For the wine curious, wine lovers and those passionate about wine, November offers Raw Wine, the natural wines salon on November 16 and 17, followed by the Grande Dégustation de Montréal – Montreal’s big tasting event – on November 28 to 30. For stay-at-homes, here are a few suggestions.

Roero Arneis 2023
1) 14556114 | $33.00
The Roero Arneis of the Vietti estate arrives right on cue for November’s stews and hotpots. The arneis, this white grape which is native to Piedmont but almost forgotten, resumes its place in the Roero appellation with a nice-looking straw yellow – almost golden – colour, a titillating nose with scents of green melon and toasted almonds, and the kind of mouth we like: complex and delicious.

Moraza Las Tasugueras Rioja Alta 2021
2) 15260585 | $28.55
A counsellor at the SAQ, private importer and cider producer, Patricio Brongo has been around in the world of wine. Who would have predicted that this young wolf from Montréal would find his romantic match in a German wine salon? Jarire Moraza and Patricio now head up the Moraza family estate and are shaking things up in the conservative region of Rioja Alta.
The couple continues to surprise with, here, a single-grape, tempranillo blanco variety which is natural and certified organic. Visually, you can almost touch its texture. Aromas of starfruit and Asian pear prepare the mouth for a nicely dense fruitiness coupled with a freshness that will pair beautifully with a fillet of trout with squash sauce.

Jean-Phillipe Padié Original Camp d’en Fourmaxe 2022
3) 13690354 | $27.80
Wow! France’s Roussillon region enjoys 316 days of sunshine per year. To make things simple: sun = sugar, and after fermentation, sugar= alcohol. By deduction, one could expect fairly heavy-bodied wines. Surprise! This red, made mostly of grenache (20 per cent Carignan), is highly digestible. Splendidly fruity, it plays with the tastebuds while caressing the palate like silk. It’s a tour de force, and a natural wine, as well. Wow!