2020 was a year of learning and lessons. I think we all learned new things about ourselves and others in our circles, but in broader society as well. And something I sort of thought was true before, was confirmed by a pandemic with several prolonged lockdowns: life is too short for bad wine. All my existing customers who previously would order wine from me began ordering a bit more frequently. And very thankfully they told their friends, and their friends told their friends, many of whom also become customers. And others got together in groups and ordered several cases at a time to split with their bubble. This was partly because nobody wanted to go to the LCBO anymore, or stand and wait in lines when you can have it delivered to your door by me, every week, but I think it’s also because people learned how more really great wine is available outside the regular LCBO shelves. So with that, I’m proposing 2021 be a year to continue exploring and resolve to drink better wine :)

Cold weather + lockdowns = time for Zoom tastings.

Because context and education are such an interesting and important parts of wine appreciation (next to deliciousness, of course), I’m hoping to do a lot more Zoom wine tastings and info sessions. We all get a little sick of Zoom meetings from work, and want to be out when the weather is nice and restaurants are open, but when it’s cold out and everything is on lockdown, it’s kind of nice to have something delicious and interesting to do virtually…another thing I learned in 2020. Once the lockdown is over, I know we’ll want to be going out, supporting our restaurants, doing more things, so maybe we’ll start off in January with a weekly tasting and see where it goes from there.

How this will work:
1. I’ll pick a weekly theme—either wine region, grape, favourite producer, style of wine, etc—and offer suggested bottles to pick up.
2. You either pick up a bottle from the Byward Wine Market or order a case of wine from me according to the theme.
3. You send me an email letting me know which wine you have and that you’d like to join the Zoom, and I’ll send you the credentials to join.
4. We’ll keep it short and easy, 20-30 mins that you can tune in and participate with your glass of wine or just mute with camera-off and listen to something fun while sipping wine and making dinner.

Sound good? Let’s say Saturday at 7:00pm
Questions, suggestions, and requests are very much welcome.
Onto this week’s theme:

BIODYNAMICS

This is a topic that almost always comes up in all my other Zoom tastings and in any wine education seminars, or restaurant staff trainings back when those still happened in the before times. It is one of the most important topics in wine today because organic and natural wine is becoming increasingly popular and biodynamics have become a cornerstone of that movement. But it’s a complicated system with a lot of myths, so earlier this year I did a blog post with a bit of a primer on all things “natural wine”. That’s become quite a buzz word with lots of hype and some misunderstandings, so I tried to break things down a bit in my Natural Wine 101.

So this week we’ll taste and discuss some great Biodynamic wines, and here’s a list of some suggested bottles from both Lifford by the case and from the Byward Wine Market by the bottle. If you’re in Ottawa, you can stop by the shop and pick up some bottles yourself (we’re essential, so we’re still open for pickup/takeout) or it can be delivered within Ottawa.

CULLEN WINES, CABERNET MERLOT, MARGARET RIVER, AUSTRALIA
Australia’s first biodynamic winery, as well as one of the New World’s first and most famous. Old World style refinement and depth, and benchmark AUS producer and a biodynamic flagship winery. Tasting notes in link.
$57 a bottle at Byward Wine Market, or $52.99 x6 from Lifford

FELTON ROAD, ‘BANNOCKBURN’ PINOT NOIR, CENTRAL OTAGO, NEW ZEALAND
Like Cullen in Australia, Felton Road was the first Biodynamic winery in New Zealand in 2001. Felton Road is a cult name like few others in the world of Pinot Noir, a New World trophy to be sure. It’s not always around, so a wonderful bottle to grab while we have it! More info in title link.
$94 a bottle at Byward Wine Market

GUT OGGAU, BURGENLAND, AUSTRIA
Simply one of the most famous (and insta-famous) “natural” wineries in the world. You’ve likely seen the labels with the drawn faces of this fictitious family at great restaurants or online. Unfiltered and funky, all the while pretty a refined. Archetypical “natural” wine at its best. Here’s a link to more info on them and the family tree. Also check out their insta and website in the link above, there’s lots to Google for more info on them. We only have cases of “Theodora” left at Lifford, but we have all the rest at the Byward Wine Market:
THEODORA, Gruner Veltliner + Welschriesling
$60 per bottle at Byward Wine Market, or $53.99 x6 from Lifford
WINIFRED, Blaufrankish + Zweigelt - $60 per bottle at Byward Wine Market
ATANASIUS, Zweigelt + Blaufrankish - $60 per bottle at Byward Wine Market
JOSCHUARI, Blaufrankish - $135 per bottle at Byward Wine Market
JOSEPHINE, Blaufrankish + Roesler - $92 per bottle at Byward Wine Market
EMMERAM, Gewurztraminer - $115 per bottle at Byward Wine Market
MASQERADE WEISS, Mysterious white field blend - $60 per bottle at Byward Wine Market

VINCENT CAILLE, MUSCADET, LOIRE VALLEY, FRANCE
Vincent was the first winemaker to go back to organic winemaking in the Muscadet region back in 1996, then the first to go Biodynamic in the early 2010’s, a true pioneer of natural wine in the region. All his wines drink really fresh and balanced. More info on the link in the title.
X-BULLES, 90% Melot de Bourgogne, 10% Côt (light rosé, method ancestral sparkling)
$33 per bottle at Byward Wine Market, $28.99 x12 from Lifford
JE T’AIME MAIS J’AI SOIF, 60% Melon de Bourgogne, 40% Roussanne
$28 per bottle at Byward Wine Market, $24.99 x12 from Lifford
CORBEAU BLANC, 100% Gros Plant (aka Folle Blanche)
$23 per bottle at Byward Wine Market, $19.99 x12 from Lifford
CÔT, 100% Côt - $28 at Byward Wine Market

LE SOULA, TRIGONE ROUGE, ROUSSILLON, FRANCE
A small off-grid biodynamic winery from atop the Fenouillèdes mountains, which are the foothills of the Pyrenees. 100% Syrah, all natural, rich, and refined. Excellent for sipping, and earthy game roasts or any meat with mushroom sauce. More info in the title link.
$42 per bottle at Byward Wine Market, or $37.99 x12 from Lifford

DOMAINE WEINBACH, ALSACE, FRANCE
Simply the finest wine made in Alsace, and some of the best white wine in the world. Big statement, but not a stretch. Ask anyone who knows Alsace. This family of female powerhouse winemakers were among the first biodynamic proponents in France, long before it was cool. Any of their wines will age with grace, but are delicious now too. For more info, see feature from 2 weeks ago.
LES VIGNES DU PRESCHEUR, Field blend of Riesling, Auxerrois, Pinot Gris, Muscat, and Sylvaner
$50 at Byward Wine Market, or $45.99 x6 from Lifford
SYLVANER, 100% Sylvaner - $50 at Byward Wine Market, or $45.99 x6 at Lifford

TELMO RODRIGUEZ, SPAIN
What Domaine Weinbach is to Alsace, Cullen is to Australia, or Felton Road is to New Zealand…That’s Telmo Rodriguez to Spain. A trailblazer and pioneer with two middle fingers in the air to the conventional wine industry in the mid 1990’s when Biodynamics was a joke bordering witchcraft. Now he’s went from black sheep to godfather of Biodyanmics. Peruse his website. Stunning photography with lots of in-depth info. And all the wines are stellar. And here’s an essay on why I think he’s great.
BASA, 90% Verdejo, 10% Viura
$22 per bottle at Byward Wine Market, $18.99 x12 from Lifford
ALMUVEDRE, 100% Monastrell (aka Mourvedre in France)
$19 per bottle at Byward Wine Market, $16.99 x12 from Lifford

*We have lots more Telmo Wines, and other Biodynamic wines at the Byward Wine Market, just search the website or stop by the shop!

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Just a reminder that the order deadline for Friday case delivery is Wednesday at 9:30am. Reach out if you have any questions, and check out the archive of past FEATURES if you’re interested in other recommendations. Lastly, please feel free to forward this to anyone in Ontario who may be interested in home wine delivery and follow us on instagram for daily wine content at @bywardwinemarket and @capitalwine.ottawa!