Here’s where to stop and sip awhile in weeks ahead

Winnipeg whisky lovers have been enjoying drams all over town this week in the lead-up to the Winnipeg Whisky Festival, which wraps up tonight at the RBC Convention Centre.

But fret not, lovers of beer and wine — there are plenty of events on tap in the days, weeks and months to come that are sure to please even the pickiest of palates…

Fans of New England IPAs would be wise to pop by Barn Hammer Brewing Co. (595 Wall St.) today, as the brewery celebrates its 66 Hazy New England IPA all day (the 66th day of the year). A small-batch trio of variations of Barn Hammer’s 66 will be tapped at noon until they’re gone.

On Tuesday, the gang at Ellement Wine + Spirits (The Forks Market) heads over to Low Life Barrel House (398 Daly St. N.) for the ninth edition of its natural wine party. Ellement will be bringing bottles of minimal-intervention vino — organic, unfiltered and all that jazz — and Low Life will be slinging some of its own natural wines as well. Guest chefs Emily Butcher and Stefan Lytwyn will be serving up some special dishes as the wine flows from 5 p.m. to close. There’s no cost to attend (other than buying the food and drink, of course).

Interlake Brewing Co. (72-A 1 Ave.) in Gimli will play host to Raw Bar Oyster Co. on March 13-14. Aaron Crawford will be slinging a range of seafood (including oysters, of course) to go with Interlake’s range of brews.

Saturday, March 14, also sees Sookram’s Brewing Co. (479-B Warsaw Ave.) celebrate seven years of beers. Chef Ben Kramer and the Made With Love crew will be serving up some pop-up eats, while the brewery will be rolling out a whole pile of new brews throughout the day. Things run from noon to midnight — keep an eye on the brewery’s social media pages for details on what new brews will be poured.

Italian wine and pizza — a pairing for the ages, and the focus of the Sip & Slice Through Italy event being thrown by Calabria Market & Wine Store (139 Scurfield Blvd.) on Thursday, March 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $59 each and include four slices of pizza as well as wines from Veneto, Piedmont, Campania and Bari — they can be purchased in store or online.

March is International Chardonnay Month, and Winnipeg private wine store Jones & Co. Wine Merchants (1616 St. Mary’s Rd.) will once again be toasting Rebecca Lechman all month. Lechman was a Chardonnay lover who worked at the store until her death in 2020; Jones & Co. will be donating $5 from every bottle of Chardonnay sold in March (up to $5,000) to an education fund set up for Lechman’s niece Aneska.

The Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) gets in on the Chardonnay action as well, with an international Chardonnay tasting taking place on Monday, May 4, from 6:45 to 9 p.m. at Promenade Brasserie (130 Provencher Blvd.), where the winner of the Rebecca Lechman Memorial Bursary will be revealed. The award is worth $1,000, and is presented to someone looking to further their wine or hospitality training. Tickets are $55 for CAPS members or $65 for non-members and are available at wfp.to/ic7 — for info on how to apply for the bursary (by April 20) click here.

Finally, a modest (but utterly shameless) plug for the new wine list at The Common at The Forks, which yours truly curated and which rolled out in late February. As per usual, this list features two bubblies (including a sparkling red), a pair of rosés, eight white wines and 10 reds — including, this time around, a sweet red wine from Georgia. Offerings are available by the glass or in flights — for the full list click here.

Wines of the week

François Lurton 2024 Domaines Les Salices Viognier (Pays D’Oc, France — $16.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

This southern French white is pale straw in appearance, with deep apricot, peach and spice aromas coming with ripe red apple and a hint of vanilla.

It’s dry and light-plus-bodied on the palate, with the ripe red apple, stone fruit and vanilla (the latter from some time in oak) flavours coming with a relatively viscous texture, light acidity and, at 13 per cent alcohol, a well-balanced finish.

A solid French white for the price, especially while it’s on sale (regular $18.99). Try with lighter salads, mild cheeses or white fish in a butter sauce. 3.5/5

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San Felice 2022 Toscana Rosso (Tuscany, Italy — $16.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

This Italian red is predominantly Sangiovese grapes, with a dash of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the mix as well.

It’s medium garnet in appearance, with ripe cherry, tart raspberry, hints of earth and balsamic and a subtle herbal note as well.

It’s dry, medium-plus-bodied and shows lovely rustic notes of earth, white pepper, tart raspberry, cherry skins and licorice, medium tannins that provide nice grip and, at 13 per cent alcohol, a lingering finish. Drink now with pasta in red sauce (with meatballs), rustic pizza or eggplant Parmesan.

Also on sale until the end of March (regular $18.99). 4/5

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Neleman Organic Vineyards 2024 Nucli Tinto (Valencia, Spain — around $20, private wine stores)

This organic, vegan and minimal-intervention red is made of Tempranillo and Bobal grapes grown about 600 metres above sea level in Valencia.

It brings blackberry, cherry, dark chocolate and raspberry aromas with a hint of white pepper, is medium-plus-bodied and dry but juicy, with loads of berry flavours and a pinch of black tea that comes with medium tannins.

A rustic but approachable red that would do well with sharper cheeses, fajitas or some sort of steak — available at Ellement Wine + Spirits, De Nardi Wines and the Pourium (and by the glass at the Common). 4/5

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