Now that the weather has decisively shifted gears and we’re also heading into holiday shopping season, it’s time for us to hit refresh with some newly themed mixed packs! Whether you’re looking for cozy fall/winter drinking at home or getting a head start on holiday shopping, we’ve got you covered.

At the Byward Wine Market our motto has been DRINK GOOD WINE and we’re evolving that motto for the holiday season to GIFT GOOD WINE. We have a whole bunch of new mixed cases both from Lifford directly and also at the Byward Wine Market for pickup or shipping within Ottawa. Follow the links below to each of the collections from both Lifford and Byward Wine Market.

FROM LIFFORD WINE & SPIRITS:
This past summer the LCBO finally made it legal for agencies to sell mixed cases from consignment. Prior to this, we could only sell full cases of 12 or 6…in whatever format they were imported, and it was illegal to break up or mix cases. Thanks to the pandemic and more folks wanting variety for at-home delivery of wines from consignment instead of just the LCBO store shelves, the government shifted its policy and allowed us to start selling curated, pre-mixed cases. Unfortunately it’s not as open and easy as creating entirely your own custom cases, as it is still being managed by the LCBO warehouse, but it has allowed us to come up with great options to sample across the portfolio. Throughout the summer we had a lot of patio, cottage, and BBQ themed cases, and now things have shifted to a fall focus and with cozier, earthier vibes. We have 14 great mix pack options from Lifford a the moment. It’s hard to go wrong with any of them, but a couple personal favourites would be the Cult Italian Whites and the Autumn Organics:

Cult Italian Whites mixed case from Lifford Wines.

In Cult Italian Whites you have a few of the very very best producers in all of Italy. Firstly, Elena Walch is the top name in Alto Adige for Pinot Grigio and Gewurztraminer. She had a big spread in the Wine Spectator a number of years ago, a great big article declaring her to the English-speaking world what Italy had already known her as: the Queen Of Gewurztraminer. While she was most famously internationally for her absolutely outstanding Pinot Grigio which many say is the best in the world, she is most well known in the Alto Adige for her Gewurztraminer. This Gewurz comes from her Kastelaz vineyard, which is a designated a “Vigna”, or top single vineyard. This is something that would be considered a Grand Cru of Alto Adige if they had such a classification there. She makes a dryer style Gewurz that is still rich, luxurious, and textured, but refined and balanced. Also, if you’re thinking that this is weird because you know that Gewurz comes from Alsace, you might be surprised to learn that this is actually where it’s from! Walch is in the idyllic town of Tramin in northern Italy’s Alto Adige region. Gewurztraminer literally means the spicy grape from Tramin. Gewurz = Spice, Tramin = Tramin.

This pack also includes the ‘Bianco Secco’ from arguably the highest end producer in all of Italy, certainly that of Valpolicella: Quintarelli. Their prized Amarone and appassimento Cabernet Franc called ‘Alzero’ retail for $500 and $600 on release, so their whites are a huge value. It is a Garganaga-based blend that also includes some Saorin, Trebbiano, Sauv Blanc, and Chardonnay that is naturally fermented and aged on its lees. They don’t have a website, but Kermit Lynch, their US importer has a pretty good rundown of their wines here. This is a rare wine that doesn’t come around very often, and Quintarelli would be one of the original definitions of Cult wine producers with extremely limited, estate production that is oversold and allocated every year.

But if Quintarelli is the original Italian Cult Wine, then Frank Cornelissen is the modern definition. His wines are enthusiastically sought out by everyone from top Michelin starred restaurants, hipster natural wine bars, famous rappers, to serious collectors. So basically everyone wants them. He’s quite literally and figuratively at the very top of the natural wine world. Nestled high up on Mt Etna in Sicily, he began making completely natural, organic, biodynamic, and sulphate free in the early 2000’s and now he’s been the biggest name in natural wine for 10 years. Check out this Vice article from a couple years back. Or this article in Ottawa Magazine when I hosted him for a dinner party in Ottawa with a some top sommeliers a few years ago. Usually this wine would be entirely pre-sold to restaurants, but being in a pandemic with many restaurants struggling, they’re not able to buy everything they usually would. As such, we have a few extra cases available as well as being part of this Cult Italian Whites mixer. The ‘Munjabel Bianco Classico’ is one of just two white wines that Frank produces, and it’s made from 50% Grecanico Dorato and 50% Carricante, indigenous to his area. Follow the link to the Lifford Mixed Case page for all the tasting notes.

FROM THE BYWARD WINE MARKET:
In the past couple weeks with the threat of more lockdowns looming we’ve been putting all our inventory online so you can select individual bottles for purchase and create your own custom mixed cases with local shipping around Ottawa. We’re keeping our space as clean and safe as possible if you’d like to come in and browse the shop with us, or you can now purchase everything online. Last week we added 10 more mixed cases for a total of 15 different themes available at the moment. Click here to browse them all with our own descriptions and notes. From Fall Favourites, to Biodynamic Pioneers, Sauvignon Blanc Lovers, or Epic California, I love all these wines and personally put the mixed packs together. So it’s hard to pick favourites, but if I was to follow on the cult and natural wine theme of this email, I’d be remiss not to point out the Biodynamic Pioneers or the Epic California packs.

Biodynamic Pioneer mixed pack from Byward Wine Market.

Biodynamic Pioneers is exactly what it sounds like, a collection of winemakers who were the pioneers of biodynamic viticulture in their regions. Vincent Caille who makes the X-Bulles Ancestral Method sparkling in the pack was the first winemaker in the Loire Valley’s Muscadet region to return to organics, way back in 1996. Then later turning biodynamic as well. Long before it was cool, and long before anyone else tried to follow. Same for Diana Cullen of Cullen in Australia’s Margaret River. Not only a pioneering winery for the region back in the 1960’s, but also Australia’s first biodynamic winery in the 1990’s. Same also goes for Pyramid Valley in New Zealand, who along with Felton Road were the first biodynamic wineries in New Zealand. Marco Abella was the first in Spain’s Priorat region, and Le Soula was an early adopter in Roussillon under the guidance of natural wine godfather Gerard Gauby. And even here at home in Niagara, Tawse Winery was the 2nd certified biodynamic winery in Canada, back in the mid-2000’s. This lineup is as delicious as it is ecological. A real, raw, and honest lineup of wines.

And because this time of year often calls for some great celebration wines or some really nice gifts, our Epic California pack for any serious wine lover. Any serious California wine lover will know the names Merry Edwards or Heitz Cellars. Two of the most famous names in Sonoma Pinot Noir and Napa Cabernet. Pioneers in their respective fields and top trophy bottles today. But something not everyone may have heard of yet is Booker Vineyards. A biodynamic, high-end, single vineyard operation in Paso Robles that could be a stand-in for any top Napa Cult Wine. These might be the best kept secret that will likely become a new favourite.

These are just a few spotlights on the many amazing new mix packs from both Lifford and Byward Wine Market. Follow the links, browse through them, shoot me a note in the contact page if you have any questions! Happy to help! #GIFTGOODWINE

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!