Wine

Do you know how rosé is made? Here to help shine a light on the world of winemaking, we explain the two main techniques used in the production of rosé.

Grenache is now one of the most popular varieties on the planet, thanks in part to its great expressive diversity. Here are a few Spanish examples.

A fun way of testing your SAQ taste-tage knowledge!

An expert gives us the ABCs of organic, biodynamic and natural wines. What exactly do these terms mean?

Rare is a grape variety as multifaceted as this magnificent white originating from the Loire Valley, that can produce dry, lively wines, rich and floral vintages, and even the entire range of sweet wines, including dessert wines and even botyrized wines (those affected by what we call “noble rot”)—not to mention sparkling wines of great quality. Its aromas of pear and sometimes peach, white flowers, and even honey or wet wool, are endowed with remarkable complexity.

An underestimated Mediterranean grape variety! For quite some time, very little merit has been accorded to Cinsault, a grape variety originating from the Rhône and Languedoc regions. Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say it has been granted only a single virtue: its ability to produce a high volume of fruit—perfect for creating inexpensive cuvées or easy-to-drink rosés for guzzling.

When it comes to those lesser-known grape varieties that turn out to be veritable treasures, Mencia is definitely hard to beat. A grape variety primarily found in the Bierzo and Ribera Sacra districts in the northern Spain, Mencia is also known as Jaen in Portugal, where it is used in the production of Dão wines. Some 30 years ago, it had a pretty modest reputation.

Identifying grape varieties: a real challenge!

Le vin grec gagne en popularité au Québec. Pour l’amateur curieux, le pays est un coffre aux trésors riche en découvertes. Il recèle des centaines de cépages indigènes, dont plusieurs sont cultivés depuis des milliers d’années.

Many trade magazines and online news sites provide ratings for products. Since it is sometimes difficult to find your way through these different sources, here are some explanations about the different rating systems.

Rosés produced right here in Quebec are becoming even more numerous and even more popular. Have you tried them yet?

Several lesser-known grape varieties do not qualify as “international”. Such is the case of Verdejo, an indigenous white variety originating from Rueda in the northwest of Spain.