BloG

Sommelier Patrick Grieve’s Suggestions for Holiday Drinks!

Patrick Grieve, maître d’hôtel and sommelier of Bistro 4 Saisons, always make sure his wine cellar is well stocked. He selects vintages produced from the most renowned terroirs in the world, as well as grape varieties to suit every taste—from the classics to wines that are not so well known. Patrick can always come up with excellent choices for his clients!

When we asked him to suggest some drinks for the holiday season, he knew exactly what to recommend…

In your opinion, what is the ultimate holiday season drink?

Champagne! Bubbles are so festive. If you share a bottle of champagne with another person, I guarantee the two of you will soon start to feel very giggly! The holiday season also happens to be my favourite time of the year.

Champagne is an appellation contrôlée (region identifier) that carries a lot of prestige. The region of Champagne in France (from which the drink takes its name, of course) is a renowned wine-growing area and its terroir is unique. That is what justifies the high price of a bottle, not to mention the expertise that goes into the production of the wine.

Incidentally, in the 1660s, Benedictine monks, the most famous of whom was Dom Pierre Pérignon, were the people who came up with the “méthode champenoise” that is still employed when making champagne today. Dom Pierre discovered the “gentle pressing technique” that creates a white must which, with a subtle blend of black grapes, is the basis of champagne.

Apart from champagne, what other bubblies are out there?

Plenty! You have the delicious “crémants” from Alsace, often made from pinot gris and riesling grapes, and chardonnay-based bubblies from Burgundy. These too are produced using the traditional champagne method but because the terroirs don’t have the same characteristics, these wines have very different personalities from another. And don’t forget that Spanish Cava, which is very reasonably priced, works just as well for offering a seasonal toast as any of the more expensive sparkling wines!

By the way, these are all available at Bistro 4 Saisons.

What do you think of the sparkling wines from Quebec?

Quebec’s terroir is ideal for making great sparkling wines! We have the right kind of climate. I’ve noticed however that Quebecers aren’t big drinkers of these types of wines. They tend to save bottles of bubbly for special occasions, but in my opinion, they can be served at any time at all!

The sparkling wines from L’Orpailleur and Le Cep d’Argent are included on my wine list at the Bistro, as well as the ones from Domaine Bergeville. I really like them. To be honest, these wines are all so good that I never hesitate to recommend them to clients.

What are you putting on your wine list for the holidays

To complement Chef Pierre’s seasonal menu of local products, I plan to feature privately imported wines with distinctive terroirs, from small producers—reds and whites from around the world, in addition to those from Quebec and other regions of Canada.

What about cocktails?

We have a short cocktail list with the classics, but it also includes one-of-a-kind seasonal creations—you know, like cocktails garnished with fresh rosemary, tart cranberries, slices of citrus fruit… We also have some original products such as the Monkey 47 dry gin—one of the botanical gins that have become so popular.

In Quebec, of course, we also make delicious apple cider. There’s nothing better on a chilly day than warming up with a hot cider flavoured with spices, berries, and a touch of citrus zest. It makes a great aperitif or an après-ski drink.

And if we wanted to buy a bottle as a gift, what would you suggest?

You should choose something you think the other person would really like, a drink out of the ordinary, perhaps a new wine, an original grape variety, a lesser-known terroir… After all, that’s what the holiday season is all about! Taking the time to treat yourself and to give pleasure to others.