Image description: a stack of brightly packaged presents gives a festive impression. In the foreground, a present with bright red paper is adorned with white string and small, red berries.
From timeless classics to unique selections, Bishop’s Cellar has you covered for your holiday wine, beer and spirits gifting.
If you’re in a pinch for some last minute buys, these crowd pleasers will help you cross a few things off your list:
Champagne Gimonnet Cuis 1er Cru
The holidays are a great excuse to gift (and drink!) sparkling wines, and Gimonnet is an excellent find from the Champagne region.
100% Chardonnay, dry and lively, this is a Bishop’s staff favourite all year round. What’s more is that it comes in mini bottles as well as 1.5 litre magnums to cover everything from your stocking stuffers to your New Year’s Eve bubbly.
If you’re hoping to buy local this year, look no further than Nova Scotian bubbly.
Our marginal maritime climate is really well suited to making traditional method sparkling wines and Blomidon winery is producing some of my favourites. Bursting with toast, citrus and mineral notes that truly speak to our unique coastal terrior, it’s the perfect addition for staying close to home this year.
Pearl Morissette Cuvee Dix-Neuvieme
This Chardonnay is from the Twenty-Mile Bench sub-region of Niagara.
Low intervention, low sulphur, indigenous yeast fermentation and time in both foudres and concrete are a few techniques that make this wine totally amazing. It’s got excellent weight and balance, which makes it a fuller style of white wine that’s perfect for holiday food pairings.
No drinker of Chardonnay could turn down what this wine has to offer.
For your lovers of crisp styles of white wine, this Sancerre (made of 100% Sauvignon Blanc) will fit the bill perfectly.
The wine showcases vibrant acidity and minerality, as well as lovely citrus fruit on both the nose and the palate.
It’s awesome served with soft, salty cheeses (like goat cheese), salads, or seafood.
La Source has been a prevailing favourite among Bishop’s staff and customers from season to season.
From a small producer located by Mont Ventoux in the Rhone region, this Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault blend is beautifully savoury and herbaceous on the nose with complementary notes of rich red fruit on the palate.
This wine is drinking wonderfully now but could hold for a few more years should its lucky recipient wish to age it!
You’d be hard pressed to find a wine lover who wouldn’t want to receive Burgundy as a gift.
Marchand Tawse Cote de Nuits gives you all the earth-fruit balance you want to see in a Pinot Noir while remaining approachable and elegant. Pinot Noir also pairs well with lots of warm-up winter fare, from mild to medium cheeses, to various roasted white meats, pork or game.
Many Nova Scotians will agree that their holiday spread isn’t complete without a bottle of Nova 7.
This off-dry, spritzy wine from Benjamin Bridge can be equally festive, as it is fresh. Great as an aperitif wine, after dinner sipper or an awesome addition to fun cocktails, too. Also available in cans!
The holiday season is a great time to have dessert wine on hand. Sometimes with all the food that’s passed around, wine as its own dessert can really hit the spot. Sauternes is one of the most renowned sweet wines in the world.
Chateau Guiraud Sauternes will give you honeyed flavours of tree fruit, a hint of nuttiness, and a beautiful rich mouthfeel with balancing acidity. If the table isn’t too full, you can pair it with cheeses or fruit-based desserts.
This grappa-based digestif would make a unique gift for lovers of Amaro or cocktails.
The mellow flavours of orange citrus, liquorice, mint and baking spice in this Amaro are festive on their own. but would also make a really interesting addition to cocktails. The mixologist in your life could work wonders with a little Amaro Nonino behind the bar!
Chimay Beer
For a true beer lover, don’t miss out on these classic examples of Trappist Belgian beer styles.
Authentically brewed at a Monastery near Chimay, Belgium; the traditional yeasts used will impart flavours of dried fruit and cloves, complemented by pleasant maltiness.
Trust us. If your loved one is a beer nerd, a selection of Chimay beers will not disappoint.
Beyond these selections are tons more options for beer, spirits and wine. Our staff are more than happy to help you find the perfect gift. We can even help you out with stocking stuffable accessories, glasses or mini bottles.
And remember — when in doubt, there’s always a gift card!
Cheers,
Genevieve Dow- Retail Staff