Cheers to this! In a huge turn-around on the part of the SAQ, private import wine companies can sell mixed cases now in Quebec. They have to have a minimum of three bottles of each wine in a case (so two types in a case of six, or four types in a case of 12), and the agencies decide what goes in the cases (meaning you can’t cherry pick a custom case from their complete lists yourself).
But one perk is that you no longer have to pick up your private import order at an SAQ (actually, you can’t, I believe); mixed cases have to be compiled and delivered by the private import agency.
Here’s an article about the news in French. Apparently the change is in no small part thanks to RASPIPAV, the organization in Quebec that promotes private import wine companies.
Already, agencies are starting to advertise their boxes, including Rézin, whose last newsletter included three options (two cases of 12 and one case of six) and Origines (get on their mailing list for the mixed case offers, of which there are currently six).
Other agencies I’d recommend checking out include Symbiose, Vinealis, Le Vin Dans Les Voiles, Oenopole, Ward et Associés, Bacchus76, Glou, Le Maitre de Chai, Raisonnance, L’Agence Sans Nom and Les Vins Dame Jeanne.
Attention all Sake Lovers
The same mixed case rule could apply to sakes. The application process for agencies is strict, but sake agencies including Metropolitan Premium Wines and Sakes will be figuring out the logistics soon, says Metropolitan’s Montreal sales rep, Jena Sapinosa.
Other importers I like in Montreal include Bacchus76, L’Eau et le Riz and Ward et Associés. Bacchus and Ward already sell wine, but Bacchus has an extensive list of nama or unpasteurized sakes and Ward only sells three sakes, but exceptional ones.
If you need a bit of info on why sake is awesome, check out:
- My Montreal Gazette article about the rising trend.
- Here’s a follow-up article I wrote about everything I couldn’t fit into the article.
- Here’s a post about some of my favourite bottles.
- This one’s about a sparkling sake you’ll want for spring.
- And here’s a post about an unpasteurized, organic rice sake that’s available at an incredibly good price in Montreal right now.
Jena of Metropolitan says they’ll soon probably be running some virtual tastings soon – perfect ways for beginners to get introduced to the high quality stuff that’s a world different than your last sake bomb. In Toronto, Metropolitan is selling the tasting packs that people taking the WSET sake course will need. The general public could take advantage of that taster pack, too, or opt for a discovery-style 300ml pack of four types of sakes (three bottles of each type).
Then there’s be a ‘house sake’ case with two kinds of 720mL sake in a six pack and amore high-end pack with another two types of 720mL for a total of six bottles. You can contact jena@metrowines.com for more info or to hear more about the offers.
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