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January feels like the longest month of the year. The holidays are over, the decorations all packed up and the bank balance is hurting. We’ve been mired in a weeks-long deep freeze, having to layer up big time at the painful prospect of leaving the house. Perhaps you’ve also decided to partake in Dry January, making the month seem that much longer…
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January feels like the longest month of the year. The holidays are over, the decorations all packed up and the bank balance is hurting. We’ve been mired in a weeks-long deep freeze, having to layer up big time at the painful prospect of leaving the house. Perhaps you’ve also decided to partake in Dry January, making the month seem that much longer…
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/01/2026 (222 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
January feels like the longest month of the year. The holidays are over, the decorations all packed up and the bank balance is hurting. We’ve been mired in a weeks-long deep freeze, having to layer up big time at the painful prospect of leaving the house. Perhaps you’ve also decided to partake in Dry January, making the month seem that much longer…
Thankfully, the month is nearly over, the mercury is slated to tick up slightly and there are plenty of drinks-related events on the horizon to help you forget the slog that was January…
First up is Good Neighbour Brewing Co.’s Brûlée Fest, which takes place Jan. 31 from 3 to 10 p.m. at the brewery (110 Sherbrook St.). Essentially you buy a mug of beer (usually a stout or porter), and one of the folks at Good Neighbour stick a red-hot poker in your brew, which caramelizes the beer and gives it a richer, creamier texture. It’s a whole experience, well worth trying. In addition to a whole bunch of small-batch stouts and porters, the brewery will have non-alcoholic beers available for brûlée service (in the event you’re finishing up Dry January), while adjacent restaurant Next Door (116 Sherbrook St.) is serving up hot cocktails and featuring a fondue special.
The crew at Low Life Barrel House (398 Daly St. N) and Snack Häus, the brewery’s in-house eatery, are serving up slider-sized fat boy burgers Feb. 1 from 1 to 7 p.m. (or until they sell out) for the second volume of Häus Party. The party will feature special guest Richard Caron, also known as the guy behind the Instagram account @fortheloveofallfatboys, where he posts video reviews of fat boy burgers from all corners of the province. (He’s well worth a follow.)
If you’re already thinking ahead to Valentine’s Day, a number of drinks-related events are on offer, no matter what you’re looking to do with your sweetie (or solo). On Wednesday, Feb. 11, Jones & Company is teaming up with Forum & Bistro for a four-course dinner at the Southeast Event Centre (321 Elmdale St. in Steinbach). The Amore e Vino event gets underway at 6:30 p.m. — tickets are $135 (including tax and tip) and are available online.
On Valentine’s Day proper, Sookram’s Brewing Co. (479-B Warsaw Ave.) is hosting a Raw Bar Oyster Company pop-up, which runs from 2 to 5 p.m. and will see the brewery tapping some small-batch brews for the event. Then in the evening, Sookram’s hosts a ticketed three-course lobster dinner, with two seatings (6 p.m. and 8 p.m.). Tickets are $100 and are available online for the 6 p.m. slot or the 8 p.m. slot.
Up in Gimli, Interlake Brewing Co. (72-A 1 Ave.) has a special four-course Valentine’s Day menu featuring the culinary stylings of guest chef Brad Joyce and music by Steffa Fridfinnson from 7 to 9 p.m. Dinner is $70 per person; while there aren’t tickets for the event, reservations are encouraged by calling 204-642-8313.
If Valentine’s Day really isn’t your thing, Patent 5 Distillery (108 Alexander Ave.) is teaming up with jeweler Silver and Stone for the “Charms for the Un-Charmed” charm bracelet workshop on Feb. 14. The event runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the distillery, and includes supplies to make your own bracelet (with more than 400 charms to choose from), guidance on how to craft your bracelet, and a cocktail. Tickets are $84 (tax included) and are available online.
Later in February, Bordeaux winemaker Pierre-Charles Dartier returns to Winnipeg for a masterclass tasting of his Château Cailleteau Bergeron and Clos Mansio wines. The event takes place Friday, Feb. 20, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Piedmont Room at Piazza De Nardi (1360 Taylor Ave.). Tickets are $27, or $20 for members of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS). To get yours visit this website.
Last call: Saturday, Jan. 31, is the last day to get early-bird pricing for tickets to the Winnipeg Whisky Festival before prices go up. The fest takes place March 6 and 7 at the RBC Convention Centre (375 York Ave.), and this year is featuring Canadian craft spirits producers.
First call: Tickets for the annual (and always excellent) Beer Is Art tasting, which features most of the province’s breweries, are now on sale. The event takes place Thursday, April 2, from 7 to 10 p.m. at WAG-Qaumajuq (300 Memorial Blvd.). Tickets are $65 plus fees, include all samples (and access to galleries), and are available online.
Wines of the week
Miguel Torres 2024 Gran ViñaSol Chardonnay on Lees
(Catalunya, Spain —$17.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)
This organic, vegan Spanish Chardonnay is pale straw in appearance, with lush peach, red apple and melon notes along with lemon meringue, bread dough and chalky notes on the nose.
It’s dry and light-plus-bodied, with a lovely creamy texture (thanks to the aging on the lees, the spent yeast cells) that comes with the red apple, peach and lemon-lime component.
If there’s oak, it’s minimal, while the acidity is modest and the 13 per cent finish offers decent length. Offers impressive complexity for the price. 4/5
Allan Scott 2023 Pinot Noir
(Marlborough, New Zealand — $21.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)
Reddish brick in appearance, this New Zealand Pinot Noir brings earth, cherry, plum, forest floor and black tea aromas.
It’s light-plus-bodied and dry, with juicy cherry and raspberry flavours coming with red licorice, white pepper, black tea and earthy notes, a hint of cola, medium acidity and, at 13.5 per cent, a modest bit of warmth on the finish.
Another wine that offers both ripeness and complexity at a good price. 4/5
Amatria 2024 Despistao Garnacha
(around $23, private wine stores)
This sustainably produced Spanish red is medium garnet in appearance, with blueberry, plum, ripe cherry, strawberry and subtle herbal notes.
It’s a medium-bodied, juicy red, with a decent dollop of acidity that delivers vibrant, slightly tart red fruit and a blueberry component that comes with a black tea note, while hints of white pepper arrive with the soft tannins before the medium-length finish (it’s 13.5 per cent alcohol).
Chill this lively, fresh red for 10-15 minutes and try with charcuterie, olives and cheeses. Available at Calabria Market, Kenaston Wine Market, G.J. Andrews and The Pourium. 4/5
winnipegfreepress.com/bensigurdson
Ben Sigurdson Literary editor, drinks writer
Ben Sigurdson is the Free Press‘s literary editor and drinks writer. He graduated with a master of arts degree in English from the University of Manitoba in 2005, the same year he began writing Uncorked, the weekly Free Press drinks column. He joined the Free Press full time in 2013 as a copy editor before being appointed literary editor in 2014. Read more about Ben.
In addition to providing opinions and analysis on wine and drinks, Ben oversees a team of freelance book reviewers and produces content for the arts and life section, all of which is reviewed by the Free Press’s editing team before being posted online or published in print. It’s part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Ben Sigurdson Literary editor, drinks writer
Ben Sigurdson is the Free Press‘s literary editor and drinks writer. He graduated with a master of arts degree in English from the University of Manitoba in 2005, the same year he began writing Uncorked, the weekly Free Press drinks column. He joined the Free Press full time in 2013 as a copy editor before being appointed literary editor in 2014. Read more about Ben.
In addition to providing opinions and analysis on wine and drinks, Ben oversees a team of freelance book reviewers and produces content for the arts and life section, all of which is reviewed by the Free Press’s editing team before being posted online or published in print. It’s part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Carol Sanders and Erik Pindera6 minute readTuesday, Sep. 8, 2026
The Manitoba Labour Board has cut short a strike by 350 lab workers employed by Dynacare who administer blood and urine tests for patients in Winnipeg, Brandon and surrounding communities.
The board ruled late Tuesday afternoon that the workers, who hit the picket line at 6 a.m., must return to work Wednesday.
Jason Linklater, president of their union, the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals, slammed the board’s decision.
“The Manitoba Labour Board is doing exactly what the government asked them to do: they are taking away our members’ right to fight for fairness,” he said in a statement.
Pull up a chair, folks, as we address the elephant in the room. Or, to be more precise, the decorated goaltender who is not in the room. Or on the ice. Or even in the city.
Not surprisingly, the Connor Hellebuyck situation took centre stage Tuesday as members of the Winnipeg Jets held their first media session following an informal, pre-training camp skate.
“We’re definitely going to get asked about it. That’s no chirp to anybody. I think that’s just the reality of the situation,” admitted veteran defenceman Dylan DeMelo, who took part in an hour-long practice at Hockey For All Centre that involved nearly every member of the organization.
Chris Kitching4 minute readUpdated: Yesterday at 7:28 PM CDT
A new neighbourhood in south Winnipeg will be Manitoba’s first to use a shared, large-scale geothermal system to heat and cool hundreds of homes over coming decades.
The province is giving up to $4 million to the developers of Southwood Circle, just north of the University of Manitoba’s Fort Garry campus, for a district geothermal system as part of the NDP’s goal to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
“It means a whole neighbourhood can tap into geothermal, which means low-carbon heating and cooling for at least 1,000 homes,” Premier Wab Kinew said at a news conference Wednesday.
Geothermal systems, equipped with pumps and pipes, use underground temperatures to heat and cool one or more buildings. Proponents point to long-term energy and cost savings compared with conventional heating and cooling systems.
Brew at the ZooAssiniboine Park Zoo, 2595 Roblin Ave.Friday, 7-10 p.m.Tickets $68 hereIn July, Winnipeg beer drinkers flocked to Blue Cross Park for the return of Ballpark Brewfest; in August, they convened at Le Patio 340 for the Winnipeg Beer Festival.
And on Friday, lager lovers and hop heads will descend on the Assiniboine Park Zoo for the annual Brew at the Zoo, which sees local breweries pouring their wares alongside a range of national and international products. (Note: the zoo proper is not open to Brew at the Zoo guests.)
Among the locals taking part at this year’s Brew at the Zoo are Kilter Brewing Co., Heritage Farms Brewing Co., Dastardly Villain Ale Works, One Great City Brewing Co. and Barn Hammer Brewing Co. Locals pouring non-beer options include Brat Cat Mead Co., Shrugging Doctor Beverage Company and Patent 5 Distillery.
Brew at the Zoo, then, offers much more than beer, with a range of ready-to-drink cocktails, coolers, cider, wine and spirits being poured throughout the event; non-alcoholic options include kombucha and non-alcoholic beer.
Sheldon Birnie3 minute readYesterday at 6:00 AM CDT
Come one, come all, to Graham Avenue this weekend.
Organizers of the Weekender hope to welcome thousands of Winnipeggers to the streets and parking lots in and around the Graham Avenue pedestrian mall in what they are billing as “Downtown’s Biggest Street Party.”
Starting Friday evening and running through Sunday, the free festival boasts a plethora of ways by which visitors can enjoy themselves. From food trucks to markets, games to live music, classic cars and free bike repairs, the festival aims to provide a little something for everyone.
“The Weekender is truly about bringing people together, to have fun, to experience all that downtown has to offer,” says Olivia Billson, director of communications and public relations for Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, which is putting on the festival in conjunction with Smith Events and Arch Events.
Alexis Enns left her guidance counsellor’s office empty-handed, but no less excited about starting Grade 12 — even though she still didn’t know how she would get there or her timetable — on Tuesday.
