Wine Advent

2024 Rockwerk Gruner Veltliner - Niederösterreich, Austria

Fresh and vibrant, the ROCKWERK Grüner Veltliner is the result of a collaboration between Falstaff’s Winemaker of the Year Markus Huber and Master Sommelier Jesse Becker. Using grapes sourced primarily from the Traisental region, with small contributions from Kremstal and Weinviertel, the wine was spontaneously fermented and aged in stainless steel. Crafted for immediate enjoyment, it delights with crisp notes of citrus, crushed stone, and a touch of white pepper. Perfect alongside fresh greens, Grüner Veltliner is one of the few grape varieties that pairs beautifully with bitter ingredients such as artichokes. Its bright acidity also makes it an ideal companion to a golden, crispy schnitzel.

2023 Tenute Baldo Le Ripaie Sangiovese - Umbria, Italy

Known as the “Green Heart of Italy,” Umbria is a region of rolling hills and medieval villages that evoke the charm of neighboring Tuscany. It’s here that Tenute Baldo crafts elegant wines from 53 hectares of vineyards spread across two estates in Montefalco and Torgiano. Each step of cultivation is carried out with great care, blending traditional methods with modern innovation. Their “Le Ripaie” Sangiovese is a perfect example of a youthful, food-friendly red. Hand-harvested grapes are naturally fermented and aged for three months in stainless steel tanks. In the glass, it shines a vibrant ruby red, revealing notes of morello cherry, red currant, and violet. The palate is silky, with refined tannins and balanced acidity. This wine pairs beautifully with a hearty ragù served over pappardelle pasta.

2023 Deux Chevaux “Neemia x Camille” Rosé - Languedoc Roussillon, France

Think rosé is only for summer? Think again. The “Neemia x Camille” Rosé is an elegant companion for the holiday season and beyond. This distinctive wine was born from the friendship of Neemia Tialata and Camille Blanc, who decided to create their own label after an afternoon spent working in Camille’s family vineyard. A former professional rugby player from New Zealand, Neemia was drawn to the French way of life and its appreciation for conviviality. In Camille, he found a winemaker and collaborator equally committed to producing wines that are fresh and approachable. Made from 100% Cinsault, their rosé reveals a delicate pale-pink hue and expressive aromas of strawberry, peach, and white flowers. Light-bodied and completely dry, it delivers a refined, balanced palate with a subtle note of herbaceous spice on the finish. It’s the perfect match for fresh Niçoise salad.

2020 Quinta Colinas de São Lourenço Tinto - Bairrada, Portugal

This expressive red from Portugal’s Bairrada region is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Merlot, and Syrah. Crafted at Quinta Colinas de São Lourenço (Taylor Fladgate’s Bairrada estate), the wine reflects the area’s Bordeaux-like climate and the estate’s 61 hectares of carefully tended vineyards. Elegant and balanced, this Tinto delivers aromas of blackberry, graphite, and dried Mediterranean herbs. On the palate, it’s full-bodied yet lifted by fresh acidity, showing both depth and finesse. A wine that far exceeds its price point, it pairs beautifully with a hearty beef stew or other rich, savory dishes.

2023 Redstone Viognier - Niagara Peninsula, Canada

Owned by Moray Tawse, Redstone Winery has quickly become one of the rising stars of the Niagara Benchlands. Tawse acquired the 15-hectare estate in 2009 in partnership with the late Paul Pender. Formerly known as Thomas & Vaughan, the property was renamed Redstone in honour of its distinctive red soils. Today, the vineyards are farmed according to organic principles, with an emphasis on promoting soil health through natural practices. Synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are avoided, supporting a more sustainable and expressive growing environment. The Redstone Viognier is crafted from grapes sourced from the Redfoot Vineyard in the Lincoln Lakeshore VQA. Aged in French oak barrels, the wine offers concentrated notes of ripe peach, passionfruit, and citrus blossom. Vibrant and juicy, it pairs beautifully with orange sesame chicken.

2024 Altos Las Hormigas Cloud Cabernet Sauvignon - Mendoza, Argentina

Crafted in the style of a classic Claret, the Cloud Cabernet Sauvignon combines generous fruit with the freshness of high-altitude vineyards. Produced by the talented team of Alberto Antonini, Pedro Parra, and Federico Gambetta, the grapes come from a 50-year-old pergola-trained vineyard in Casas Viejas, San Carlos, Uco Valley. The region’s semi-arid climate features hot summers, cool nights, and cold, sunny winters. Ideal conditions for balanced ripening. Fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged for six months in concrete tanks, the wine shows a bright ruby-red hue and a full-bodied profile. Aromas of ripe black plum, black currant, bay leaf, and eucalyptus lead to a well-structured palate with excellent drinkability. It’s a superb match for grilled lamb chops.

2024 Corte Mainente Vigna Cengelle Soave - Veneto, Italy

Situated near the historic Scaligero Castle in Soave, northeastern Italy, the Corte Mainente estate comprises 12 hectares of vineyards spread across three parcels: Cengelle, Pigno, and Tenda. For over 50 years, the Mainente family has carefully tended these traditional pergola-trained vines with dedication and passion. Their grape of choice, Garganega (cultivated in the region since ancient Roman times) is prized for its delicate, floral character, offering notes of lemon, tangerine, marjoram, and almond. Vinified in concrete tanks and blended with a small portion of Trebbiano di Soave, Vigna Cengelle captures Soave’s signature mineral-driven elegance. Serve well chilled alongside a plate of spaghetti alle vongole for a classic Italian pairing.

2024 Fontana Cuvée Cobalto Syrah & Garnacha - Ucles Valley, Spain

A new cuvée from the talented team of Jesús Cantarero, Andreas Kubach MW, Sam Harrop, and Gorka Izagirre - "Cobalto" is crafted from organically farmed fruit sourced from high-elevation vineyards in the heart of Castile. Limited to just 14,000 bottles, this wine blends 80% Syrah with 20% Garnacha. The grapes are hand-harvested and fermented separately, destemmed, and vinified by variety. After completing malolactic fermentation, the wine spends approximately nine months ageing in small stainless-steel tanks, followed by six months of bottle ageing. Generous in black-fruit character and savory spice, it offers ripe notes of blackberry, licorice, black olive, black pepper, and anise. To complement its savory profile, pair it with smoked ribs.

2023 Château Ollieux Romanis Indigènes “Rêver notre vie sur Terre” Chardonnay - Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Château Ollieux Romanis is a historic estate situated in the heart of Corbières-Boutenac, the most prestigious winemaking zone in Corbières. Founded in 1896, the winery has remained in the Borie family for generations. The Chardonnay grapes for this wine are sourced from vineyards planted on a limestone plateau high in the Upper Aude Valley. Surrounded by oak trees and wild garrigue, the vines benefit from cooling winds and nutrient-poor soils. The hand-harvested grapes undergo natural fermentation and partial ageing in seasoned French oak foudre, which add subtle complexity without overwhelming the wine. Crafted with minimal intervention, it offers fresh notes of green apple, roasted pear, and baking spice. Round yet precise, the wine has the brightness and lift to pair beautifully with a warming bowl of bourride.

2022 Moroki Pinot Noir - Nelson, New Zealand

Moroki Wine Co. is a collective of growers with vineyards across Marlborough and Nelson. Named after the Māori word moroki (pronounced mo-ro-kee), meaning “ongoing,” the winery focuses on small-parcel production of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. This Pinot Noir is sourced from vineyards in Nelson, one of New Zealand’s smallest wine regions. Fermented in stainless steel and aged with minimal oak influence, the wine shows a pale garnet hue with subtle brick tones. Initially a bit reserved, it opens with time in the glass to reveal aromas of crushed strawberry, cherry, forest floor, and mushroom. Light on the palate, it offers fine-grained tannins and gentle earthy spice. It’s a natural match for roasted duck.

Balthasar Ress PETMAN Riesling Pet Nat - Rheingau, Germany

PETMAN is a lively, naturally sparkling Riesling made from grapes grown in the heart of Germany’s Rheingau region. It comes from the Ress family, who have called the village of Hattenheim home since the late 1800s. With PETMAN, they set out to create something fresh, fun, and full of personality. Fermentation starts in stainless steel and finishes in the bottle, where the wine naturally carbonates to a playful 2.1–2.5 atmospheres of pressure. It’s left unfiltered, so a gentle natural haze remains, adding to its charm. In the glass, it’s a pale straw-yellow with inviting aromas of white peach, nectarine, lemon wafer, and a touch of yogurt. Medium-bodied with frothy bubbles and zippy acidity, it finishes long, bright, and wonderfully mineral-driven. This is a go-to pairing for fried chicken.