Folk Fest Favourite

Folk Fest Favourite

by | Jul 23, 2014 | blog

Folk Fest 2014 promises to be nothing short of fantastic with a sunny forecast ahead and a line up that’s as colourful and diverse as our wine and beer selection. Last week we shared our folk and wine pairings with you but this week we chatted with Matthew Swann a.k.a. Astral Swans, a rising local musician whose style is one-of-a-kind. Swann’s music draws on folk from another era while taking cues from psychedelic rock and no wave. If you had to sum it up best you’d call it Experimental Pop. Before playing at Folk Fest this year Matthew took a few minutes to tell us a little bit more about what inspires him and how he warms up before his shows: VS            How did you get into music? My older brothers Larry and Travis taught me to play guitar at a young age. When I was five, my young voice and exuberance helped me to win a talent contest singing the popular song, “Have You Ever Gone Sailing”. In 1952, I met Bob Montgomery at Hutchinson Junior High School. We shared an interest in music, and teamed up as “Buddy and Bob”. We sang harmony duets at local clubs, and high school talent shows. Later on I would help invent Rock n’ Roll, and die in a fiery plane crash at the tender age of 22. It’s also possible that I took this information from Buddy Holly’s Wikipedia page. The End. VS           When it comes to songwriting what kind of themes do you like to focus on? I’m pretty fixated on...
What Pairs with Folk?

What Pairs with Folk?

by | Jul 19, 2014 | blog

Folk Fest is just around the corner and that means spending the weekend in Prince’s Island Park while catching an impressive collection of artists and musicians. Each year the line up is as diverse as the next with acts that range from indie pop to reggae to West African funk; you just never know what you’re going to get. As a festival sponsor, Vine Styles wants to help get everyone excited about Folk Fest, which is why we’ve created our very own festival line up that includes an eclectic section of wines that pair with some of the artists you’ll see this year: 2012 WillaKenzie Pinot Gris MELLOW Folk Fest Pairing: Great Lake Swimmers There’s something about listening to this group that just creates the feeling of instant relaxation so we’ve picked the nice easy drinking WillaKenzie Pinot Gris from our Mellow section. This plush white is full of aromas and flavours that are just as pleasing to the taste buds as tracks from GLS’ latest album are to your ears. The harmony of sweet melon fruit and gentle acidity will make you feel like you’re on cloud 9. 2012 Les Halos de Jupiter Costières de Nimes LUSH Folk Fest Pairing: Basia Bulat When you think of talented female folk singers Joni Mitchell and Neko Case probably come to mind but here’s someone else that should be on your radar: Basia Bulat. She’s a dazzling young songstress who’s taken the folk music genre and made it her own with poppy melodies and a charming stage presence. For Basia we had to pick something that was soft, Lush, feminine and full of...
The Half Classy Wine Party

The Half Classy Wine Party

by | Jul 2, 2014 | blog

What happens when Vine Styles join forces with the people behind Calgary’s go to resource for Stampede? You get a must attend cowboy shindig with just a touch of class… but not too much. That’s right. Stampede is all about letting loose and most of us associate this time of year with drinking too much draft beer, getting sweaty in crowded tents and for some of us, this time of year has even come to mean drinking out of our cowboy boots. If this sounds like your typical routine then it might be time to shake it up. For all of you who can’t imagine getting a Molson down the hatch by week 2, Vine Styles and Stmpdr present a great alternative for you and it’s called the Half Classy Wine Party. On July 9th, you are invited to the Vine Styles location in Kensington from 6 to 8 pm for a food and wine fete that’s going to involve samples of hearty western treats and a flight of reds and whites that pair perfectly. We’re even pouring a little something called Cowboy Champagne that you’ll have a hard time finding in too many other places this July. Whether you’re on your way home and need a little après work refresher or you’re on your way out for the evening and are looking to get primed, this is the perfect party for you. Between trying each of wine you’ll also get to hear a little bit of invaluable Stampede advice on how to survive the last few days of Stampede and make the last weekend one to remember. If you...

Crisp

Whites with snappy acidity and vibrant flavours that will awaken your senses

Our crisp whites offer lovely refreshing acidity and a nice citrus punch; these wines will revive you and make you feel like you’re enjoying fresh fruit in an orchard in the middle of July. Think about of the last time you were out somewhere in the heat of the summer; one of those days when the pavement was melting, the paint was peeling off buildings and all you could think about was how badly you wanted something to quench your thirst. When you stumbled onto a lemonade stand and took that first sip, you were cured.

We can’t say our wines will cure dehydration but they are a great option while you’re enjoying patio weather.

 

Varietals

You’ll find varietals like Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Riesling and Vinho Verde and more!

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Mellow

Loved for their understated qualities these whites are beautiful and exotic

Talking about mellow wine is like talking about a classic film star. She’s a lady with international acclaim and classic appeal. Mellow wines don’t jump up and down screaming for attention; instead they prefer to lure you in with their quiet charm and feminine wiles. Swirling a nice Viognier or Pinot Gris is all about soft, intricate and attractive flavours that might make you think about your favourite perfume, stepping into a flower shop or leaving a patisserie where they’ve just taken almond pastries out of the oven. This is Sophia Loren in a glass.

 

Varietals

If you enjoy varietals like Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer or Chenin Blanc you’ll love this style!

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Lush

Whites that ask to be a muse. This is Claude Monet’s water lilies’ in a wine glass.

Lavish and luxurious wines with all the razzle-dazzle. Think about the things in life that make you feel like you’re living large. Imagine yourself wearing layers of pearl necklaces, leading a ticker tape parade, eating popcorn laced with truffle oil and lounging on the king bed of the Ritz Carlton penthouse all at the same time. Lush wines are what we drink when we’re feeling on top of the world and when we want to celebrate life. This is 4th of July fireworks and the clock striking midnight on New Year’s Eve all rolled into one beautiful gold package. Bottoms up!

 

Varietals

Varietals like Chardonnay, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier are found here.

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Elegant

Ruby reds with a timeless style and appeal; wines that will never go out of fashion.

Elegant reds ask you to dig a bit deeper. Some people enjoy them for the romantic ideas they conjure while others enjoy the subtle nuances that each bottle possesses. We can’t think of a better way to describe elegant reds than talking about Coco Chanel. Think about No. 5, the little black dress or the most importantly the iconic Chanel suit, a true couture item that is well lined, carefully crafted and something that will always be in vogue. An elegant wine is like a nice stroll along the promenade in the seaside town of Biarritz or a day at the ballet in red maillot.

 

Varietals

Here you’ll find Pinot Noirs, Gamays, Chiantis and more!

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Smooth

Reds that are pleasant from start to finish

Supple and velvety, smooth reds are a real crowd pleaser; something that everyone loves. Like a popular jazz standard, the best way to sum up these wines is to think about hearing Miles Davis on vinyl. Everyone has heard those tunes and when the horns come in on the track you can’t help but connect over the sheer universal joy in hearing something so incredibly smooth and pleasing to the senses. Miles Davis was one cool dude and that’s how we feel about the wines in this section. You’ll feel like you’re slipping on a new pair of driving gloves every time you pour yourself one.

 

Varietals

Varietals such as Grenache, Merlot and mouth-watering blends can be found here.

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Bold

Our deepest most complex reds; these wines make a statement

Full and flavourful with an intense fruit core, these reds are the talk of the town. Bold wines have an intensity about them that not only commands your presence but also asks you to stay a while. Pretend for a minute that Clint Eastwood has just walked into a bar, stared at you for a long hard second and proceeded to put out a cigar out on his forearm before challenging you to an arm wrestle. You’re heart might skip a beat but you’ll be happy that you tried it. That arm wrestle might be one of the best things you ever do in your life. That’s how we describe a bold wine.

 

Varietals

Food friendly varietals like Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel are right at home here.

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Bubbly

There’s nothing quite like hearing that cork pop!

Call us crazy but the sound of a cork being popped just makes everything better. Headaches dull, clouds seem to part and even the sound of crying children can be drowned out by the wonderful thought that you’ll soon have a stem in hand and an effervescent treat to tickle the end of your nose. A glass of bubbly just spells a plain good time. It might be a celebratory drink with friends, an excuse to get all gussied up for a fabulous night out or it might just be a date with the couch to watch Sex and the City re-runs solo.

 

Varietals

Here you’ll find everything from Champagne to Cava, Prosecco, Lambrusco and everything in between!

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Rich

Wines made with a little extra TLC

What are you going to find in this section? You’re going to find late harvest nectar, ice wines, delectably sweet Rieslings and 5 puttonyos worth of sweetness. And why are you going to love these wines? The grape juice that you’ll find in our Rich section took a lot of extra TLC to make the transition from vine to glass and can be used to make some of the most magnificent food and wine pairings known to man. We just have 3 words for you: Oysters and Sauternes.

 

Varietals

This style houses dessert wines like Sauternes, Ice Wine and Tokaji.

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Clean

Simple and Straightforward

When you think of simple and uncomplicated you can’t help but think of a guy in his college freshmen year. The beers that we’ve categorized as Clean are straightforward and unassuming with bright flavours and not too much complexity. You’ll enjoy these beers more than a keg stand and find them to be about as fresh as a 19 year-old guy at an all girl frat party. Big time!

 

Examples

Light and easy, simple Lagers, Pilsners & Blonde Ales.

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Balanced

Find your zen on our beer wall

Life Coaches and self-help books will tell you that balance is the key to a happy life. That may true but when we’re talking about a balanced style of beer we’re talking about the merits of a good pale ale with well integrated hop and malt flavours. Balanced beers won’t help you understand the deeper meaning of life but they’re still worth sampling for their easy-drinking quality. Take that Deepak Chopra!

 

Examples

Brews such as Brown Ales, Red Ales, Cream Ales, Black Lagers & Dunkels.

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Fruity

For your fun side, beers not meant to be taken too seriously

There is fruity like the Village People and there is fruity like wonderfully citrus kissed Hefeweizen, warm kirsch Belgians and bubbly orchard fruit ciders. While there is no denying the fun of disco and flamboyant cowboys, our Fruity section will give you options to keep you singing and dancing all year long. This is an amiable selection to accompany garden time, dinner parties and of course they pair wonderfully with dessert.

 

Examples

If you’re after a Cider, Radler or any fruit infused brew, you’ll find it here alongside Wheat beers.

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Intense

The safe way to have an intense experience…

Here’s a short list of things that are truly intense: squirrel suit jumping, big wave surfing and the insane ramblings of Gary Busey. While our Intense selection of beers could be described as big and loud, they certainly won’t lead to death on impact, shark attacks or being verbally abused on Celebrity Apprentice. You’ll love the IPAs and scrumptious Trapist ales. Gary agrees.

 

Examples

Some like it hopped! Here you’ll find IPAs, DIPAs, Trappist brews, Sours & Barleywines.

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Robust

Beer that leaves an impression

Powerful, sturdy and strapping are all great words to describe the Robust section. Everything you find here possesses strong brawny flavours that leave a lasting impression. Just think back to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s version of Conan the Barbarian; despite the horrifically bad acting that comes with those 80s classics we just can’t help but love the brute force and thick accent. Conan would call you an infidel for drinking anything else.

 

Examples

Home to heartier brews like Stouts and Porters & some Barrel Aged offerings.

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Clean

Beer that leaves an impression

Powerful, sturdy and strapping are all great words to describe the Robust section. Everything you find here possesses strong brawny flavours that leave a lasting impression. Just think back to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s version of Conan the Barbarian; despite the horrifically bad acting that comes with those 80s classics we just can’t help but love the brute force and thick accent. Conan would call you an infidel for drinking anything else.

Examples

We have many amazing wines in our online shop.

Shop Clean
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Rosé

Effortless and exhilarating in any season

It’s undeniable, Rosé is in vogue. It’s enjoying a renaissance following the White Zinfandel craze that swept North America in the 70’s. Today, Rosé is the queen bee. Rosé is your ever fashionable friend. It’s the timeless accessory you can turn to in any season. In the spring it’s like wearing peeptoe shoes on a warm day. In the summer, a breezy dress. In the fall it’s the perfect boots and in the winter, a cozy knit scarf.

 

Varietals

Rosés are the product of a myriad of varietals, some of the most common are: Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Cinsault.

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