Exceptional Quebec Wines for the Holidays

Which wine should you choose to accompany your Holiday festivities?

There’s no easy answer. To guide you, sommelier Kristine Mansuy has suggested 4 wines you’ll be able to enjoy on different occasions.

A good bottle of wine is always appreciated, especially when you’re offering a one that is recommended by Kristine Mansuy! This sommelier, wine consultant for Château-Bromont and event planner, is passionate about successful pairings. She proposes four wines which  are truly excellent choices for accompanying numerous festive moments over the following weeks!

Sparkling Wine

“It’s just impossible not to have a little sparkle during the Holidays!” says Kristine. It’s just unheard of! She suggests Château de Cartes Vineyard’s 2016 sparkling rosé. It’s a simple, festive wine with clear citrus aromas,” explains the specialist, “and it’s not too sweet.” It’s the ideal accompaniment for hors d’oeuvres, antipasto platters and terrines.

Price: $29. Available, among other places, at SAQ online

White Wine

“I especially like Vidal, a white wine produced by the Val Caudalies vineyard,” says Kristine Mansuy. I think we should always have a bottle in the fridge!” According to the sommelier, its characteristics make it the perfect pairing wine: very dry and sharp, mineral and fresh. “It can be savoured as an aperitif and also accompany many dishes, for example, oysters, tartars and ceviche.

Price: $29.95. Sold in certain grocery stores (IGA and Métro) and at the vineyard boutique.

Red Wine

The sommelier selected Léon Courville vigneron’s 2016 Réserve Baco. « It is an exceptional wine, » she says. « Somewhat in the style of Pinot Noir wines, this one stands out with its elegance and fine in-mouth freshness. » If you wish to really impress your guests, serve it with locally grown duck or squab. Success is yours to have.

Vin Gris

A pairing of Orpailleur’s 2017 Vin Gris will make your cheeses, especially your blue cheese, and your (not too sweet) desserts, among other dishes, taste even better! “This wine is extremely well-balanced and has a nice acidity to it,” says Kristine Mansuy.

Price: $16. Available online

You’ll enjoy a truly successful Holiday season (anytime, in fact!) when you opt for these four selections; a sure value to place on your table, to bring along or to offer as a gift. And, if you would like to have your guests experience an unforgettable moment, you might consider calling upon Kristine for her Quebec wine and cheese tasting workshop she hosts throughout the Holiday period. The sommelier offers her services to enterprises as well as to individual groups. Many other workshops have also been developed by KIKICO, the company she founded and which thrives on “all that is fine and good,” just as what we wish for you during this Holiday season!