For Value…

Mezzo Giorno ’07 Nero d’Avola/Shiraz from Sicily, Italy – $10.49 @ BCLDB
A tasty little number from Sicily is made mostly from the popular island grape Nero d’Avola and blended with a 20% Shiraz. There’s a lot going on here for a $10 wine – a plethora of berry fruit, violets, and a touch meaty. With the bright fresh fruit characters, medium weight, and contained alcohol, this makes for a fantastic cheap summer sipper.
Food: It’s a versatile wine and should complement most meats coming off the BBQ….wild game, sausages, lightly seasoned steaks, lamb chops, chicken thighs.
Click here to see what stores have some in stock.

Something Local…

Allison Ranch Red from Okanagan Valley – $11.49 @ Brewery Creek
I don’t know anything about this wine and can’t really find much either but stumbled on it at Brewery Creek for $11.49. A bottle made from BC grapes is almost impossible to find at this price-point and especially filled with decent wine. There’s no vintage or varietals listed but the soft red fruit notes taste like it’s mostly Pinot Noir. It seems that the wine is produced by Quails’ Gate as a cheap and approachable everyday wine. It’s dominated by red candied fruit and plum with a charcoal smoky character. It’s fairly simple and fruity, yet well made, soft and easily enjoyable. We’ve been needing a wine like this to come along and challenge all the “Cellared in Canada” wines at the same price range, so this is exciting! Not too sure where you can find it yet besides Brewery Creek but keep your eyes open.
Food: Being a light soft red, this is going to work well with dinner, especially food in the middle of the intensity spectrum. Wild boar and mushroom ragu, roasted and herbed chicken, plus the everyday stuff like pizza and burgers.

A Personal Favourite…

Stoneboat ’06 Pinotage from Okanagan Valley – $25 @ Maquis Wine Cellars
I never thought I’d say this, but my pick of the week goes to Pinotage! Fantastic BC Pinotage, that is. Deep, dark and bruting, yet silky textured with purple fruit and chocolate. See more detail on it here. You’ll have to look out for it in private wine shops and even then supply will be limited. (Psst…there’s still some at Marquis).
Food: We’ll need to go bigger – beef roast, venison, heavier BBQ’d meats.