Home delivery a boon to isolated imbibers

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/04/2020 (1983 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Local eateries got some good news at the end of March, when the provincial government announced it would allow restaurants offering curbside pickup and/or delivery the option to sell wine, beer and coolers with food orders. It offers much-needed additional revenue for struggling establishments operating with minimal staff and whose dining rooms remain shuttered.

With some questioning whether home-bound diners would pay wine list prices for bottles still available to buy from Liquor Marts or private wine stores for cheaper — given the typical markup on alcohol at eateries — most restaurants offering up bottles with their meals appear to have slashed markups significantly to help bolster sales. It’s not uncommon, for example, to see restaurants offering 50 per cent off the menu price of bottles of wine.

On the retail front, meanwhile, Manitoba Liquor Marts continues to increase the number of products that are available for delivery. As of April 16, their website offers just over 330 wines for delivery in Winnipeg, up from a couple weeks ago by about 50 products. (They also offer beer and spirits for next-day delivery, charging $8 to bring products to you.)

As of April 16, Manitoba Liquor Marts’ website offers just over 330 wines for delivery in Winnipeg.

It’s safe to assume the number of products available for delivery will continue to climb as social-distancing measures persist. (Liquor Marts also offer delivery services in Brandon.) Not currently being offered, however, is any form of curbside/contactless pickup at any of their locations.

While in-person shopping at some private wine stores in Winnipeg is still an option, most are steering customers toward delivery or curbside pickup options. For those looking for a range of products, most private stores have assembled mixed, themed cases or half cases, some of which offer additional perks. The Winehouse, for example, has six-packs of wine that come in a tote bag and include $20 gift certificates/gift cards to eateries such as Close Co., Sous Sol and Nicolino’s. Check private store websites or and/or social media accounts for details.

Sticking with private wine stores, Banville & Jones recently announced it is donating all delivery fees collected since March 15 to the Health Sciences Centre Foundation COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund. It offers citywide delivery Tuesday through Saturday (as well as curbside pickup), with a $12 delivery fee tacked on to orders under $200. For more see banvilleandjones.com.

(A somewhat related aside: If you’re thirsty for beer, Fort Garry Brewing Co. is also donating $3 from every one of its new Manitoba 150 12-pack of cans to the same Health Sciences Centre crisis fund. It’s available through Liquor Marts and beer vendors.)

Ordering direct from Canadian wineries is another solid option for imbibers, and is a great chance to explore producers in British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario and beyond, many of whose wines aren’t currently available at the retail level in Manitoba. In an effort to encourage online orders from across the country, many are currently offering free shipping, making it a great option, provided you’re willing to exercise patience. Many have also deployed winemakers to lead virtual tastings on social media.

For those interested in sampling a cross-section of Canadian wines, Ontario-based review hub WineAlign has curated mixed cases of wines from Ontario, Nova Scotia and B.C. through a program dubbed the Great Canadian Wine Exchange. WineAlign’s principal critics — who were slated to meet in Penticton, B.C., in June to judge at the National Wine Awards of Canada until it was postponed — are currently offering mixed cases from Ontario producers in either the Niagara Peninsula or Prince Edward County, as well as an assorted dozen from Nova Scotia wineries. (B.C. mixed cases are to follow soon). Delivery is available to Manitoba for a fee; for more info see wfp.to/wineexchange.

uncorked@mts.net

Twitter: @bensigurdson

 

Wines of the week

Babich 2019 Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand — $17.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

Ordering direct from Canadian wineries is another solid option for imbibers, and is a great chance to explore producers in British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario and beyond.

Pale straw in colour, this Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand’s Marlborough region brings bright lime, gooseberry, lime zest and ripe green apple notes on the nose that dazzle. It’s light-bodied, dry and incredibly racy, with vibrant, mouth-watering acidity delivering a wallop of grapefruit, lime, gooseberry, green apple flavours, with secondary mineral and chalky notes adding texture and complexity. It’s the best vintage of this great-value white in some years. Available for delivery from Liquor Marts. 4.5/5

Wolf Blass 2018 Yellow Label Shiraz (Langhorne Creek/McLaren Vale, Australia — $16.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

This Aussie Shiraz is deep purple in colour, bringing black tea and white pepper notes and just a hint of iron, with the prominent black cherry and blackberry aromas. It’s dense and jammy without getting sweet; rather, the ripe cherry, blackberry and raspberry notes come with a dash of acidity, while the tannins are modest and the finish not overly woody or hot. A good bang for the buck; drink now with burgers, ribs, pizza or steak. Available for delivery from Liquor Marts. 4/5

Wente 2016 Sandstone Merlot (Livermore Valley, Calif. – around $23, private wine stores)

The label says Merlot, but there’s also some Petite Sirah and Malbec in this California red that work together to offer blackberry, tar, herbal and plum notes aromatically, with some cedar and spice notes thanks to 24 months in oak barrels. It’s full-bodied, and manages to balance plush dark berry notes with medium tannin and some solid secondary woody notes; while drinking well now (especially with a big steak, a roast or sharp cheeses), it could be put away for 12-18 months. A solid example of New World Merlot that’s ripe but structured. 4/5