April 2025 Wine Selection
This month’s curated collection from WineCollective
White Wines
Alma Serena Verdejo
Bodegas Peñafiel | 2023 | Verdejo | Rueda, Spain
Located in the heart of “The Golden Mile” in the Ribera del Duero region, Bodegas Peñafiel is well-known for its commitment to traditional winemaking methods and quality control. The winery controls 60 hectares of vineyard, with all fruit sourced regionally. Grapes are hand-harvested at night to ensure optimal freshness and undergo two rigorous selections before vinification.
The Alma Serena is a perfect example of Rueda fruit — a fresh, firm, dry white with layers of melon, minerality, bright herbs, and citrus.
Flavour Profile: Melon, Chalk, Lemon, Herbs, Grapefruit
Food Pairing: Mixed fish ceviche, grilled mackerel, and Spanish tortilla
Serving Temperature: 8°C | Drinking Window: Now–2026
Retail: $27.99 | Club: $22.39
Atrevida Chardonnay
Manos Negras | 2021 | Chardonnay | Mendoza, Argentina
Alejandro Sejanovich and Jess Mausbach are co-owners of Manos Negras — a name that reflects their hands-on, fearless approach to winemaking from bud break to bottle. This duo has been working together in the vineyards for over 25 years, beginning at the famous Bodega Catena Zapata. Jeff is a sommelier while Alejandro is a viticulturist, now considered one of the most knowledgeable experts on South American terroir.
Daring, bold, and adventurous. This Chardonnay is made from high-altitude vineyard grapes in the Andes foothills. Bright and fresh with no visible oak treatment, it bursts with tropical fruit — mango, passionfruit, green apple, and pear — balanced with zesty acidity and a slightly briny finish.
Flavour Profile: Passionfruit, Mango, Lime, Pear, Apple
Food Pairing: Spring vegetable risotto and grilled peaches with soft-ripened cheese
Serving Temperature: 11°C | Drinking Window: Now–2027
Retail: $27.49 | Club: $21.99
Els Ocellers Blanc
Els Ocellers | 2021 | Garnacha Blanca, Macabeo | Catalonia, Spain
David Seijas spent the bulk of his life in restaurants, starting with his family’s humble La Perla and culminating as head sommelier at the legendary El Bulli. After the restaurant’s closure in 2011, he embarked on projects including publishing a wine guide and contributing as sommelier at ElBulliLab. Gallina de Piel (“goosebumps”) is his passion project, founded in 2017 with fellow sommelier Guillem Sanz.
We’ve featured two of David’s higher-end blends in the past, so we jumped at the chance to secure the first shipment of his new Els Ocellers label for WineCollective members. This unoaked blend of Garnacha Blanca and Macabeo is fresh and uncomplicated — best chilled and served on the patio in the sun.
Flavour Profile: Papaya, Melon, Lemon/Lime, Floral, Apricot
Food Pairing: Seafood risotto, poached salmon with fresh dill and fennel, and tuna crudo
Serving Temperature: 8°C | Drinking Window: Now–2026
Retail: $27.99 | Club: $22.39
La Casa de las Locas Treixadura
Bodegas Peñafiel | 2023 | Treixadura | Ribeiro, Spain
From the same estate behind the Alma Serena, Bodegas Peñafiel brings their meticulous approach — night harvesting, double grape selection, and a deep commitment to expressing terroir — to this classic Ribeiro white.
This Treixadura is aromatic with high-intensity fruit, a nose of citrus and herbs complemented by softer floral notes. The palate is full of grapefruit, fennel, grass, rosemary, and hints of white roses.
Flavour Profile: Apple, Pear, Floral, Peach, Pineapple
Food Pairing: Roasted snapper with herb sauce, grilled turkey burgers with avocado salsa, and feta-stuffed portobello mushrooms
Serving Temperature: 10°C | Drinking Window: Now–2028
Retail: $58.99 | Club: $47.19
Lavradores De Feitoria Estrada
Lavradores De Feitoria | 2021 | Viosinho, Gouveio, Moscatel, Arinto, Fernão Pires | Douro Valley, Portugal
Portuguese wines are having a long-overdue moment in the spotlight. This Douro-based cooperative is composed of 15 families, all with deep roots in Portugal’s winemaking history, pooling their know-how and estate-farmed grapes to make authentic expressions of the Douro’s unique terroir.
The Estrada White is a blend of no fewer than five grape varieties, the majority indigenous to Portugal. If your only exposure to Portuguese whites is Vinho Verde, this is a great introduction to the varied styles that exist in this beautiful country.
Flavour Profile: Pear, Citrus, Apple, Floral, Herbs
Food Pairing: Caramelized leek tart, cream of mushroom soup, and crispy roast chicken leg with garlic mashed potatoes
Serving Temperature: 10°C | Drinking Window: Now–2026
Retail: $27.99 | Club: $22.39
Les Turtilles Altugnac Origines Blanc
Les Turtilles Altugnac | 2021 | Mauzac, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc | Pays d’Oc, France
A project begun in 1997 by two families — Christian Collovray and Jean-Luc Terrier, childhood friends who by chance married sisters from a wine-growing family. Together they took over the Domaine, with the whole family playing a part in the estate. Situated in the southern Mâcon between the Rocks of Vergisson and Solutré, the vines grow at 350–500m elevation in soils of marine fossils and clay-limestone.
The Mediterranean climate with mountain influences helps protect the vines, while the soil composition slows grape maturation and enhances aromatics in the finished wine.
Flavour Profile: Peach, Pear, Lemon, Almond, Stone
Food Pairing: Soft cheeses, sautéed vegetables, and homemade mac & cheese
Serving Temperature: 8°C | Drinking Window: Now–2027
Retail: $28.99 | Club: $23.19
Rosé
Adrien Vacher Rosé
Adrien Vacher | NV | Gamay | Savoie, France
We’ve been longtime fans of Savoie standard-bearer Maison Adrien Vacher, and jumped at the opportunity to secure this delicious rosé as another WineCollective exclusive. Given the region’s mountainous geography and higher-elevation vineyards, producers here make excellent refreshing rosés from cool-climate grapes.
Made from 100% Gamay Noir (the grape made famous in Beaujolais), which retains lovely acidity when grown at altitude while developing bright red fruit flavours. Unlike more floral, delicate Provençal rosés, this one is juicy and fruit-forward — perfect for summer barbecue favourites or enjoying on its own in the sun.
Flavour Profile: Cherry, Strawberry, Grapes, Peach, Watermelon
Food Pairing: Crisp green salad with berry vinaigrette, roasted pork shoulder with braised onions, and soft cheese with berry compote
Serving Temperature: 10°C | Drinking Window: Now–2026
Retail: $29.99 | Club: $23.99
Red Wines
Château Grand Jean Bordeaux
Château Grand Jean | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot | Entre-Deux-Mers, France
Owned by Michel Dulon and run by his daughters Sophie and Carole, who represent the new face of Bordeaux’s young talent. The family’s roots in Soulingac trace back to 1737, with over 10 generations in winemaking. They own and operate four estates across 80 hectares in Entre-Deux-Mers.
This Bordeaux blend is unique in that it is aged in American oak barrels rather than the traditional French oak. A structured red composed mostly of Cabernet Sauvignon, with generous texture and a lingering finish centred around black and blue fruits, graphite, and saddle notes.
Flavour Profile: Blueberry, Saddle, Graphite, Black Currant, Cedar
Food Pairing: Aged cheeses, smoky barbecue pizza, and venison chorizo
Serving Temperature: 17°C | Drinking Window: Now–2029
Retail: $29.49 | Club: $23.59
L. Tramier & Fils Pinot Noir
L. Tramier & Fils | 2022 | Pinot Noir | Burgundy, France
A wine merchant house with deep roots in Burgundy, created in 1842. Tramier has partnered with Dufouleur, another Burgundian producer, and together they operate six estates under the same principles: adhering to traditional methods while embracing modern developments in the cellar.
Burgundy is the principal home of Pinot Noir, the “finicky” grape that is hard to grow. This version is light-skinned with a bright cherry-red core, bursting with fresh red berries. Light and lively with firm acidity, earthy notes of freshly picked mushrooms and forest floor, and hints of mint on the nose. Best served lightly chilled.
Flavour Profile: Jam, Graphite, Strawberry, Bramble, Cranberry
Food Pairing: Garlic mushroom pasta, roasted duck with honey, soy, and ginger, and skewered prawns
Serving Temperature: 13°C | Drinking Window: Now–2026
Retail: $26.99 | Club: $21.59
Château De Durfort Corbières
Château De Durfort | 2022 & 2023 | Grenache, Syrah | Languedoc, France
The vines grow in rocky schist soils in the craggy lands of Corbières, in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France. The region boasts over 740,300 acres under vine, with Mediterranean climate and strong winds that help deter pests and diseases, making organic viticulture easily achievable.
Château De Durfort is made at one of France’s more interesting cooperatives — established by a group of women during WWI who took over the reins when the men left to fight, refusing to let the vines be neglected and the terroir abandoned.
Flavour Profile: Pepper, Oak, Bramble, Chocolate, Tea
Food Pairing: Elk tenderloin with red wine mushrooms, stuffed roasted peppers, and aged hard cheese like Comté or Gruyère with dried fruit and roasted nuts
Serving Temperature: 16°C | Drinking Window: Now–2029
Retail: $31.49 | Club: $25.19
Bodegas Y Viñedo Tinedo Ja!
Bodegas Y Viñedo | 2023 & 2024 | Tempranillo | La Mancha, Spain
The Tinedo Estate dates back to 1846, when great-great-grandfather Dionisio Angulo first covered it with vines. The 48-hectare estate is certified organic by the EU, farmed without herbicides or synthetic products, and powered entirely by solar panels.
Ja! is the youngest wine in the portfolio — a single-estate Tempranillo that’s fresh and fruit-forward, brimming with cherry, raspberry, and licorice notes, complemented by garden herbs. The tannins are refined and on the softer end of the spectrum.
Flavour Profile: Cherry, Raspberry, Licorice, Tobacco, Herbs
Food Pairing: Korean barbecue ribs, pasta arrabiata, and croquettes
Serving Temperature: 16°C | Drinking Window: Now–2029
Retail: $23.99 | Club: $19.19
Il Piatto Pizza
Il Piatto | 2023 | Negroamaro | Puglia, Italy
Negroamaro is one of the classic grapes of Puglia, a hot, dry region in southern Italy. Produced by Sgarzi Luigi, a cantina in Bologna founded in 1933 and now run by fourth-generation family members. Sustainable agriculture is at the forefront of their operations.
This variety produces wines that are very deep in colour and rustic in character, with notes of perfumed red and black fruit and an earthy bitterness. The grapes are destemmed, gently crushed, and fermented at a controlled 24°C over 10 days before cellar aging.
Flavour Profile: Cherry, Pepper, Coffee, Jam, Olive
Food Pairing: Beef empanadas, grilled tuna steak, and bison burgers
Serving Temperature: 16°C | Drinking Window: Now–2027
Retail: $20.49 | Club: $16.39
Miros de Ribera Roble
Bodegas Peñafiel | 2022 | Tempranillo | Ribera del Duero, Spain
Another offering from Bodegas Peñafiel on “The Golden Mile,” this Roble showcases their flagship grape. The same meticulous approach — night harvesting, double selection, terroir-driven winemaking — applied to 100% Tinta Fina, the local name for Tempranillo.
Round and elegant with powerful tannins and supple acidity. The fruit centres on dark, rich cherry and black fruit. The wood is well integrated, with smooth notes of roasted coffee and licorice.
Flavour Profile: Black Currant, Coffee, Cedar/Oak, Cranberry, Strawberry
Food Pairing: Roasted vegetable vegan lasagna, double smoked pork chops, and dark chocolates
Serving Temperature: 18°C | Drinking Window: Now–2030
Retail: $58.99 | Club: $47.19
Brandini Filari Lunghi Dolcetto d’Alba
Agricola Brandini | 2022 | Dolcetto d’Alba | Monforte d’Alba, Italy
Run by the Bagnasco sisters, Serena and Giovanna, with their father Piero (former CEO of Fontanafredda). Piero fell in love with the estate in La Morra in 2006 and bought it in 2007 despite warnings it was too high in altitude and too cold. His lifelong interest in organic and biodynamic farming proved the critics wrong, pioneering organic culture in Barolo when it was still controversial.
Dolcetto is known as the “little sweet one” — aromatic and full of morello cherry with bracing acidity and a sweetness of character.
Flavour Profile: Cherry, Plum, Bramble, Spice, Cocoa
Food Pairing: Fennel salami, eggplant parmesan, and chicken enchiladas
Serving Temperature: 17°C | Drinking Window: Now–2028
Retail: $42.99 | Club: $34.39
Brandini Filari Corti Nebbiolo
Agricola Brandini | 2022 | Nebbiolo | La Morra, Italy
From the same Brandini estate, this is the king of grapes in the Langhe region. The Bagnasco family’s commitment to organic and biodynamic farming at altitude has produced distinctive wines that respect tradition while embracing progress.
Nebbiolo is famous for its smoky attributes and intense violet aromas. These are serious wines with an elegance in their youth — a wine that rewards patience but is already drinking beautifully.
Flavour Profile: Floral, Graphite, Smoke, Cherry, Raspberry
Food Pairing: Wild mushroom and truffle ravioli, and veal scallopine
Serving Temperature: 18°C | Drinking Window: Now–2030
Retail: $52.99 | Club: $42.39
Famille Fabre Château Fabre Gasparets Cru Boutenac
Château Fabre Gasparets | 2020 | Carignan, Mourvèdre, Syrah | Languedoc, France
The Fabre family flagship, located in the historic centre of Corbières-Boutenac (cru-classé since 2005). Gasparets sits in one of the 10 municipalities that make up the famous Golden Triangle. Their oldest vines date from 1934. Since 1991, Louis Fabre has been one of the first Languedoc winemakers to go organic.
Vines are 20 years old from rocky terraces 75m above sea level. All grapes were handpicked and de-stemmed. The wine saw 12 months in French oak (80%) and neutral oak vats (20%). Intensely spicy with Morello cherry, black fruits, and a long, rich finish.
Flavour Profile: Cherry, Blueberry, Oak, Cranberry, Nutmeg/Clove
Food Pairing: Ribeye steak with trumpet mushrooms, grilled venison sausages with creamy polenta, and creamy corn soup with roasted peppers
Serving Temperature: 17°C | Drinking Window: Now–2030
Retail: $43.49 | Club: $34.79
Amandum Cabernet Franc
Amandum | 2018 | Cabernet Franc | Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy
Amandum Di Dai Morars is a family-owned winery for over three generations, located between the valleys of Vipacco and Isonzo in Gorizia. Sheltered by the Julian Alps and influenced by the Adriatic Sea, the winery was begun by matriarch Bianca, expanded by daughter Anna, and is now run by grandchildren Enrico and Carlo Alberta Agostinis.
The Cabernet Franc vines grow in reddish brown clay rich in iron oxide on a stony gravel plain. Picked in late September, fermented in stainless steel with frequent pump-overs, then aged 18 months. A brilliant ruby colour with cherry, blackberry, fresh-cut grass, green pepper, and hints of tea.
Flavour Profile: Blackberry, Cedar, Pepper, Tea, Cherry
Food Pairing: Beef tenderloin with green peppercorn demi-sauce, green olive and roasted eggplant tagine with crusty French bread, and beef brisket with wild mushrooms
Serving Temperature: 17°C | Drinking Window: Now–2030
Retail: $47.99 | Club: $38.39
Lavica Aglianico
La Guardiense | 2020 | Aglianico | Campania, Italy
Campania is a rugged and wild area in southern Italy, largely covered by volcanic rocks and grey tuff from the Phlegraean eruptions over 30,000 years ago. The volcanic terroir in the Telesina basin gives wines their characteristic mineral notes. Vines average 15 years old and are hand-harvested.
Aged in traditional concrete vats after 10 days of skin maceration. An intense ruby core with notes of black cherry, licorice, and dried Italian herbs. The palate reveals minerality and wet stones, with tannins wrapped tightly around the fruit. A slightly ferrous note at the finish showcases the dense mineral structure. Decant for best results.
Flavour Profile: Liquorice, Stone, Herbs, Cherry, Blueberry
Food Pairing: Traditional bolognese sauce, venison sausages in a blueberry demi, and roasted guinea fowl with dates and caramelized shallots
Serving Temperature: 18°C | Drinking Window: Now–2030
Retail: $40.49 | Club: $32.39