Viti Specials
Viti Wine and Lager Manager’s Profile
Ralf Joneikies
Viti Wine and Lager ManagerRalf’s passion for food and wine developed at an early age, inspired by his mother’s cooking and his insatiable palate. In 2006, with a career change underway, he turned his passion to the world of wine with the completion of his Advanced WSET with Master of Wine - James Cluer, followed by a diploma program in wine making and viticulture from Ontario’s Niagara College.
While working as an assistant winemaker for a season at one of Germany’s most highly regarded family run estates, Ralf braved the absurdly steep slopes along the Mosel during harvest. He has travelled extensively through the wine regions of Germany, France, Italy, and went so far as to visit Tunisia where he was pleased to discover some rather good red wines. Closer to home he has familiarized himself with the Willamette Valley in Oregon and the bulk of Canada’s key viticultural areas: the Okanagan Valley, the Similkameen Valley, Prince Edward County, Niagara, Nova Scotia and Quebec.
At Viti Wine and Lagers Ralf enjoys introducing clients to the world of wine, beer and spirits. The holidays are a particularly exciting time as this is when food & wine pairing recommendations are sought, and the staff at Viti is more than happy to oblige. From the novice to the more expert customer, Viti Wine & Lagers prides itself on providing quality products to a broad range of palates.
Staff Picks | Downtown Vancouver Liquor Store
Wine
A special order Exclusive to Viti and widely considered to be one of North Americas greatest Rieslings (Wine Spectator 90 Pts.) from Canada's pre-eminent Riesling region: Niagara. This CSV is, as always, beautifully perfumed with stone and citrus fruit notes and it imparts a deep sense of the earth on which it's grown. Texture of slate and a bracing minerality with layers upon layers of flavours make for a supremely elegant wine perfect for your favourite Asian cuisine (Japanese, Szechuan, Malaysian, Thai)or a fresh Ceviche.
Clot de L'Oum La Compagnie des Papillons 2005 – Sean's August 2011 Pick
Biodynamically grown (and named after the butterflies that returned to the vineyard as a result), this wine is scored highly by reviewers vintage after vintage. A blend of Grenache and Carignan, with a splash of Syrah, it's medium bodied and complex. It needs to breathe, but once it opens up there's plenty to draw you in: Aromas of fresh fruit and spices lead into flavours of black fruits, herbs and minerals. Very complex, refined, and food friendly (lamb, grilled vegetables, and cassoulet come to mind).
David's August 2011 Picks
Artero Macabeo
This is one of my favourite Spanish white wines. Its flavour profile fits somewhere between the ever popular Pinot Grigios and Sauvignon Blancs. Perfect with seafood from fresh oysters to grilled sardines and best with a warm evening on the patio. At $20 this would be a good buy. At $14, it's a stunning bargain. Get some before our all too brief summer is over.
Balvenie Doublewood 12 year old Highland Single Malt Whisky
Doublewood is my pick year after year for a summertime whisky. The Doublewood name refers to the second barrel aging in Sherry casks. The Sherry casks impart a honeyed character that makes it a lovely, midweight, aromatic dram to drink from the beginning of summer until the rains come in October.
Chouffe IPA Tripel
With new varieties of beer arriving every week it's hard to pick an enduring favorite. As much as I enjoy the big, hoppy character of American IPA, I always find myself wishing for just a little restraint and more balance. La Chouffe IPA tripel is big, balanced and elegant.
What more could you ask for? Oh right, it is available in both 750ml and 330ml sizes, depending on your thirst.
Beer
Driftwood Singularity Russian Imperial Stout
Howe Sound MegaDestroyer
La Vache Folle Imperial Milk Stout
Dominus Vobiscum Lupulus
Dieu du Ciel Rescousse (Altbier)
Most Memorable Beers (Bottled) of 2010 (in no particular order)
Howe Sound Pot Hole Filler Stout (BC)
Central City Brewing Belgian Triple (at the brewery only) (BC)
Driftwood Brewing Sartori (BC)
Dieu du Ciel Aphrodisiaque (Quebec)
Dominus Vobiscum Lupulus (Quebec)
Dominus Vobiscum Imperial Milk Stout (Quebec)
Rogue St. Rogue Red (Oregon)
Bear Republic Racer 5 (California)
DogFish Head Punkin Ale (Delaware)
Southern Tier Crème Brulee Imperial Stout (New York)
Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Ale (California)
Upright Brewing Gose (Oregon)
Nogne O IPA (Norway)
Nogne O Imperial Stout (Norway)
Bairds Dark Sky Imperial Stout (Japan)
Hitachino Japanese Classic Ale (Japan)
Schneider Weiss-Brooklyner Hopfenweiss (Germany)
Ayinger Oktoberfest Marzen (Germany)
Rochefort 10 (Belgium)
Val Dieu Grand Cru (Belgium)
Spirits
An amaro is a bitter (like Jagermeister) that is typically used as a digestive after a meal.
This amaro has all the requisite bitterness from the various botanicals in the recipe and a delicate sweetness all balanced by a substantial 35% alc.
I’ve had amaro in its various guises throughout Europe and the Nonnino ranks with the best. A delicious and complex post-prandial. A beautiful package too!
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