Catherine Périnet’s top picks

SAQ Sélection Magog
“I love wine, cooking, and entertaining! My idea of a great time is a gourmet meal with close friends and family, accompanied by carefully chosen bottles of wine. Here’s a little made-in-Quebec gem to add flair to your aperitifs: Avril Amaretto. I love the finesse and high quality of this liqueur that has notes of marzipan, maple syrup, barley sugar, a touch of coconut at the finish. It’s great in a cocktail. Another great find: Castelgiocondo Brunello-di-Montalcino 2013 is a very elegant Tuscan Sangiovese with hints of leather, mild tobacco, mushrooms and cherry.”
Avril Sour
Recipe by Catherine Périnet
Ingredients
45 mL (1 1/2 oz.) Avril Amaretto
15 mL (1/2 oz.) fresh lime juice
Ice
Slice of lime
Sprig of fresh rosemary
Preparation
In a shaker, add all ingredients except for the rosemary and slice of lime. Shake vigorously then strain into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with slice of lime and sprig of rosemary.
Ludwig Lemieux’s top picks

SAQ Sélection de la Montagne, Montréal
“In my 15 year career at the SAQ, I’ve been able to make enriching discoveries, and feed my passion for the winemaking universe. One of my latest discoveries: the white wine A.A. Badenhorst The Curator 2018. This estate does nothing by the book, and this entry-level vintage ranks well, given its price. It’s a blend of Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Viognier that has a certain generosity, and is well balanced thanks to healthy acidity and lovely citrus notes. Another product to discover is the Niepoort Diálogo, a generous Portuguese red wine that doesn’t get too jammy, is drinkable and pairs well with most foods.”
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Heading photo credit: Marie Charest
Photos: Éric Myre