Jason MacPhee
Wine Category Manager
Picks for Spring + St Patrick’s Day
Terregaie is located in Vo, a small town in the Euganean Hills immersed in a volcanic territory, where everything smells of wine and the Lovo family have a long storied history of wine making.
Prosecco is their focus, and for over a decade it has been for us as well. Just in time for spring a new wine from them arrived and it happens to be one of my favorite styles of wine. Northern Italian Sauvignon Blanc. This is the style of wine you want to celebrate the arrival of Spring with. The nose has intense aromatic notes of grapefruit, sage, and minerals. The palate has cleansing, fresh acidity that is balanced by the mixture of citrus and stone fruit.
Read more about JasonLucas Mader
Category Manager for Beer, Refreshment, & Spirits, Cicerone
Picks for Spring + St. Patrick’s Day
March is a weird month – in years past it was the month that I dove into my cellar to try out weird and unique drinks. This year, I’m taking a mellow approach and (during the week) working my way through our growing lineup of non-alcoholic offerings. I have yet to find a hoppy non-alc beer that drinks as good as the Stay Classy IPA from Bellwoods. This beer is so clean and refreshing while maintaining more texture and flavour than many other NA beers on the market. Having just been to Bellwoods last week, I got to see first hand just how much effort and technology goes into their non-alc offerings, and if you haven’t tried one yet – now’s the time!
Read more about LucasKathryn Harding
Director of Customer Experience, Sommelier
Picks to Share with Someone Special
I love PINOT NOIR, particularly the French variations, yet I am always on the lookout for something delicious from other parts of the globe. The great thing about a good Californian Pinot is its fruit-forward profile. Unlike the cooler wine-growing regions, it boasts an abundance of cherry, plum, and raspberry notes that seamlessly leap from the glass as a result of the long sunny growing season. This pinot was medium-bodied, lush, velvety and smooth, and it didn’t require deep thought to enjoy. A great fruit-forward new-world pinot noir that isn’t trying to be anything more than a great Pinot Noir.
Read more about KathrynAlanna McIntyre
Product Specialist, Sommelier
Picks for Spring + St. Patrick’s Day
Gaby McCotter
Retail Manager
Picks for Spring + St. Patrick’s Day
Crisp, bright, and vivacious! The Chenin aromatics bring citrus characters of tangerine, pear, orange blossom, and honeydew melon. The Viognier aromatics tend to be a little heavier on stone fruit of peach and mango with a little honeysuckle.
Toast to Spring and Friendship:
Raise a glass of Pine Ridge Chenin+Viognier to toast the arrival of spring and celebrate the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day. Share stories, laughter, and good cheer with your friends and loved ones as you enjoy the company and the delicious food and wine. By combining the freshness of spring, the festive spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, and the delightful flavours of Pine Ridge Chenin Viognier, you’re sure to create a memorable and enjoyable celebration for all to enjoy.
Ryan Almeida
eCommerce Manager
Picks for Spring + St. Patrick’s Day
Chateau de Trinquevedel is a fourth generation family-run winery, nestled in the heart of Tavel, Southern Rhone- the only A.O.C. that is entirely made up of Rose. This deeply salmon-coloured wine is comprised of 60% Grenache, 18% Cinsault, 12% Clairette, 5% Syrah, and 5% Mourvèdre- this kind of blend is common in the region as no more than 60% of the final blend can contain Grenache, with a total of 9 grapes permitted for use.
Raspberry, cherry, wet stone, and roses occupy the nose with the red berry and floral notes carrying through to the palate. Some added watermelon, signature minerality, and a little bit of heat make this Rose perfect for a variety of foods; think game birds, pork, oily fish, or even charcuterie.
Read more about RyanKate Fraser
Retail Supervisor, Spirits Specialist
Picks for Spring + St. Patrick’s Day
MacNair’s is Billy Walker’s (GlenAllachie’s Master Distiller) side hustle. I know that people poopoo on blended scotches, but they’re wrong. This is a blend of two single malt scotches from Islay and Speyside, and these two regions marry so well together. Islay comes through with some brininess, Speyside lends us some fruit and floral notes. It’s so aromatic; fresh baked cookies, almonds, fresh ripe raspberries, and vanilla bean with some moss and earth. Bright fruit, grippy wood tannins, cinnamon, and smoke on the finish.
Read more about KateStefan Nielsen
Retail Supervisor, Sommelier
Picks for Spring + St. Patrick’s Day
Forget everything you think you know about Australian Chardonnay. Ochota Barrels’ “Slint” is a beautiful expression of what the Adelaide Hills region has to offer. More of a hilly forested area than what most of us picture when we think of Australia, – it’s one of the coolest (literally and figuratively) and most highly-elevated regions in the country. Minimal oak treatment and regular lees stirring has resulted in a wine that tastes more like a Chablis than your typical New World Chardonnay. Biodynamic fruit and minimal sulfur additions – this is natural wine at its cleanest and most approachable. Pair this with roast chicken and literally any shellfish dish and you’re in for a treat.
Read more about StefanGenny
Customer Service Sales Associate, Sommelier
Picks for Spring + St. Patrick’s Day
Let this lush and fruit driven white be a breath of spring during this last (we hope) push of winter. Weighty and juicy melon and peach with undercurrents of fresh herbs and jaunty florals animate this organically produced petit manseng from the Languedoc-Roussillon region of Southern France. Rombeau wines are always well made, so enjoy this wine and look to warmer days ahead.
Read more about GennyFernando
Customer Service Sales Associate
Picks for Spring + St. Patrick’s Day
This is a wine I had near the start of my time at Bishop’s. I thought I wasn’t a big fan of Pinot Grigio, but gosh this one changed my mind. Hailing from northern Italy and only a few kilometers west of Slovenia, this skin-contact wine garners more complexity than one might expect from this grape varietal. Elegant with structure and a touch of tannins, expect notes of florality, toast, and vanilla. Is it a rose or orange wine? Pick one up and let me know.
Read more about FernandoDaniela
Customer Service Sales Associate
Picks for Spring + St. Patrick’s Day
In ancient Ireland, the shamrock (or seamroy, as the Celtics called it) was a sacred plant since it symbolized the rebirth of spring. As someone who prefers warmer seasons, this little plant is a bearer of good news to me! On top of that, the shamrock also represents one of the coolest holidays of the year: St. Patrick’s! If you’re already thinking about that tasty ham and cabbage, try pairing them with the O’Hara’s Nitro Irish Stout- aromas of vanilla cream and chocolate wafer cookies are followed by notes of roasted coffee beans, dark chocolate, subtle black tea, and cocoa powder. This stout is guaranteed to elevate your St Paddy’s experience to a whole ‘nitro’ level.
Read more about DanielaAllie Barter
Customer Service Sales Associate
Picks to Share with Someone Special
This sparkling rose will tickle your taste buds while keeping your wallet happy. My typical Valentine’s Day consists of good wine and even better people to share it with. Veuve Olivier’s rose bubbles are smooth and velvety while featuring juicy flavors of strawberry and cherries. The palate is bright and lively but it is also delicate at the same time which is why it is so well loved among my friend group. I will be serving the sparkling rose alongside chocolate covered strawberries and a cheesy rom-com. I insist you try the same!
Read more about AllieDavid
Customer Service Sales Associate
Picks for Spring + St. Patrick’s Day
Hops & Soda isn’t pretending to be beer, and it’s not pretending to be not-beer, either. I find that sometimes even non-alcholic beer can be a bit heavy, and I’m not always in the mood for NA cocktails or other flavoured drinks. Light and crisp, offering a fresh and balanced citrus character with some botanical undertones, Hops & Soda is a refreshing addition to our growing NA section.
Read more about DavidSam
Customer Service Sales Associate
Picks for Spring + St. Patrick’s Day
The can is (partially) green and it’s fruity, refreshing, and delicious. Perfect drink to celebrate the beginning of spring and fit in with the sea of green this St. Patrick’s Day. With gin made from 100% Canadian rye and naturally flavoured with tangerine, lemon, and a hint of mint. Never too sweet but still has a little more to offer than your typical can of LaCroix. Packed with big bubbles and “a LOT of love” as the producer boasts. I couldn’t agree more, and will gladly be decked out in green, and sipping on this bad boy.
Read more about SamTianjun
Picks for Spring + St. Patrick’s Day
Let’s have a date with Spring.
A citrus light green in the bottle, slightly fizzy to light up the mood and just enough alcohol to loosen you up and enjoy the time.
It is a friend to all creatures in the sea, lighter meat, soft to semi-hard cheese like burrata or gouda, fresh leafy greens, grilled vegetables, and even potato dishes. You could hardly go wrong with this attainable dry, crisp, bright juice.
So relax, enjoy your time alone or a casual meal with family or friends or a treat to yourself after today’s workout. Cheers!
Ireland McDonald
Customer Service Sales Associate
Picks for Spring + St. Patrick’s Day
You can never go wrong with getting into the St. Patrick’s day spirit with whiskey that’s as smooth as a good conversation and as delightful as celebrating with the people you choose. Inhale the freshness of malt, wood, and a hint of spice, honey, and vanilla – a breath of Irish air in every sip. Your senses will enjoy a breath of nuts, malt and charred wood, like an irish jig for your palate! Crafted with some Irish spirit, Paddy’s Irish Whiskey is set to be the perfect option that will satisfy your taste buds while keeping you on theme. As someone with Irish roots… even the leprechauns have agreed on this one!
Read more about IrelandErica Priolo
Customer Service Sales Associate
Picks for Spring + St. Patrick’s Day
Gin Royal is what I gravitate toward when headed into the first glimpse of spring. This drink highlights our pollinating friends in its label, and in adding a touch of local honey. Gin Royal has an irresistible botanical palette, with a hint of sweetness. It is both a visual and gustatory delicacy, reminiscent of the vibrancy of spring. I like mine in a French 75, or a simple gin and tonic. Poured with lemon or lime juice, feast your eyes for this drink changes as does the seasons.
Read more about Erica