Welcome to “Best Buys in BC”
Value. That’s a loaded word. A ten-dollar word actually, though there’s really no price limit you can place on value. Take sentimental value for example. Priceless. The amount of money that is considered to be a fair equivalent for something else? Depends on whom you’re talking to and, in Canada, what province you’re shopping in. From the Latin valere {to be strong, be worth}, value can be hard to define, even though it clearly correlates to worth.
For most wine professionals, value wines are those bottles that show amazing value for their monetary price. Like that $9 wine that drinks like it’s $30? The $50 wine that stands up comfortably against $300 wines? Both have value in spades. We love seeking out value wines, sharing our discoveries, and telling you why and where you can find them too.
So welcome to a new monthly WineAlign feature that will focus on the best value wines available in BC. We’ll be highlighting wines that are widely accessible – both in availability and price point (generally under $20, but never over $50). These are the wines we all drink on a daily basis, plus, of course, a few for special occasions.
Anthony Gismondi
We four BC WineAlign critics taste literally thousands of wines each year, and most likely every wine currently available on the BC market. The team is led by Anthony Gismondi, one of North America’s most influential wine critics. A writer and broadcaster, he is currently in his 24th year as wine columnist at the Vancouver Sun where his combined weekly columns are viewed by one million readers. He is also the co-host of the longest running weekly wine and food show in Canada, The Best of Food and Wine.
Rhys Pender, MW
Rhys Pender, MW, is another widely-known wine professional, judge, educator and more recently, tractor-driver. Rhys has worked in the wine industry since he was a teenager, and now grows grapes and makes wine with his wife Alishan at their Little Farm Winery in the Similkameen Valley. Rhys became Canada’s youngest Master of Wine in 2010, one of only approximately 300 in the world.
DJ Kearney
Most of BC’s current sommeliers and wine professionals sat in on classes taught by the incomparable DJ Kearney. So many, in fact, that this Vancouver-based wine educator, writer, judge and presenter is on a first-name basis with wine’s top professionals not only in BC, but across North America. She is widely recognized as a top moderator and presenter, and travels regularly to share her talents and train young taste buds.
Treve Ring
Treve Ring is WineAlign’s western-most critic, based on Vancouver Island, but is rarely home due to beckoning vineyards around the world. A wine journalist, editor, judge and consultant with a dozen years in the publishing world, she contributes to a number of magazines based in Canada and the US.
For our inaugural BC Best Buys column, we have chosen 20 of our favourite go-to value wines. Any one of these would make a welcome addition to our table – and we hope to yours too.
Cheers,
Treve Ring
*DJ Kearney is currently touring Australia and New Zealand wine regions, so will be back for next month’s column.
Editors Note: You can find our critics reviews by clicking on any of the wine names highlighted below. Paid subscribers to WineAlign see all critics reviews immediately. Non-paid users wait 30 days to see new reviews. Membership has its privileges; like first access to great value wines.
Treve Ring
Real de Aragon Cava NV
Penedès, Catalunya, Spain
BC $13.99 LTO, #694844
Miss Molly by Môreson Hoity Toity 2011
Franschhoek, Western Cape, South Africa
BC $14.99, #505578
Ruffino Orvieto Classico 2011
Umbria, Italy
BC $11.99 LTO, #31062
Bodegas Atalaya Laya 2011
Almansa DO, Spain
BC $13.95, #189902
Mezzomondo Negroamaro 2011
Puglia, Italy
BC $9.25 LTO #135178
Sterling Vintner’s Collection Merlot 2010
Central Coast, California
BC $14.49 LTO, #622837
Bodegas Hidalgo Manzanilla La Gitana
Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda DO, Spain
89 Points, BC $15 for 375ml, #124594
Rhys Pender
Valdepenas Gran Reserva Anciano Gran Reserva
Aged 10 Years, Spain
BC $ 15.99, #789354
Nathalie Bonhomme 2012 El Petit Bonhomme Blanco
Rueda, Spain
BC $13.99, #79046
Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Organically Grown Grapes, San Antonio Valley, Chile
BC $14.49, #813576
Celler Besllum Besllum 2008
Montsant, Spain
BC $ 19.99, #874651
Taylor Fladgate Late Bottled Vintage Port 2007
Portugal
BC $15.99, #509836
Urban Uco Malbec/Tempranillo 2011
Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
BC $14.95, #872978
Anthony Gismondi
Castillo De Monseran Garnacha 2011
Carinena, Spain
BC $8.99 LTO, #197806
Louis Bernard Côtes Du Rhône Rouge 2011
Rhone, France
BC. $14.99, #581645
Poggiotondo Toscana Bianco 2012
Florence, Tuscany, Italy
BC $14.99, #137570
Santa Julia Reserva Malbec 2011
Mendoza, Argentina
BC $12.99 LTO, #488791
The Wolftrap Syrah/Mourvèdre/Viognier 2012
Western Cape
BC $14.99, #138479
Torresella Pinot Grigio 2012
Veneto, Italy
BC $13.99 LTO, BC#468306
Borsão Garnacha Selección 2011
Campo de Borja, Aragon, Spain
BC $14.99, #296426
Editors Note: You can find our critics reviews by clicking on any of the wine names highlighted above. Paid subscribers to WineAlign see all critics reviews immediately. Non-paid users wait 30 days to see new reviews. Membership has its privileges; like first access to great value wines.