Choosing a favourite wine is sort of like choosing my favourite child: impossible.
Yet some wines quietly earn repeat pours, fitting just as comfortably into everyday meals as they do into more meaningful moments.
Some wines earn a regular place at the table, others come out for moments that call for something special. These are the bottles that stood out this year, whether poured with dinner, shared with friends or wrapped as gifts.
Check your neighbourhood liquor stores or Liquor Connect to find any of these bottles in Calgary.
“Low-alcohol”, lots of flavour — Yalumba Y Series 2023 Lighter Shiraz, Australia, $16.50
At eight per cent alcohol, this wine has considerably less alcohol than the average red. But it still has good flavour and no unusual aftertaste, the way some low-alc wines do. Pair with turkey, spicy sausages, lamb kebabs and Mediterranean vegetables.
One for the Italo-phile — Tomato Wheels Lambrusco, Italy, $35
Lambrusco is a red sparkling wine from Italy’s Emilia Romagna region. The Tomato Wheels version is dry and lively, with notes of graphite, violets and blueberries. Serve chilled and pair with charcuterie.
Bubbles that won’t break the bank — Gerard Bertrand 2022 Cremant de Limoux, France, $32
Made in the traditional method, similar to Champagne, these refreshing bubbles have notes of honey, apple, lemon zest and fresh toasted bread. A good aperitif wine, it’s best served chilled, perhaps with smoked salmon or trout or a flatbread with figs and goat cheese.
A special gift for a special meal — Joseph Drouhin 2021 Cote de Beaune Rouge, France, $111
From a vineyard overlooking the lovely city of Beaune, this red is delicate, with smooth tannins, a long finish and very pretty red currant, rhubarb and strawberry flavours. Pair with roast turkey or chicken, or maybe even a juicy lamb shank.
One for the Pinot hounds — Greywacke 2023 Pinot Noir, New Zealand, $61
Pinot Noir is one of the world’s greatest grapes and in the capable hands of winemaker Kevin Judd, it sings with notes of blackberry, plum and dried herbs. Greywacke is pronounced “grey-wacky” and refers to the type of soil found in the vineyard — a dark grey sandstone-quartz mix commonly found in New Zealand.
One for the person who has everything — Grace Wine 2022 Yamanashi de Grace, $42
Founded in 1923, Grace Wines is among the few Japanese wineries whose bottles reach Canada. Led by fifth-generation winemaker Ayana Misawa, this medium-bodied red blend is smooth and elegant, with notes of blueberry, lavender and gentle spice.
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