Anthony Gismondi: B.C. wine of the week | Value wine | Calendar items

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Provence Marinaside in Yaletown is reprising its popular promotion Quelle Surprise, first introduced last March.

The three-course $59 menu features classic French bistro fare not generally found on Provence’s menu. Traditional rotating bistro favourites will be available all month from Chef Quaglia and his team, but the plan is only to offer a limited number each day. It could be Os à Moelle (Roasted Bone Marrow) and Canard Confit (Duck Confit) one day or Soupe aux Oignons (French Onion Soup) and Daube de Boeuf (Provençal Beef Stew) the next.

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There’s no set order for what is made or how many will be available, so be prepared to be surprised. Quell Surprise will be offered in addition to the regular lunch and dinner menu. The server will inform guests at the table what the surprise of the day will be. Once that day’s set of dishes are gone, they’re gone. For more information, go to the website.

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Winemaker Mary McDermott’s of Township 7 Vineyards and Winery was the only Canadian winery awarded a gold medal in the Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships in London, England. The Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships is among the world’s most respected, comprehensive, and rigorous international sparkling wine competitions. Township 7 Vineyards earned a gold medal for its 2020 Seven Stars Rigel. The Seven Stars Rigel, named for the 7th brightest and one of the youngest stars in the sky, is made with 100 per cent Riesling from the sustainably managed Fool’s Gold vineyard in North Oliver, a property owned by Mark Antonello, a well-known vineyard manager and was planted over two decades ago by his father-in-law Richard Cleave, a renowned Okanagan’s viticulturist. You can order the 2021 Rigel ($36.97)wine online at Township7.com.

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B.C. wine of the week

Hillside Merlot 2020, Okanagan Valley

$21.99 I 89/100

UPC: 628694536836

A lovely, elegant, stylish Merlot that melts in your mouth. Classic soft tannins with cassis, black cherry, and a touch of bitter dark chocolate for balance. This blend features four principal blocks of Merlot from the estate Hidden Valley Vineyard, a bowl-shaped valley behind the winery on Naramata Road: Gjoa’s Vineyard, just across the street; Dickinson Vineyard, about halfway to Naramata and below the road; and Occhi Dolci Vineyard to the South, perched above the lake below Munson Mountain. Subtle, sophisticated, and the perfect mid-week red.

Value wine of the week

Umani Ronchi Medoro Sangiovese 2021, Marche, Italy 

$14.99 I 87/100

UPC: 8032853720479

Umani Ronchi is a respected producer of Marche wines, and Medoro is made with Sangiovese, the most prominent single variety planted in Marche. Look for an earthy nose that is spotted with some florals. On the palate, it is a medium-weight mix of cherries and earth with bright acidity and a clean finish. Pleasant and food-friendly, it is a lovely match for a Margherita pizza, a simple ragu, or a piece of hard cheese. The style is discreet, the palate balanced, and you can’t expect more at this price.

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