2021 North Division Wine Pairings

Wine notes

The Okanagan Valley might be the most underrated wine region in North America. Mission Hill Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is bright and has a great energy to it. This is a refreshing wine that reflects the unique microclimates of the Mission Hill Winery.

Team notes

The Canucks have lost a few key players heading into the 2021 season, but they are still full of bright young talent that has the skills to play the unique skill-first style of that the Sedin twins established for the Canucks in the early 2000s.

Wine notes

This is a great value purchase for when you want a nice drinkable wine without breaking the bank. At under $10 you will be finding reasons to watch more Calgary flames games. The hint of spice that is typical of the Tempranillo grape will keep you ready and alert for anything the Flames throw at their opponents. This spice is balanced with the smooth characteristics of Merlot, just like how Johnny Gaudreau smooths out the Flames line-up.

Team notes

The 2021 Flames reverse retro jersey features “Blasty” – a horse head blowing flames out of its nostrils. With the spark and grit of players like Matthew Tkatchuk and Milan Lucic, the Flames have a roster that can be just as wild as the logo on the front of their jersey. The raging bull on the label of Toro Bravo is a perfect compliment to the 2021 roster and reverse retro jersey.

Wine notes

South Africa is one of the most established New World wine regions and has found an incredible balance of connecting French winemaking traditions to the unique challenges of growing wine in warmer climates. Cinsault is a grape variety that is classically French, but is leading the new era of wine being made in the Swartland appellation. This red blend includes Cinsault, Grenache, and Shiraz. Like Connor McDavid on the rush, Secateurs Vintage Red 2019 “is supple, smooth on the entry, but with enough grip and freshness to finish dry and refreshing”

Team notes

The Edmonton Oilers are a new era hockey team with old-time hockey traditions. Part of the WHA expansion in 1979-80, the team quickly made its mark winning 5 Stanley Cups between 1984 – 1990. Wayne Gretzky started a hockey tradition with an on-ice team picture. Just like the Secateurs Vintage Red 2019, the 2021 Edmonton Oilers line-up is a throwback to the 1980s team featuring NHL stars Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Darnell Nurse, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (to name a few).

Wine notes

Apostolos Thymiopoulos is one of the most influential Greek wine producers and has achieved this status by creating wines that are representative of the environment of northern Greece. Wines produced with Xinomavro, the emblematic variety of the Naoussa region, express “terroir” as well as the craftsmanship of the “vigneron”.

Team notes

When the Winnipeg Jets returned to the NHL the True North ownership group set out to build a hockey team that was reflective of the character and community in Winnipeg. Ten years later the Winnipeg Jets are one of the most revered teams in the league. With a rugged and heavy style of play that is complimented by classic hockey skill, the Jets have a Stanley Cup run in sight for the 2021 season.

Wine notes

This is a wine that highlights the very best of the Niagara region. Rick VanSickle notes that the Lowrey Vineyard block “has aged gracefully over the last 30 years, and seemingly adds new layers of complexity to its wines with each passing vintage. This is the prettiest vintage that I have tasted from the Lowrey, with a nose of fresh raspberries, dark cherries, undergrowth, rose petals, cranberries and elegant barrel spice notes. It’s light on its feet on the palate but has some dense and concentrated red berries and anise with good length, texture and balance through a bright and spicy finish.

Team notes

In 2018 the Toronto Marlies captured the team’s first Calder Cup with Kyle Dubas as the team’s GM and Sheldon Keefe as the head coach. It has been a few years since the farm team won their championship, but the 2021 season may be one of the best opportunities for the Leafs to make a deep push in the playoffs. Joe Thornton and Jason Spezza can be considered the Old Vines of this team, but it is the new layers of complexity that have developed each year that has resulted in the 2021 Maple Leafs being light on their feet with a density on the ice that has resulted in balance throughout the entire line-up.

Wine notes

“David Eagle is on an acid trip with this vintage, showing bright red berry fruit with loads of white pepper and violets. The high acidity gives it a vibrancy that should allow it to age nicely, or you can just enjoy it now!” – Winemaker, David Eiberg

It’s like this wine was made specifically for the 2021 Ottawa Senators, especially if you are open to consuming something a little more funky with a mix of cinnamon that hits you strong but doesn’t always work.

Team notes

This isn’t going to be Ottawa’s year, but they are an exciting team to watch with a bunch of young stars that make their future bright. Brady Tkatchuk, Tim Stutzle, and Drake Batherson are providing Senator fans with a glimpse of a promising future… they just might have to wait for another 5 to 10 years. The 2021 Ottawa Senators are a fun, funky, low-intervention team that will definitely shine brighter in future seasons if provided with the right environment.

Wine notes

Marcel Lapierre is one of the leading winemakers in Beaujolais. The Morgon “appellation has something so specific about it that a new term has been added to French winegrowing vocabulary:  “morgonner”, or “to morgon”. It’s a verb that emphasises the particular taste of the wine and how it is an expression of its terroir. The Montreal Canadiens is an expression of French Canada and Domaine Lapierre, Morgon 2018 is a wonderful reflection of this expression.

Team notes

Montreal is all in for the 2021 season. For many this is the make or break year that will determine the future for players like Carey Price, Shae Weber, Phillip Danault, and GM Marc Bergevin. The Habs have a wealth of tradition and history, one example of this is elite goaltending that can steal a Stanley Cup. With Carey Price in net the Montreal Canadiens will be a dangerous team to play against.