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Rapid Ship
Spirits
1.0Ltr
Bottle: $12.11 $12.75
A newcomer to the marketplace, this velvety, blended Irish whiskey offers sweet, malty flavors that incorporate baked...
WE
94
Instore only
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $10.99
A newcomer to the marketplace, this velvety, blended Irish whiskey offers sweet, malty flavors that incorporate baked...
WE
94
White
12 FREE
White
750ml
Bottle: $12.57
12 bottles: $9.51
Fresh and fragrant with orange blossom, apricot, and peach aromas. A well-balanced, sweet, bubbly wine that is full...
Sale
White
5.0Ltr
Bottle: $34.76 $36.59
4 bottles: $21.60
Fresh fruit flavors of guava and Bartlett pear. Delicate, yet full flavored. Serve Chilled.
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $12.73 $14.14
12 bottles: $10.67
Crystal clear with a pale green hue. Crisp and fresh bursting with delicious fruit flavours. The palate is light with...
White
750ml
Bottle: $14.82
12 bottles: $9.51
Color of wine is straw yellow with a light green hue. Scents of gardenia, ripe fruit notes of apricot, peach and...
Sale
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $27.74 $29.20
12 bottles: $26.60
TOP 100 SPIRITS 2019. This easy-drinking whiskey has a straw hue, mild vanilla aroma and feather-light feel on the...
WE
92
Instore only
White
187ml
Bottle: $6.99
Barefoot Moscato is a sweet, lively white wine with a light, crisp acidity. Tropical aromas of pineapple and orange...
Instore only
White
3.0Ltr
Bottle: $16.99
Barefoot Moscato is a sweet, lively white wine with a light, crisp acidity. Tropical aromas of pineapple and orange...
White
1.5Ltr
Bottle: $22.20
6 bottles: $13.00
A cheerful blush color in the glass, this rosé is all pink grapefruit, strawberry jam, and pink lemonade on the...
UBC
91
Sale
White
1.5Ltr
Bottle: $23.37 $24.60
6 bottles: $15.00
Deep pink hues complement the rich aromas of candied orange peel and strawberry preserves. Flavors of concentrated...
UBC
90
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $11.94 $12.57
12 bottles: $9.51
Deep pink hues complement the rich aromas of candied orange peel and strawberry preserves. Flavors of concentrated...
UBC
90
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $16.82 $17.71
12 bottles: $13.79
Crisp and refreshing, semi sweet, with lingering pear, tangerine, nectar and melon flavors on the finish. The...
White
750ml
Bottle: $17.91
12 bottles: $16.24
Strongly aromatic with an explosive bouquet of flowers and fruit. The palate is intense, sweet and persistent with...
White
750ml
Bottle: $11.94
12 bottles: $11.52
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $19.89 $21.60
The nose develops an intensity of violet and wild berries aromas. The mousse is fair and creamy, with a dry yet full...
White
750ml
Bottle: $18.80
6 bottles: $15.84
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $23.47 $26.08
12 bottles: $17.48
Straw-yellow colour, clear and bright. Very intense and clean aromas of rose, peach, white fruit, apricot, figs and...
White
750ml
Bottle: $20.40
12 bottles: $19.99
Moscato d'Asti is the soul of Bera, and Bera is part of the heart of Moscato d'Asti, having been the first estate in...

Irish Whiskey Lambrusco Melon de Bourgogne Muscat

The Irish are hailed as being the original producers of whiskey in the British Isles, and their innovations and techniques were so successful, that neighbouring Scotland were quickly influenced by them in the 15th century. Centuries later, it was the Irish who brought whiskey to America, and their style of whiskey has since become popular all over the world.

However, it wasn’t always plain sailing for the Irish whiskey industry - from being a dominant force in the 19th century, whose produce was considered far superior to that of Scotland, political upheaval and war saw the Irish whiskey almost disappear forever in the early 20th century. Today, the Irish whiskey manufacturers are back on their feet, and they are once again proving that the original is often the best. With new distilleries opening every year, it is safe to say that Irish whiskey is very much back.

Irish whiskey differs from Scotch whisky in a number of ways, and not least the spelling - the extra ‘e’ was said to be added in the 19th century as a way of distancing the Irish drink from what they saw as an inferior Scottish product. Irish whiskey was traditionally made in enormous stills, as a way of ensuring consistency from bottle to bottle, and maintaining the quality and complexity their reputation was founded on. The typical tasting notes of fine Irish whiskey include apple and vanilla, alongside spicy and sweet touches of nutmeg and fresh hay, making this a highly pleasant and smooth drink, made for relaxation and stimulating conversation about times past.

Some grape species are distinct and unique varietals, clearly separate from each of their cousins. Others, like Lambrusco and Muscat, are more like umbrella terms, featuring several subspecies which show slight differences from each other from region to region. Indeed, there are astonishingly more than 60 identified varieties of Lambrusco vines, and they are almost all used in the production of characterful Italian sparkling wines. They are distinguishable by their deep ruby blush, caused by strong pigments present in their skins, and their intensely perfumed character.


Lambrusco vines are grown in several Italian regions, although we most closely associate this varietal with Piedmont and Basilicata. It has also been grown successfully in Argentina and Australia. The varietal suffered from a fairly lowly reputation in the late 20th century, due to bulk, low cost production of Lambrusco sparkling wines, aimed at markets across northern Europe and America. However, things are rapidly changing, and the older, more traditional methods of bottle fermentation are returning, along with a higher level of quality and expression, as consumers become more discerning and demanding. Many of the Lambrusco sub-varieties have their own established DOC, such as Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce, Lambrusco di Sorbara and Modena, where new regulations are keeping standards high and methods traditional.

One of the more unusual French grape varietals, Melon de Bourgogne has been grown in and around the Loire Valley for several hundred years. In fact, this grape was first planted in the Loire region of Pays Nantais back in the mid 17th century, after a devastating frost decimated most of the red grapes which were typical in the area. The winemakers of Pays Nantais were keen to cultivate vines which were hardy, high yielding, and capable of surviving another such frost, and so turned their attention to Melon de Bourgogne for this very reason. The native home of the varietal is actually in Burgundy, where it is still grown to a lesser extent.


Because Melon de Bourgogne produces naturally heavy yields, the vintners of Pays Nantais go to great lengths to reduce the amount of fruit the vines bear. This allows the finest characteristics of the grape to come forward, and also opens up the opportunity for it to express the wonderful granite and schist soils in which the vines are grown. Melon de Bourgogne is a minerally white wine grape varietal, with a very subtle set of fruit flavors. It is prized for its freshness and brightness, and is seeing a revival in the twenty first century as an excellent wine for pairing with a wide range of foods.

One of the most widely grown and easily recognized wine grape varietals in the world is the Muscat, an ancient grape with an exceptional amount of versatility. For centuries, Muscat varietal grapes have been used all over Europe for the production of wonderfully fruity wines of many different shades and colors, which, with their strong 'grapey' flavor have come to be known as a quintessential fine wine grape. Their relatively high acidity also means they are ideal for the production of sparkling wines, and the fizzy Muscat wines of Italy are widely agreed to be amongst the best in the world. In more recent years, New World countries have shown a huge amount of flair when it comes to the Muscat grape, and have had plenty of success in allowing its natural and vibrant character to come through in the bottle.