Wine spots with the best selection in Edmonton
There’s nothing like a good glass or two of wine at the end of a long day. Whether you pair your vino with a meal or enjoy a bottle with friends, these Edmonton restaurants serve up some of the best wines available in the city.
Bar Bricco
10347 Jasper Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1Y5Walking into Bar Bricco is like stepping into a sleek wine bar in Europe, the U.S. or any bustling urban centre. They have a great selection of bubbles, a carefully curated, predominately Italian, wine list with several interesting selections by the glass, a large offering of amari/digestivi and a welcome absence of fru-fru cocktails. The menu is centered on a broad selection of salumi and cheese, along with ideal sharing items, such as carne cruda and fonduta agnolotti dal plin. The place is hip while still being accessible and comfortable. It’s perhaps the only true wine bar in the city.
Ampersand 27
10612 82 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 2A7This cool, funky room definitely has a buzz and, whether you’re in for dinner or hanging in the bar area, there is a wide selection of wines to match your every meal, mood or taste. There is a strong focus on small producers and a nice variety of Canadian content. Their enosytem (temperature controlled, wine preservation system) allows for a number of wines to be served by-the-glass, which are priced by the ounce. This allows you to try several selections, which works well with their diverse menu – which also encourages sharing. Also, the wine prices are extremely reasonable.
RGE RD
10643 123 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5N 1P3The collaboration between chef and farmer, not unlike that of winemaker and vineyard manager, brings a significant degree of veracity to the table. Most people are familiar with the term terroir (a product’s taste being influenced by its place of origin), but chef/owner Blair Lebsack’s philosophy is closer to the Burgundian concept of climat, which also incorporates individual and cultural considerations to give a product its unique character and contribute to building a sense of community. Admirably, Lebsack and partner Caitlin Fulton, unlike so many restaurateurs espousing sustainability, remain consistent by supporting many wineries sharing the same philosophy of conservation.
Wildflower Grill
10009 107 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1J1A wonderful modern setting with a wine list that has some great selections, a good variety of Canadian wines and a number of wines from quality small producers from around the world. They have lots of off-the-beaten track wines that make for a lot of very interesting selections. It’s definitely a wine lovers wine list.
Guru Fine Indian Cuisine
17021 100 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5S 1T9Remarkably, there are still those that believe you can’t pair wine with Indian cuisine. A trip to Guru will certainly help dispel this myth. Full disclosure: I consulted on their wine list, but I’ve been pairing wine with Indian cuisine for close to 30 years. You may be surprised by the variety of wines that match with the food. And, remember, spice is more about flavour than it is about heat.
The Marc Restaurant
9940 106th Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5K 2N2The Marc is a sleek, comfortable room run by Edmonton’s consummate host, Patrick Saurette. It really is the ideal place for a glass of wine and a wind-down or a lively gathering with friends. There are so many familiar faces that you are comfortable sitting up at the bar by yourself, as it almost feels like you’re hanging in the Saurette’s living room.
Corso Thirty Two
10345 Jasper Ave Nw, Edmonton, AB T5J 1Y5What’s not to love about this place? The room is buzzing, the food is amazing and the wine list consists of some of the coolest wines from Italy. They’re not afraid of highlighting many of the more than 500 native grapes used to make wine in Italy such as Lacrima, Ribolla Gialla, Nero d’Avola and Aglianico, just to name a few. Corso 32 is probably Edmonton’s best overall dining experience.
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