Ten years ago, if I had suggested that sometime in the not-too-distant future you’d be able to buy your wine online, you would probably have had a quick chuckle.
However, these days, within B.C., at least, thanks mainly to the proliferation of winery clubs and progressive private retailers, you can buy and organize shipping online in a number of diverse ways.
The latest option yields an interesting twist. New District is the first service that offers you a chance to combine bottles from a number of different B.C. producers. And in many cases they’re wines that you might not necessarily be aware of or have easy access to.
There’s a bunch of interesting folks behind this venture, who have connections to success stories such as Seattle’s Best Coffee and SPUD (the organic and locally focused grocery delivery service which) and is now the second-largest online grocer in North America.
New District’s not-so-secret weapon is the presence of wine educator extraordinaire and overall guru DJ Kearney, who has come on board as director of wine. Kearney is well known in wine circles for her unbridled enthusiasm in supporting the underdog, uncovering the unorthodox, or sharing new regions, though always with an eye on quality. Kearney is a huge B.C. supporter and the perfect choice to head up such an initiative.
New District offered me the chance to try out their service, to the tune of $40, which allowed me the chance to see how things might work. As I perused the brief but growing selection of wines on offer and also checked out their fun and informative blog, with topics such as “Party hosting tips from Ancient Greece” or tips on pairing wine with durian.
It didn’t take me long to settle on my choice: a bottle of CC Jentsch Cellars 2013 Syrah, the wine that came out on top in the recent Judgement of B.C. tasting, with Britain’s Steven Spurrier in attendance.
My bottle was delivered promptly and personally within 48 hours, as promised, and smartly wrapped in tissue paper.
The local delivery charge of $15 means it makes more sense to buy multiple bottles rather than just one. New District makes it easy with some convenient, six-pack groupings, which combine some worthwhile drops from the likes of Stag’s Hollow, Eau Vivre, Moraine, Orofino, Montakarn and others. If you’re purely motivated by budget, you won’t find a whole bunch of deals here. But the service works well and the packaging is smart. And for last-minute shopping for that wine lover in your life, New District could be just the ticket.
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My pick of the week: Burrowing Owl Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
It can be tough to make serious Cabernet in the Okanagan but few do it better than Burrowing Owl, especially in a good year. Look for rich red and black fruit on top, with hints of cassis and olive, followed by a vibrant, mouth-filling palate with layers of vanilla, spice and chocolate, balanced tannins and taught viscosity, underpinned by structured acidity. You can easily drink it now but also be well rewarded in five to 10 years ($35-$40, 92 points).
Tim Pawsey writes about wine for numerous publications and online as the Hired Belly at hiredbelly.com. Contact: [email protected].
