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April is proving to be a very interesting month, and we're not just talking about the weather!
On a bright note, we just returned from the Alberta Liquor Store Association Annual General Meeting in Red Deer last weekend, and ALIGRA WINE & SPIRITS is the proud recipient of "EDMONTON RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2009" award! As we have been in business just under 2 years, this is a very rewarding acknowledgment from the suppliers, customers and our peers in the liquor business.
On a not so bright note, the provincial budget on April 7th surprised everyone with a new Sin Tax that became effective immediately. This means that all liquor prices in the province have been increased literally overnight. While some stores immediately raised all their prices the next day, we are raising our prices as we replace inventory. "The Alberta Advantage" for privatizing liquor stores and keeping prices low and selection broad is a thing of the past. Our province now has the highest priced liquor in Canada -with a few exceptions. Expect to see at least $3.00-$4.00 more for 750 ml bottles of liquor, about $1.00 more on wines and as much as $2.00 for a case of 12 beers. The last price increase the government imposed was back in 2002.
While this might change your spending habits in these tougher economic times, it's all the more reason to shop at retailers you trust and who really strive to offer you the best value for your money. We will continue to source out "little nuggets" of often lesser known wines from around the world that deliver real quality for the price. Most of our great selection of wines falls under the $25.00 category and many are still well under $20.00. As Grant likes to tell people " Anyone can buy a great wine for $50.00, it's finding a great wine for $20.00 that is more difficult." So let us do that for you and remember, if there's something you would like us to bring in, tell us and we'll see if we can get it for you.
As for those of you wanting the higher end specialty wines, we are carrying some good ones and are always happy to order them in for you.
By the way......
Does April hail bring May flowers????
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What's New in
RUMS, VODKAS, WHISKIES, ETC.....
RAIN VODKA - coming soon in limited quantities! Accepting pre orders now.
" Rain Organics is made from organically grown white corn. Smells of pear drop, moss and hay in the first sniffing; aeration allows the aroma to deepen, especially the appealing earthy moss/wet soil perfume. Palate entry is feather-light; at mid-palate there's a firm but satiny taste of sweet grain. After-taste is grainy. Delicious and delicate. "
SUPERB (90-95)/Highly Recommended
--Wine Enthusiast Magazine
If you would like to sample this new vodka, please come by the store.
XENTA ABSENTA - Ever since the "green hour" of nineteenth century Paris, the "green fairy" has today become the undisputed star of the most fashionable nightspots in London and to be present at the "absinth parties" held throughout the world's greatest cities is considered a privilege for an elected few.
Xenta Absenta is an absinth of exceptional quality, obtained following a unique and legendary recipe dating from the nineteenth century. This involves the steeping of aniseed, fennel and artemesia absinthium in alcohol for many weeks.
The artemesia absinthium used in producing Xenta Absenta grows in The Alps of Northern Italy near the French border at an altitude of 2000 metres. Only the top leaves are used, and these are picked before they open.
All this with the sole aim of obtaining maximum quality unmistakable aroma and flavour.
CASK 450 & CASK 94 SINGLE MALT WHISKIES - available in very limited quantities, pre-order only. These rare and never to be produced again cask strength whiskies are a must have for scotch connaiseurs.
Cask 450 a special bottling of Springbank Whisky
Distilld 1991, Bottled 2007
Colour- amber with a bronze/red hue
Nose- honey, emerging caramel (from 16 years in a bourbon cask), vanilla and smoky coastal peat.
Mouthfeel - "oily" with a deep and lingering warm spice finish.
Cask 94 Ardbeg Sherry Cask 14 year old - an unusual Ardbeg, with no overpowering sherry notes, peat not too obvious
Colour- light amber
Nose- lightly peaty for an Ardbeg, sweet basis, apricot, green banana, a bit citrus, milk chocolate, a bit leathery
Palate- Peat without smoke, citrus, wine components arrive later, spicy, astringent, mouth filling, oily
Finish - war and spicy, lasts long, leather comes back andcoats the palate
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| Mother's Day is May 10th - only a few weeks away, why not treat her to one of our gift baskets with her favourite wine?
Also new this year are our special, customized wine labels expressing Happy Mother's Day on bottles of Mommie's Time Out Pinot Grigio and Mad Housewife wines. Pick one up while supplies last.
Graduation 2009 season is also here. We have selected bottles of Soljians Sparkling Muscat wine from New Zealand and enhanced them with customized Graduation day wine labels to commemorate the special occasion.
"Well known and very popular wine that is made in an Asti style. It has excellent apricot, nectar and geranium aromas that lead to ripe clean fruit and a strong, rounded and persistent finish. Super wine at a fabulous price."
-4 stars Tizwine.com 'something different' tasting
December 2008
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To Cork or Not to Cork? Think only cheap wines come with a screw cap? Think again......
Cork has been used as an enclosure for wine bottles since the 1600's. Its flexibility, along with the fact that it is nearly impervious to leakage, makes it an almost perfect natural enclosure. Considering early wine producers were using oil soaked rags up until the mid 17th century, cork was a big improvement. The romance and ceremony surrounding "popping a cork" cannot be underestimated.
However, the fact that cork is "nearly impervious to leakage" and an "almost perfect enclosure" results in wineries losing millions of dollars annually due to "cork taint" in wine.
Cork taint is mainly due to the compound 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA). This compound is found in bad corks and results in wines that have mouldy or musty aromas. The percentage of wines ruined by taint range anywhere from 2-10%. Wine lovers familiar with taint can detect it right away and are disappointed that the wine is ruined. Some consumers who are not familiar with this compound just believe that the wine is "bad" and will never buy that wine again. That is unfortunate because had they tried the same bottle without cork taint they may have loved it.
In addition to eliminating cork taint, stelvin (screw cap) enclosures are easier to store -they can be on their side, upside down or standing straight up in your cellar, you will not encounter bottles that leak through the cork and the fruitiness of the wine will stay preserved longer, allowing you to age and enjoy wines for longer. This is most pronounced in white wines.
For the aging potential of red wines,more research needs to be done. Preliminary research with big red wines has been done in Australia for more than 10 years. Studies have found that although red wine in a Stelvin twist cap seems to age slowly during the first few years, after 2-3 years the wine does begin to soften and as the years go on the wines with a Stelvin closure age more gracefully than those with a cork. Wine stays more fruity, the colour is more vibrant and it exhibits more life. As most wine aging reactions occur within the bottle, very little is to do with oxygen getting through the cork. It is merely a matter of molecules bumping into one another in a small container that allows wine to age. Tannin molecules collide and form larger molecules and eventually get so heavy that they fall down to the bottom of the bottle. Once the tannins fall out, the wine becomes smoother tasting. This reaction occurs with or without a cork.
As to whether stelvin closures impart any synthetic tastes into the wine, people have been using the Stelvin closures for up to 30 years in Switzerland and approximately 10 years in New Zealand and Australia and they have found no such problem.
As for the romance of popping a cork? The proper way to remove a stelvin is to turn the bottle while holding on to the top.
As for popping a cork, I guess we'll just have to come up with some other romantic ideas when enjoying wine!
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| GADGETS & GIZMOS It's your turn
We've been reporting to you in previous month's newsletters on various devices that claim to enhance the taste of wine, or speed up the decanting process and we have been impressed that many do just that.
What's been your experience? Is there anything you would recommend to other readers?
We would like to hear from you. Drop us a line if there's something weird and wonderful you have tried that does work. Or, if there's something you have been looking for and can't find, let us know.
You could win a great prize!
Coming in May.....
2 bottle insultated wine totes with 2 glasses, corkscrew, bottle stopper and napkins and...
"Daytripper" an insulated backpack which holds 2 bottles, a wine opener, glasses, napkins, cheese knife and wooden cutting board.
Both are perfect for Mother's Day, Father's Day or that upcoming wedding gift you have to buy. |
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Did You Know?
The Washington State Wineries of Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest produce more riesling than anywhere else in the world! | |
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| Volume 2 Issue 4
April 2009 |
| Alison & Grant's
Top Wine Picks
Each month, we will feature our top two favourites from a single country.
DONA DOMINGA Old vines Cabernet/Carmenere
Bright ruby colour with good intensity. Very clean aromas of red fruits, blackberries and black pepper. On the palate it is rich and smooth with the fruit flavours coming through again.
Producer : Casa Silva
Old Vines Sauvignon Blanc
Opening with a beguiling softness the palate runs the gamut of the Sauvignon taste spectrum - guava, mango, a hint of autumnal straw and right on the finish an edge of apricot skins and a strawberry greenness. About the only thing missing are gooseberries! There is a touch of sweet apple too, perhaps a little residual sweetness that goes someway to emphasise the softness of the palate. There is still balance supplied by a streak of acidity but not in a harsh way.
Producer: Casa Silva
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Upcoming Events
May 12 Meukow Cognacs 7pm - 9 pm Join the Meukow representative from France as she leads us through the fascinating world of French cognacs. Meukow cognacs featured. Door prizes. Price $45.00 per person
June 17 Bubbles & Sparkles 7-9pm
Learn the differences between sparkling wine & champagne -learn and taste the differences.
Price $50.00 per person
Please give your names, date and name of tasting, your telephone number. Pre payments required to guarantee your place.
Please register BEFORE the Friday before the event to avoid disappointment.
Don't forget our weekly casual in store tastings- Saturday Sippings - Weekly in store from 2pm - 6 pm. Drop by the store and sample some delicious new wine or spirit that we have open that day. Great way to expand your knowledge and try something new.
" We are all mortal until the first kiss and the second glass of wine"
- Eduardo Galeano
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Want to catch up on past month's newsletters? Go to the website and click on ARCHIVES |
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Visiting Edmonton
in 2009?
SPECIAL OFFER FOR OUT -OF -TOWNERS!
Reserve a room at The Comfort Inn ( a Choice Hotel) at 17610 100th Ave. in West Edmonton (only blocks from The Mall)
Call 780 484-4415
SIMPLY QUOTE CODE: ALIGRA when booking & pay only $99.00 per night + taxes (subject to availability).
Present your Comfort Inn room key at Aligra Wine & Spirits in West Edmonton Mall for your in store discount!
Live out of town and can't get to our store? We ship to anywhere in Alberta! Call or email us with your order and we will deliver it to your door.*
* Recipient must prove age 18 yrs or older. Shipping/delivery charges apply.
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We welcome your comments! Let us know your thoughts and ideas.
STORE HOURS
Mon - Thu 12:00 - 8:00 pm
Fri - Sat 12:00- 10:00 pm
Sun & Holidays 12:00 - 5:30 pm
Conveniently located at Entrance 58 bewteen HMV & The Brick . We have 3 reserved parking spaces for our customers too! | |
