2019 Red Wine Holiday Shopping Guide

Did you think I was going to forget? Never!

I am a ‘make a list’ type of gal and I actually enjoy putting these babies together each year to make your holiday shopping decisions easier. This year, I am kicking things off with my red wine selections.

I have a few that would be great for entertaining, some for gift giving and others to secretly purchase for yourself and savour when you have some well-deserved ‘down-time’. All selections are available through the B.C. Liquor stores but do check for your closest location online HERE.

GGG’s 2019 RED Wine Shopping Guide:

Argento Selección Cabernet Sauvignon Argentina – The first time I tried this yummy red, I was quite impressed. It is full of deep red fruits such as ripe cherry and raspberry alongside a whiff of green bell pepper. This Cabernet Sauvignon has great acidity, tannic structure and tastes SOOOO much more than the $12.49 it is on sale for right now! Seriously, this is a ‘wait, what?’ situation!
M.Chapoutier Côtes du Roussillon Villages ‘Les Vignes de Bila Haut’ Languedoc/Roussillon, France – It is no surprise that M. Chaptoutier has once again found his way onto one of my wine lists. For good reason – solid quality wines, expertly crafted, and delicious to drink. This is a dark berry beauty made from the Carignan, Grenache and Syrah grape varieties. Think blackberry, blueberry, violets and white pepper as you think of the many ways to pair this delicious wine. $14.99
Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico Tuscany, Italy 2016 – Put your hands up if you LOVE Chianti Classico! I do! Here is a fantastic bottle of Sangiovese that would make a great gift for the wine adventurer in your life. This stunner has it all – gorgeous flavours of black cherry whipped together with ‘Almond Roca’ – I told you. It is bright and velvety at the same time. Swoon. $26.99
Bartier Bros. Syrah B.C. VQA 2017 – Syrah has become the new ‘darling’ of British Columbia – for good reason. If you have a wine lover on your list who loves his or her B.C. VQA wines, this is one to purchase. Crafted by Don and Michael Bartier, these two brothers consistently deliver excellent wines from their Oliver, B.C. vineyards. This Syrah is dense and delicious with flavours of blackberry, currant, black pepper and a lingering finish. $29.99
Stoller Family Estate Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, Oregon 2016 – There are wine purists and then there are Pinot Noir purists. If you fall in to the second category, then search no further for a beautifully made example. This lovely wine is seductive with cassis, ripe cherry, plum and a top note of vanilla. It has bright acidity yet many layers of lingering flavour. On sale for $29.99
Poplar Grove ‘The Legacy’ B.C. VQA 2015 – Here is a beautiful red wine for all of you B.C. wine lovers. This Bordeaux-style wine from the Okanagan Valley is crafted with five of the red Bordeaux varieties – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot and tastes as complex as it sounds. It is big, rich and bold with flavours of chocolate, ripe black cherry, and cassis. This is an excellent wine that can be cellared for another 10 years. $55.99
Tedeschi Capitel San Rocco Valpolicella Ripasso DOC Superiore 1.5 L 2016 – Are you looking to impress someone special? Well, do I have a treat for you…this red wine is made using an ancient winemaking technique called “ripasso” which consists of introducing a part of Valpolicella wine, produced the preceding autumn, onto Amarone wine marc in March. Wine lesson 101 is now complete. Can you imagine showing up with this magnum of delicious Italian wine and a boatload of knowledge? Talk about hero/heroine for the day! This harmonious and elegant wine is full of raspberry, red cherry and red currant flavours with a hint of mocha on the finish. $59.99
Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles, California 2017 – Have you heard of Paso Robles? Wine and Paso Robles have been connected since 1797 and this wine region has been turning heads ever since. This is a highly rated wine – we are talking 95 points (if you care about that sort of thing) and it is, in my opinion, an incredible value. Wines from this region do not get the same attention as ones from Napa or Sonoma but it is winemakers like Austin Hope that are changing this around. Flavours abound and range from lush vanilla and black cherry to salted caramel and mocha in this glorious bottle of wine. $69.99