Go Ask Alice: Q #6. Shopping in Alberta, Ca.

Hi Alice, This is my first time commenting, but definitely not my first time visiting the page after I read and enjoyed your book last Christmas. I'm not sure if I'm making it in the first 15 requests, but I'll give it a shot anyway I'm looking for Italian reds between $20 - $50 to serve my family, who generally appreciate quite full-bodied wines. I'd love to serve some examples of what traditional varieties should really taste like, not ones that have been engineered to compete with Australian shiraz. The catch is... the wines would need to be available in British Columbia or Alberta, Canada. As an alternative to the Italian request, I'd also love to hear some recommendations for nice Champagnes or, really, any other "old world" traditional wine in the same price range that I could get in this part of Canada. I'd like to claim that those would be for gifts, but I'd probably only be willing to give them to people who would let me share in the consumption. :-) Nicole! I was able to find one store that you could work with. Even though the Italian pickings are slim, DeVine wines had some hidden gems. 10111 - 104 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Phone: 780.421.9463 E-mail: info@devinewines.ca **** 2005 Vinicola Savese Pichierri Primitivo di Manduria (Apulia, Italy)
Wine - Red $27.99 (This is the one I'd stock up on. Raised in amphora. Very old fashioned, spiced-lacedround, iron, bloody and yummy. ) 2006 Librandi Rosso Classico (Sicily, Italy )
 $16.99 (750mL) (tell them it’s in Calabria!) THis old house has gotten modern, but the basic wine is still a good quaffer. 1998 Cune Imperial Gran Reserva (Rioja, Spain)
 $49.99 (750mL) Wow! You didn't mention Spain but the 1998 is still old guard. After 2000 it was all down hill. 2005 Domaine de l'Ameillaud (Rhone Valley, France)
 $16.99 (750mL) Well, it ain't Italy, but should hit the spot. Now for white: if they have these from France, check them out. 2008 Domaine du Salvard Cheverny (Loire Valley, France)
 $19.99 2004 Domaine la Pepiere (Loire Valley, France)
 $19.99 (aged up nicely) Champagne! +++NV A. Margaine Premier Cru Brut (Champagne, France)
 $49.99 (750mL) +++NV Drappier Carte d'Or Brut (Champagne, France)
 $49.99 (750mL) NV Drappier Brut Nature (Champagne, France)
 $49.99 (750mL) and one lonely sparkler... NV Champalou Vouvray Brut (Loire Valley, France)
 $29.49 (750mL) Please let us know how you did. Okay?