Ask a Sommelier

Can (and should) I decant Champagne, or will it totally de-frizz it?

—Carol Sicat

For high-quality, young (younger than 10 years old) vintage Champagne, yes, you can. Some fizz will be lost, but the wine will thank you with lifted aromatics and a more expressive palate. Prime a relatively narrow decanter by pouring in a few millilitres of Champagne or similar-style white wine and swirl it around to pick up dust particles (which will reduce fizz-loss) and remove any off-odours. Then pour that out (a good reason to use a lesser wine). Decant slowly into the primed decanter. If the Champagne is a vintage with 10+ years in the bottle or a regular non-vintage, I recommend not decanting.

On the question, should you decant Champagne? I prefer to select a wine glass that will expose the surface area to oxygen and do not decant. Serving the Champagne directly into larger glasses offers similar gentle aeration. Champagne

Arnaud Moreau nv Brut Tradition

Grand Cru ($73.99) is delicious poured straight into the glass; and Moreau’s

beautiful 2016 Brut Erynne Blanc de

Blancs ($143.99) benefits from either decanting or using a larger glass.

—Sylvia Jansen, Champagne Expert

It seems like all of our favourite pastimes are beset by “supply chain issues.” Do I need to worry about the supply chain affecting wine getting to Manitoba?

—Carl Weatherdon

Unfortunately, Manitoba is not exempt from the “supply chain issues.” In fact, it’s an even longer wait for us to get our shipments because we are in the middle of this extremely large country of ours. Wine cases are transported via shipping vessels and spend 1–2 months at sea. Wines from Europe and South Africa land in Montreal, whereas wines from South America, New Zealand, and Australia come up through Vancouver. Upon arriving at port, the ships are then inspected by Canadian Customs (which can take up to a week or more) and then loaded onto semi-trucks (which can take another week or two). From there, they are trucked to Manitoba, which may take up to a week or more (weather depending, of course). That part of the shipping process alone takes between 2 and 3 months for the wine to leave its original port and land in Manitoba.

Then you have to factor in delays: dock strikes at departure and receiving ports, a shortage of dock workers, or a shortage of vessels leaving that port can all delay the wines from setting sail. From winery to wine store, with a typically smooth supply chain, shipping takes a minimum of 4–5 months to get here. Over the past 2 years, when things were at their worst, we have waited up to 7–10 months for orders to arrive—and not just from the other side of the world—we have waited that long for wines from our neighbours, the USA! Don’t worry, though—things are looking up: we are now seeing orders arriving on time (and sometimes even sooner than expected). We are adjusting to make sure you have your favourite wines for the holidays (and every day).

—Jill Kwiatkoski, Director of Purchasing

I have been into very expressive whites like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc for a while, but they are starting to feel like too much. What white wines can I try that are a little more restrained but still interesting?

—Andrea Johnston

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc’s signature zippy acidity can be quite refreshing, but not long ago, like you, I was looking for something new. I took a deep dive into the world of Italian white wines and their many indigenous grape varieties. My absolute “Desert Island” wine is Montunal Montonale ($29.99), which is a white wine from Lugana made from a grape called Turbiana: it is fresh and minerally with lovely melon notes.

You might also want to try a Verdicchio. It packs all the citrus notes you love about New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc but with beautifully balanced acidity. My top pick for Verdicchio would be the Tavignano Costaverde ($19.99). Sticking with the “V” grapes, Vermentino would also be a great choice. Try the Il Palazzo Vermentino from Tuscany ($21.99): it’s medium bodied and slightly floral with a memorable finish that will leave you wanting more.

My last hidden gem of an Italian white is the Primosic Ribolla Gialla ($26.99). This delicate dazzler will surprise you with its elegant palate of orchard fruit and citrus that lingers on the finish. There are so many amazing Italian whites. Come down and see us—we would love to suggest some that are sure to become your new favourites.

—Saralyn Mehta, White Wine Aficionado

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