Wine-centric events flowing in Winnipeg and beyond

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/05/2024 (831 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Apologies for the lack of an Uncorked column last weekend — I’ve just returned from a week in Sicily, where I joined about 100 other writers from around the world at the 25th annual Sicilia En Primeur event in Pollina. The event sees most wineries from the southern Italian island bring their wares for us writers to taste (over two days I managed to get through around 150 of the 400-plus wines being poured).

More on that fabulous trip to come.

In the meantime, here’s a quick roundup of drinks-related goings on past, present and future…

The winners of the In Good Spirits cocktail competition, which was held May 13 at the Fort Garry Hotel, have been crowned.

The competition, presented by the Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers, saw 18 competitors from local eateries and assigned a particular spirit to make a signature cocktail.

The sold-out event saw judges rate said cocktails, with attendees also able to cast a vote for people’s choice.

First place from the judges went to Leo Lu from Frankie’s Italian Kitchen, second place went to Kieran Dublin of Commonwealth Kitchen & Bar and third place went to Luke Bender of the Roost (which also just nabbed the No. 39 spot on the list of Canada’s 50 best bars).

In the people’s choice category, the winner was Liam Anderson from Sous Sol, while the runner-up was Abraham Holder from Bar Accanto.

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The Marine Museum of Manitoba in Selkirk celebrates 50 years of nautical goodness with a wine-and-cookie pairing event on Sunday, May 26, starting at 2 p.m. at the museum, located at 444 Eveline St. in Selkirk.

Enjoy a range of wines paired with cookies from Tyndall’s Flying Pig Patch while exploring the museum’s collection of boats. Tickets are $75, with $50 from each ticket going towards the museum (you’ll also get a $50 tax receipt). Visit wfp.to/yF6 for tickets and more information.

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Sticking with wine-and-food events beyond Winnipeg’s borders, the 13th annual New Bothwell Cheese and Wine Festival takes place on Saturday, June 1, from 7 to 10 p.m. at 50 Park Bay Rd., an open-air venue in New Bothwell where guests can sample wines, beers and spirits along with Bothwell cheeses.

Tickets are $50 plus fees at wfp.to/yFj. Proceeds will support the New Bothwell community and the area’s community centre.

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The first Manitoba Night Market and Festival of 2024 takes place Sunday, June 9, from 3 to 11 p.m. at Assiniboia Downs. More than 15 food trucks will be on site, as well as a number of vendors and local producers of beer and more available in the beverage gardens.

Admission is $7. Parking is $5.

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Whether you’re staying in town or heading to the cabin this Victoria Day weekend, many of Winnipeg’s private wine stores have mixed cottage cases ready to go.

Jones & Company Wine Merchants, for example, has cottage cases starting at $85.99 for six bottles, with white, red, rosé and mixed-case options. See wfp.to/yFo for details. Kenaston Wine Market has six-bottle white, rosé and red options for $119 each — for more see wfp.to/yFS.

And the Pourium has six- and 12-bottle mixed cases starting at $75 — visit wfp.to/yF0 for details.

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Wines of the week

Here are four reds fit for pairing with grilled fare over the long weekend…

Long Country 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot (Central Valley, Chile — $ 13.99/1L bottle, Liquor Marts and beyond)

There’s a decent amount of brambly red and black fruit on the nose of this value-priced Chilean red, with cassis, blackberry and blueberry coming along with secondary herbal and meaty notes. It’s medium-bodied, with light tannins and acidity providing structure to the juicy dark berry flavours, which bring the subtlest hint of fruit sweetness before the modest finish (at 13 per cent alcohol). A solid value in a one-litre bottle that’s ideal for burgers, barbecued fare or backyard entertaining. 3/5

Brunel de la Gardine 2020 Le Petit Maxime (Côtes du Rhône, France — $22.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

This Grenache-Syrah blend from France’s Côtes du Rhône region brings plum, ripe cherry, earth, violet and raspberry notes aromatically. It’s dry and medium-bodied, offering black cherry, plum and blueberry notes along with earthy, white pepper components, a hint of black tea, lean but grippy tannins and a slightly warm finish (it’s 14 per cent alcohol). 3/5

Bodega Renacer 2021 Punto Final Organic Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina — around $24, private wine stores)

This unoaked and organic Argentine malbec is deep black cherry in appearance and aromatically offers violet, blackberry, dark chocolate and mocha notes. It’s dry and full-bodied, with soft tannins wrapped around dark berry and chocolate notes, a dash of white pepper and a lovely plummy component on the modest finish. 3.5/5

Wente 2020 Southern Hills Cabernet Sauvignon (Central Coast, Calif. — $19.74, Liquor Marts and beyond)

There’s a splash of petite sirah mixed in with the cabernet sauvignon in this California red. Aromatically the blackberry, cassis, chocolate, roasted coffee and spice notes show well, while on the chewy, full-bodied palate those flavours come through with secondary blueberry and black cherry notes, good ripeness, medium tannins and a moderately warm finish. Outperforms many California Cabs in our market at this price point — particularly while it’s on sale (it’s regularly $21.99). 4/5

 

uncorked@mts.net

@bensigurdson