Value…

Aveleda’s Casal Garcia, Vinho Verde DOC from Portugal
Chances are you see this wine every time you step into a liquor store; you probably even guzzle it out of plastic cups on the beach from time to time. Currently it’s marked down a buck at the BCLDB. You can sit at home wrapped in a blanket and visualize that it’s still summer outside while sipping a montage of citrus – grapefruit, lime and orange squeezed into San Pellegrino, complete with minerality and slight frizzante. It is what it is, and for $10.49 I like it.
Food: Oysters, pan fried white fish, and spiced Asian influenced dishes. I would love to try a bottle with fish and chips. Check stock at a Liquor stone near you.

MandraRossa ’07 Fiano from Sicily, Italy
If you’re in the mood for a bright and fruity white, keep an eye open for this Sicilian made from the native Campanian grape Fiano. Tropical fruit – pineapple and lime combined with a crushed rock minerality. Quite aromatic and expressive with great acidity. You’re only going to find it in private wine shops and restaurants where you’ll pay more than the $12.99 price tag. We found it for $20 on a Sunday at Joey’s Wine Room when they drastically cut prices to get rid of their bin-ends. It is apparently available at Liberty, Libations, and Steamworks.
Food: It has the fruitiness to stand up to chicken with a little bit of spice. I’ll take jerk rubbed chicken breasts or hot wings.

Gunderloch Fritz’s ’08 Riesling from Rheinhessen, Germany
$16.99 at the BCLDB gets you this delicious and very drinkable riesling (I think you’ll be surprised at how fast it will disappear). Fat and viscous with citrus and sour peach candy notes and enough acidity to balance the sweetness. Geared towards people that enjoy slightly sweeter peachy rieslings…this isn’t the leaner, minerally and green apple style of Germany Riesling you see from the Mosel. Widely available at the BCLDB, Marquis Wine Cellars and Everything Wine to name a few.
Food: Spicy vegetable and tofu stirfry, white meat lathered in BBQ sauce, and jambalaya to name a few!

Local…

Dunham & Froese ’07 Pinot Noir from BC
Just north of Oliver, Dunham & Froese produces only 100 cases of this wine. 2007 is their second vintage of Pinot – cherry and plums with chocolate and espresso grinds. Quite bright with vibrant fresh fruit and medium weight. The problem with their small production is obviously trying to get your hands on some. We have a few bottles at Salt but I can’t find anyone else in Vancouver that currently has any stock, so grab it if you see it! I’m a big fan of their wines and as such am excited to meet them and taste all their labels this Wednesday as part of the on going Salt Cellar Series (ticket info here).
Food: Again, I find Pinot Noir to be some of the more versatile red wine. Try BBQd pork tenderloin, or brie and herb stuffed chicken breast.

Also, boycott any “Cellared in Canada” wine this weekend… just in case you were planning on loading up on a case of Jackson-Triggs Esprit Shiraz before it’s all gone. New article from Wines & Vines about boycotting fake Canadian wine here.