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Easter Pairings & Picks

Expert Picks

Whether you are looking for a wine to go with Easter dinner or a lovely cocktail to serve beforehand the NLC has you covered this holiday season. If chocolate eggs and bunnies make an appearance then be sure to serve the low alcohol (7%), rose and cherry flavoured perfect chocolate pairing – Banfi Rosa Regale (see below). In addition to our Easter picks we have also included one of our favourite whiskies in honour of “International Whisk(e)y Day” on March 27th! Please drink responsibly and say hello to your local Product Knowledge Consultant the next time you visit any of the stores listed below. Happy Easter from our family to yours!

Senior Product Knowledge Consultant

Laura Hurley

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – KELSEY DRIVE

William Barnes

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – HOWLEY ESTATES

Lindsay Anthony

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – PKC HUMBER GARDENS

Alison French

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – MERRYMEETING ROAD

John Ryan

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – STAVANGER DRIVE
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PKC Picks

Expert Picks

In this Expert Picks piece, we give a nod to both “International Riesling Day” on the 13th of March and St. Patrick’s Day on the 17th. Rieslings run the gamut from dry to sweet and are known for their mouth-watering (i.e. food-friendly) acidity. Try a bottle with your next batch of grilled sausages! In terms of St. Patrick’s Day NLC offers an amazing selection of Irish products these days – featuring numerous spirits, liqueurs and beers. Sláinte!

Senior Product Knowledge Consultant

Laura Hurley

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – KELSEY DRIVE

William Barnes

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – Stavanger Drive

Lindsay Anthony

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – PKC Pearlgate

Alison French

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – MERRYMEETING ROAD

John Ryan

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – Howley Estates
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More Bang for your Buck

Expert Picks

With the cost of many things skyrocketing these days it is nice to know that your local liquor store still offers great products at reasonable prices. In this version of Expert Picks our team focuses on two topics – a selection of our personal favourite “good value” products, as well as a go-to Scotch whisky in honour of Robbie Burns Night on Thursday, January 25th, 2024. Cheers!

Senior Product Knowledge Consultant

William Barnes

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – HOWLEY ESTATES

Laura Hurley

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – KELSEY DRIVE

Alison French

Alison French

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – MERRYMEETING ROAD

John Ryan

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – STAVANGER DRIVE
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Top-Shelf, Gift-Giving Ideas (Including Bubbles) to Ring in the New Year!

Expert Picks

In this, the final Expert Picks of 2023, our proficient and well-informed product knowledge team members have provided us with some of their top-shelf, gift-giving recommendations. As bubbles are so popular at this time of year each team member has also supplied us with some of their favourite sparkling wines. The Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation’s Product Knowledge team would like to wish all our Expert Picks readers a Happy Holiday Season and Wonderful 2024! Stay tuned in mid-January when we share our first Expert Picks of the new year – “Value” recommendations.
Senior Product Knowledge Consultant

Laura Hurley

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – KELSEY DRIVE

William Barnes

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – Stavanger Drive

Lindsay Anthony

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – PKC Pearlgate

Alison French

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – MERRYMEETING ROAD

John Ryan

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – Howley Estates
Choose an occasion/topic for PKC product recommendations:

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Fall Faves!

Expert Picks

The autumn months are upon us, and with that comes a change in the foods we eat and beverages we drink. Richer, heavier fare calls for bigger, more substantial wines and spirits. In this Expert Picks piece, our well-read, and always sampling, Product Knowledge team, share some of their go-to fall recommendations. In terms of a “new and exciting” pick, please check out Lindsay’s white Malbec selection below (SKU 27469). While rare to see in our market, many wineries have been dabbling in making white wines from traditional red varieties, with various white Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlots and Pinot Noirs coming across our desks. Please enjoy responsibly, and check back in early October to see what Laura Hurley (our PKC on Kelsey Drive) is recommending this year for Thanksgiving!

Senior Product Knowledge Consultant

John Ryan

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – STAVANGER DRIVE

Lindsay Anthony

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – PKC HUMBER GARDENS

Laura Hurley

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – KELSEY DRIVE

William Barnes

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – HOWLEY ESTATES

Alison French

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – MERRYMEETING ROAD
Choose an occasion/topic for PKC product recommendations:

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Product Recommendations for your BIG Day!

Expert Picks

Your Big Day is fast approaching, your guest list has RSVP’d, the venue and caterers are booked; shoes, centerpieces, the cake topper, the guestbook and your photo booth supplies are all ready to go, but how much thought have you put into your wine list? Have you created a signature cocktail? Do you know what bottle of bubbly you’ll be popping for your first toast as a married couple? You don’t want that first glass to be sour grapes.

When picking out these wines remember you want them to be crowd pleasing, easy drinking wines that anyone can enjoy so stay away from anything too powerful or too sweet. The second feature you will want to look for is value, I know you want to save some spending money for the honeymoon! Remember that we have large format wines that can offer added value, such as our box wines, which are often overlooked but can be budget friendly. It’s also great to keep in mind that we have monthly sales, so a few months out from your wedding you should start looking at these sales so you can stock up at the best price.

Signature cocktails are an exciting addition to any event. The possibilities are endless and while this can seem overwhelming, I suggest simplifying by picking one product or flavor profile and building your drink around that. For example, you could pick a liqueur from a country you and your partner have visited, or a flavor you are both partial to and create a drink around it by adding sparkling water or wine. Alternatively, you can take a tried and true cocktail and add an extra layer to make it your own, like coconut to a White Russian or elderflower in a mimosa. Top it off by finding a unique garnish and naming it after yourselves!

Remember not to overlook your sober friends! It is socially responsible to make sure there are exciting non-alcoholic options for those who don’t drink or who may be driving the night of the wedding, beyond a Shirley Temple. Find exciting juice flavors like guava or passionfruit and mix with sparkling water or tonic water. Check out the non-alcoholic beer selection in the supermarket (the selection is great) and make sure every guest has something satisfying to sip on.

Lastly, please know that we are always here to help. You can visit any NLC location and find a happy and helpful staff member, ready to give you a hand or answer your questions. In addition, if you really need someone with the knowledge to go above and beyond to curate a bespoke beverage menu you can visit me at NLC Merrymeeting Road or my incredible Product Knowledge Consultant colleagues at our Kelsey Drive, Stavanger Drive and Howley Estates locations.

Cheers and congratulations to the happy couple!

Product Knowledge Consultant
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Canada Day Picks

Expert Picks

As the Canadian population approaches 39 million people, we should all raise a glass this Canada Day to living in one of the world’s best countries! In addition to giving the planet the “bloody Caesar”, and having the oldest brewery in North America – Molson Coors Canada continues to produce Molson Canadian beer in the same place that they started in 1786 – we have also created such things as basketball, ketchup chips, poutine, Tim Hortons and the Hawaiian pizza. Canada Day falls on a Saturday this year, and with any luck the sun will be shining! Our always-learning, product knowledge team has focused their Canada Day picks on, you guessed it, all-things-Canada. Please see below for a list of some of our favourite Canadian beer, wine, RTD and spirits. Happy Canada Day!

Senior Product Knowledge Consultant

Laura Hurley

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – KELSEY DRIVE

Alison French

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – MERRYMEETING ROAD

William Barnes

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – HOWLEY ESTATES

John Ryan

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – STAVANGER DRIVE
Choose an occasion/topic for PKC product recommendations:

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Warmer Weather Picks

Expert Picks

Picture the sun is shining and it is a beautiful thirty-degree day as you sit on your patio with your favorite beverage in hand. The long wait is nearly over, summer is just around the corner and we all know what that means here in Newfoundland and Labrador: for the next eight weeks the warm weather festivities will flow much like your favorite refreshments!

We all get very excited about the thoughts of endless sunshine and hot weather. For some of us it means enjoying a cocktail with a loved one at our favorite outdoor patio or late nights around the campfire enjoying our favorite fireside beverages. Summer to us in this province means a little more and because of that be sure to enjoy your summertime sippers to the absolute fullest!

Check out some of my warmer weather favourites below:

Product Knowledge Consultant – KELSEY DRIVE
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Mother’s Day Picks 2023!

Expert Picks

Sunday May 14th, 2023 is Mother’s Day! In anticipation of the big day our team of dedicated Product Knowledge Consultants have put forth some of their favourite Mother’s Day recommendations below. It is no coincidence that International Sauvignon Blanc Day (May 5th – always on the first Friday in May) and World Moscato Day (always on May 9th) both fall close to this special day. In honour of these international celebrations, our team has included a few of their preferred Sauvignon Blancs and Moscatos. We hope you enjoy!

Senior Product Knowledge Consultant

Laura Hurley

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – KELSEY DRIVE

Alison French

Alison French

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – MERRYMEETING ROAD

William Barnes

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – HOWLEY ESTATES

John Ryan

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANT – STAVANGER DRIVE
Choose an occasion/topic for PKC product recommendations:

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Easter Pairings

Expert Picks

Winter has been reduced to (not so) fond memories, and Spring is certainly imminent. Soon we’ll be regaled with birdsongs and crocuses, sure to be followed by late April Blizzards.

The arrival of Easter is an easy distraction to the uncertainty of our climate. This is such a great time, from a food pairing perspective. Traditionally we have two very different meals that can benefit from the addition of the right wine. If you aren’t a wine drinker, it’s worth trying with foods. It’s incredible how much wine can enhance your meal, and your meal can enhance your wine.

Firstly, Fish and Brewis is a personal favourite of mine. Relatively simple yet heart-cloggingly delicious. This meal is made for Albarino. This crisp, cool and refreshing Spanish offering completes just about anything with seafood. Rosé such as Villa Wolf Pinot Noir or Chateau Beaulieu is also a great pairing.

Not to be overlooked is what I usually have on Easter Sunday – Turkey Dinner. Traditionally, sweet German Riesling is the first bottle to be reached for (that, or an off-dry Vouvray from the Loire Valley). One of my guilty pleasures is discovering non-traditional pairings. My first choice for Turkey is Chianti. Just thinking of the sour cherry and cranberry flavour from these Tuscans is making my mouth water. Who needs Cranberry Sauce? Pinot Noir also works great with this meal.

This year for me will be Duca di Salaparuta Lavico Etna Rosso. A different wine from different region, and a new addition to our recently updated Specialty Selections. This is elegant enough to go with white meat and flavourful enough to hold up to the myriad savoury side dishes.

Senior Product Knowledge Consultant
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