeaux! We sat down with our South Surrey store manager, Rob Carras to learn more about this varietal, its flavours, the region, and of course what foods it pairs best with! You can watch the full video on our YouTube channel or read the full transcript below!

bordeaux-wines

Hi everyone, my name is Rob Carras and I'm the store manager at Everything Wine in South Surrey. Today I'm going to tell you about the World-famous wine region, Bordeaux!

Region and Flavour Profiles
Red Bordeaux wines are often medium to full-bodied, with notes of black currant, cherry, plum and cedar. The vintage and the region will have a lot of factor into the quality of the wine. On the left-bank, you'll get wines with more structure, more age-worthiness whereas the right-bank, more plummy, plushy fruit, and more approachable in their youth.

Varietals in a Bordeaux blend
Typical varietals you'll find in Bordeaux are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, a little bit of Petite Verdot and a little bit of Malbec. Actually, the first Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines originated in Bordeaux, France.

Food Pairing
Now to my favourite part, the food and wine pairing! Red Bordeaux goes really well with pot roast, black pepper steak - the tannins in the wine really cut through the fat in the meat and the flavours are definitely complimented by that black pepper on the steak. If you're vegetarian try it with roast potatoes or a green bean casserole!

Price
Here at Everything Wine, we have Bordeaux in every price range. We have lots of option under $20, much more approachable and everyday drinkers, all the way up to the most sought-after wines in the world, up to $8,500 per bottle!

Interested in try a Bordeaux wine for yourself? Be sure to check out our Bordeaux release, happening September 21st!

Wines to Fall For

As we begin to anticipate the season change to fall, there are two types of people: those who continue to shiver in their shorts as they walk on the fallen leaves and those who greet the Autumn season with big scarves, and pumpkin-spiced everything. No matter if you're in Fall-denial or Fall-acceptance, one thing we can all agree on is a new season calls for new wines! Here is our guide to the best varietals to sip on this fall season.

  1. Beaujolais
    This is a light red wine made with Gamay noir grapes. It offers a wide range of flavours from raspberry, tart cherries, and cranberries to earthy flavours of mushroom and forest floor.  is located in the south of the famous wine region of Burgundy. What makes it so great for Fall? It is a great transition wine between seasons as it is light with great amounts of acidity and offers flavours that compliment roast turkey (or tofurkey).

  2. Oaked Chardonnay
     Don't worry white wine fans, we didn't forget about you. Although Fall tends to be associated with big, rich reds, there are also many white varietals that are Fall-friendly. One of our top picks is an oaked Chardonnay. Chardonnay is the most diverse and planted white wine grape in the world. Because of this, its flavours differ from region to region. An un-oaked Chardonnay will have brighter flavours ranging from lemon to pineapple, whereas oaked-Chardonnays tend to be richer, with notes of vanilla and spice (don't these flavours just scream fall?). Because of its full-bodied sweet texture, we'd recommend an oaked Chardonnay!

  3. Syrah
    If you’re someone looking to dive into Fall wines head first with some full-bodied gems, try a Syrah! From tart and jammy notes of blackberry, and blueberries to earthy forest aromas of herbs and smoke, Syrah wines offer a full punch of flavour from the first sip with a spicy after-taste following. Syrah is one of the key grape varieties in France's Rhône Valley and the Barossa Valley in Australia (where it is called Shiraz). Why should this be your go-to Fall wine? The flavour profile basically is Fall in a glass, mimicking aromas of fallen leaves and sweet pie. The warming aromas also go fantastically with the crisp weather outside!

  4. Grenache
    Nothing says Fall quite like the smell of sweet cinnamon, which is what you'll find in our next fantastic Fall varietal: Grenache! This varietal is plated widely in the Rhône Valley region, and can be found in many blends from the famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape! It's also grown in Spain and called Garnacha! Other flavours and aromas you'll find in this wine are strawberries, black cherry, and citrus rind. Try this varietal with another Fall favourite, roasted root vegetables!


Have a go-to Fall varietal we didn't list? Let us know in the comments below what wines you enjoy sipping during the Fall season!

The Best Wines for Sangria

It’s August: The weather is hot, the days are long, and balmy sunset evenings create the ideal backdrop for a refreshing patio drink. Sangria is a great August option that adds a sweet, fruity touch to your wine, and it's great for sharing.

So, how did this delicious drink come to be?

The origins of sangria began in Spain around the 15th century, when locals made it as a 'wine punch' that consisted of red La Rioja wine,  brandy and local fruits such as oranges, lemons, apples, and pears.

Most believe that the beverage's name comes from comes from the Spanish word for blood: sangre, which reflects the deep red colour of the drink—though nowadays you will find a bounty of variations and colours for sangria, ranging from red to white and beyond. Enjoyed internationally, experts are quick to point out that only Spain or Portugal can lay claim to true sangria, with The European Parliament recently passing legislation for stricter geographic labelling rules.

Rules aside, this drink is easy to make and can be created in a variety of ways, with a diversity of wines. For instance, if you are a fan of classic red Sangria, we recommend staying away from wines with big tannins, savoury notes or high acidities, such as Cabernet Franc and Carménère. Instead, try a wine like Merlot which has lower tannins and offers flavours of rich red fruit. Other reds that may also work would be Primivito, Shiraz and Zinfandel. These wines have jammy flavours and often have spice and floral notes—perfect for flavourful Sangria! Here are a few bottles that we recommend for the classic: Curious Incident Merlot, Fourmi Rouge Ventoux Red Blend, Vina Vasta Red Blend, Belle Grove Shiraz. 

Don’t worry white Sangria fans, we didn’t forget about you. When choosing a base wine for the white version of this summer sipper, avoid wines that are oaked or have grassy flavours such as a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. Instead, we’d recommend a white wine with refreshing tropical flavours, found in varietals such as Vinho Verde, Pinot Gris or Viognier. A few wines we’d recommend include Espiral Vinho VerdeLunaris Pinot Grigio, or Aeros Viognier.

Here are a few bonus tips when making your summertime cocktail:

  1. A great Sangria can be made from wine at a variety of price points, but most people like to use everyday drinking wines for this beverage—you will be adding fruit and other ingredients to it after all.

  2. Make it a day ahead so the fruit and flavours of wines can integrate.

  3. Savour, share and enjoy responsibly.


Do you have a favourite sangria recipe or a favourite wine to use for sangria? Let us know in the comments below!

How We Choose Our Wines—Behind the Wine Buying Process

We’re proud of what our Wine Buyers do, and their job is far more interesting than one might imagine. Who are they and what do they do?

Our Wine Buyers taste thousands of wines, travel the world, and meet with multiple wineries and agents every year. It’s a tough (but tasty) job, that is driven by a true passion for good wine.

They have stringent prerequisites for picking wines. Namely, all wines must
- Be unique
- Have great value
- Have exceptional flavour profiles

They also have a carefully laid out set of criteria that go beyond the basics of colour, flavour, structure, and intensity. For example, they begin with the quality of the wine, using their extensive training and expertise to choose profiles that have excellent flavour and structure.

Then, they look at the unique attributes of the wine. So, for instance, they frequently option wines from unfamiliar regions, or sample wines with uncommon blends of grapes, or find wines from common regions that have unique character. Wines that show more traditional character are also key to our Buyers’ selection, and include beautiful Bordeaux from France, or New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Finally, our Wine Buyers always ask themselves “Who would be interested in this wine?” and “Would this wine be popular in our stores?” Of course, it’s great to try new wines, but they also love picking selections that are anytime favourites.

Of all the wines that our Buyers taste, only a tiny 5% actually end up on our shelves—that’s how high their standards are! The Buyer Team meets every week to taste a lineup of new wines from both large-scale and small-parcel importers and wineries to ensure they only source the best wines from around the world. They also conduct blind wine tastings, knowing nothing about the region or varietal. They simply taste with no pre-determined knowledge about the bottle. And, when they want a few extra opinions to decide if a wine is a winner, they turn to a panel of Everything Wine Sales Associates—all of whom are WSET certified.

So, if you’ve ever wondered how our wines end up on our store shelves and online, it’s through the hard work and passion of our Buyers. Cheers to them!