An Advent Calendar for Wine Lovers! 

🇨🇦🥂🍷🇨🇦

Secret Link for Ordering

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

Wine # 12: 
2019 Corcelettes Pinot Noir🔥 92+pts

Wine # 11: 
2020 Rennie Estate Winery Obsidian🔥 93pts

Wine # 10: 
2023 Black Bank Hill Viognier🔥 93+pts

Wine # 9: 
2018 Black Market Conviction Ridge Merlot🔥 92+pts | Exclusive Library Release!

Wine # 8: 
2024 Tightrope Riesling🔥 93pts | Ultra Rare Wine

Wine # 7: 
2015 Fairview Cellars Iconoclast
🔥 95pts | Library Release!

2015 Fairview Cellars Iconoclast

BC, VQA Okanagan Valley

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

95pts Carl's Wine Club | Top 5 Wines of 2025

 

One of my top five wines of the year. Absolutely WOW. Made from 100% estate Cabernet Sauvignon, from the perfect vintage for this varietal, this wine spent 36 months in French oak, with 75% new barrels. That extended barrel program adds structure, velvety texture, spice, and polish around a deep core of dark fruit. Winemaker Bill Eggert crafted this wine a decade ago — a classic, confident expression of South Okanagan Cabernet.

 

The nose is packed with black cherry, blackberry, blueberry compote, cassis, dark chocolate, and pencil lead, supported by notes of toffee, crushed rock, white pepper, and obvious French oak spice. The palate is full-bodied, rich, powerful, and velvety, with dark berries leading into a long, refined finish. Tannins are firm but integrated, showing how well this wine has evolved in bottle. This is a small-batch, cellar-aged Cabernet was just released to the public last week. It has been resting in the Fairview Cellars cave until now, waiting for the right moment.

 

Carl’s Wine Club members are the first recipients. A standout South Okanagan Cabernet …an absolute masterpiece.

 

Pairings: braised short ribs, NY strip loin with peppercorn sauce.
Drink: Now through 2032
Winery Price: $105.00 + tax & deposit

Wine # 6: 
2022 Closson Chase South Clos Chardonnay
🔥 92+pts | Exclusive Release!

2022 Closson Chase “South Clos” Chardonnay

ON, Prince Edward County

100% Chardonnay

92+ pts Carl's Wine Club

 

As usual, the South Clos Chardonnay displays richness, ripe fruit and layers. Aged for 16 months in French Oak with 20% new, this wine has a lengthy, salty finish specific to the South Clos terroir and well blended with the cloves and white pepper from the barrel program. The nose is on lemon cake, almond cookie, blood orange, chamomile and flint. On the palate, yellow apple, peach and a lift of zesty citrus acidity. I like the clear definition between the richness of the South Clos and the energy of the Churchside Chards. These two showcase their own personalities, and the diversity of the Closson Chase estate vineyard. The highlight for me is the salty caramel on the very end of the finish. Delicious! (Carl Boucher, November 20, 2025).

 

Pairings: grilled arctic char, BBQ langousine w butter

Drink: now through 2030

Winery Price: $50 + tax & deposit

Wine # 5: 
2023 Maverick Bush Vines Syrah
🔥93-94+pts🔥Exclusive pre-release!

2023 Maverick Bush Vines Syrah
BC, VQA Okanagan Valley

100% Syrah

93-94+ pts Carl's Wine Club

 

This brand new release of the iconic “Bush Vines” Syrah from Maverick Estate will go down as one of my very favourites. This is a big feat because I rated it very highly since the 2019 vintage. Also, this is going to be the last vintage of “Bush Vines” for the next 3 years, due to mother nature's bad temper 😊 and vine damage during the 2024 season. 

 

The aromas are so incredibly pure and authentic, with big cherry, blueberry coulis, fresh cut herbs, pipe tobacco and leather. The palate is still compact and tense, but a good decant will help loosen up the mid-palate. Flavours of blue plum, blueberry, raspberry, red licorice, oak spices and a long white pepper finish. This wine will just get better with time and should prime in 5 years. One of my top 10 wines of the year for the second time!

 

Pairings: BBQ ribs, smoked lamb shank

Drink: Drink between 2027 and 2033
Winery Price: $34.98+ tax & deposit

BONUS: 2020 Maverick Bush Vines Syrah
BC, VQA Okanagan Valley

100% Syrah

93 pts Carl's Wine Club (on release in 2022)

 

This Syrah is right in line with the 2019 vintage counterpart, following the same style and profile, but BAM! Even more spice, a more floral nose, and a tad more textural and full body, while maintaining elegance and complexity. The nose is explosive, opening with aromas of violets, black plum, stewed raspberry and mocha. The palate is deep, rich and concentrated. Blueberry, black cherry jam, cassis and dark chocolate on the front palate, while the mid palate offers vanilla from the 18 months in oak, and fresh sage. The back end has some tobacco leaves, blackberry, cassis, smoked meat, and a mix of pink and black pepper that lingers and sticks around for a very long time. The tannins are a little sticky, but this is expected for a freshly released wine. This Syrah is a baby at the moment, drinking beautifully and very approachable now, with great things ahead for those with patience! (Carl Boucher, 08/09/22). 406 cases made.

 

Pairings: smoked pork chops, cajun style BBQ

Drink: Drink between 2022 and 2028
Winery Price: $49.95+ tax & deposit

Wine # 4: 
2007 Stratus White
🔥93pts🔥Exclusive library release!

2008 Stratus White

ON, Niagara, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake

Sauv Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Sémillon, and Gewürztraminer

93+ pts CWC

 

Wow. This 18-year-old Canadian white is the perfect proof of the world-class aging potential our wines are capable of. A blend of five grape varieties, led by 46% Sauvignon Blanc and supported by Chardonnay, Viognier, Sémillon, and Gewürztraminer, this bold white was built with a whopping 85% new oak.

 

On the nose, expressive aromas of orange marmalade, crème brûlée, jasmine, ripe peaches, cardamom, and Christmas cake leap from the glass. The palate is rich and plush, with acidity that is stunningly precise and efficient. The oak is gracefully integrated, and the level of complexity is simply out of this world. Flavours revolve around grapefruit, orange zest, marmalade, pineapple, crème brûlée, and warm Christmas spices.

The finish is long and seductive. Overall, this is a wine I will remember for a very long time.

 

Pairings: butter poached seared scallops, French-style bouillabaise

Drink: now through 2028

Winery Price: $59 including tax & deposit

Wine # 3: 
2018 River Stone Malbec
🔥 92+pts🔥Exclusive library release!

2018 River Stone Malbec

BC, VQA Okanagan Valley

100% Malbec

92+ pts CWC

 

This opulent, powerful Malbec shows the classic River Stone texture rich and velvety while clearly expressing its rocky terroir, especially on the finish. The nose is packed with black fruits: black cherry, blackberry, and dark plum, layered with tobacco, coffee, and blueberry jam, plus a subtle hint of herbaceousness.

The palate is soft and generous, with resolved tannins that melt seamlessly into the structure. Flavours of black currant and black cherry are precise and clearly defined, followed by a burst of chewy tobacco and espresso coffee, beautifully integrated with vanilla through the mid-palate. The finish delivers sweet spice notes of cinnamon and brown sugar, while bright acidity provides lift and carries the entire profile.

 

Pairings: Slow-roasted lamb, Mexican mole chicken

Drink: Now through 2028

Winery Price: $54.99 + tax & deposit

Wine # 2: 
2020 The Organized Crime Sacred Series Cabernet Franc🔥 93pts🔥Exclusive pre-release!

2020 Organized Crime Cab Franc

ON, Niagara, VQA Beamsville Bench

100% Cabernet Franc

Gold Medal WineAlign 2025, 92pts

93pts Carl's Wine Club

 

From the spectacular 2020 vintage, this 100% Cabernet Franc shows classic vintage typicity with both richness and power, while staying true to pure varietal character. Fermented in oak and aged for 18 months in second- and third-fill barrels, it strikes a beautiful balance between texture and purity, with subtle and balanced oak influence.

 

I know I’m in front of a great Cabernet Franc when I get that unmistakable Black Forest cake note on first nose and this wine delivers it tenfold. Layered on top are precise aromas of cigar box and tobacco, dark fruits, and warm Christmas spices. The palate is generous and dense, with flavours of black cherry, black currant, crushed raspberry, red pepper jelly, mocha, and a charcoal-like minerality that runs through the wine. The finish is long, savoury, and lifted by a spectacular white pepper note. This wine will continue to improve for another 3+ years with proper cellaring. I’m a big fan.

 

Pairings: Gourmet bacon-cheese burger, smoked pork chop

Drink: Now through 2030

Winery Price: $49.95 + tax & deposit

Wine # 1: 
2017 Noble Ridge “The One” Grand Reserve 
🔥 93+pts

2017 Noble Ridge “The One” Grand Reserve 

BC, Okanagan Valley, VQA Okanagan Falls
78% Chardonnay, 22% Pinot Noir | Dry (2.5 g/L RS) | 12.0% ABV
93+ pts Carl’s Wine Club | 100 pts Katherine McEachnie “Master of Champagne” | 96 pts John Schreiner

 

This Traditional Method Sparkling, made from 78% Chardonnay and 22% Pinot Noir, is truly world-class. Its exceptional style, texture, and complexity showcase a remarkable achievement. Bravo to winemaker Benoit Gauthier!

 

With 66 months en tirage (a French term referring to the process of aging sparkling wine in bottles while still on the lees), this wine develops incredible depth, layered richness, and a graceful personality. The nose is highly aromatic and expressive, revealing white peach, green apple, orange blossom, pink grapefruit, freshly baked brioche, and chamomile.

 

The bubbles are fine, sophisticated, and perfectly aligned with the wine’s structure, creating a captivating mid-palate experience. Flavours include ripe pear, lime, golden apple, citrus, ginger-orange tea, and buttery croissant, all culminating in a stony mineral finish framed by vibrant acidity.

 

This is an extraordinary sparkling wine—perhaps the finest ever crafted in the Okanagan Valley. 

 

(Carl Boucher, December 3, 2024)


Production: 165 cases
Food Pairing: Oysters with mignonette, scallop ceviche
Drink: Now through 2030
Winery Price: $49.99 plus tax & deposit

Dry Wine | RS: 2.5g/L | 12.0% ABV | Drink from 2023 to 2030

 

Pairings: Oysters with mignonette, scallop ceviche

 

Winery price: $49.95 + tax and deposit

 

Each evening from December 14–25, unwrap a new bottle of curated, highly rated Canadian wine and hear directly from the winemaker, live!

 

...I ONLY included highly rated wines from the 2000+ Canadian wines I personally taste each year (and SEVEN of them are exclusive releases from the winery library or winemaker's cellar). 

 

Case in point, the wine that elicited the reaction in the video above!
 

Highlights include a well aged Cab Sauv at 95 points, one of the top Syrah I've tasted in years, an ultra-rare and delicious white wine from BC's nearly non-existent 2024 vintage, a wine going back to 2007 (and drinking beautifully right now!), a hand-signed bottle, and more.


The first wine is revealed December 14, and the final bottle is opened on Christmas Day, December 25. 

 

Cheers,

Carl

Spoiler alert! We shared a few hints of what's in the calendar...

A little about us, your hosts:

Carl Boucher (yes — that Carl from Carl’s Wine Club!) spent nearly 25 years curating Wine Spectator–winning lists for Canada’s top restaurants and consulting on multi-million-dollar cellars. Then one day, the CEO of WestJet asked him to find great Canadian wines to serve onboard… and Carl had his “wait a second” moment. Turns out, Canadian wine isn’t just good — we’re in a full-blown golden era. Today Carl tastes thousands of Canadian wines from coast to coast each year. Tough job… but someone’s got to do it so you can skip straight to the gems. 🍷😉

 

Mira Boucher is Carl's foil - unapologetically NOT the wine expert, and simply a lover of wine. Her background in the educational sector included one of Canada's largest philanthropic campaigns, running several businesses and being an executive coach. In Carl's Wine Club, Mira makes the magic happen behind the scenes, so you can discover the stories of some of Canada's most exciting wineries.

 

We look forwared to sharing the stories behind each of these 12 special Canadian wines!

 

Cheers,

Carl & Mira

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Carl's Wine Club work?

Carl's Wine Club is Canada's first pan-Canadian, direct-to-consumer wine club.

 

Being a member of the wine club is FREE and you have access to our informative emails and our live virtual events with Carl to learn more about Canadian wineries.

 

We feature a different Canadian winery every 1-2 weeks with a specially curated mix of wines. You choose if and how much wine to purchase, with winery direct pricing and shipping deals. 

 

On Wednesdays (yes Wine Wednesdays!) we also go LIVE on our social media platforms to chat about Canadian wine and often interview winemakers. Cheers!

How does shipping work?

Shipping is currently only via couriers like UPS, Purolator, ATS or GLS and the wines arrive right from the winery to your doorstep! No need to spend time or gas or manpower to visit a store.

 

You'll receive a tracking number from our system and sometimes also from the winery's system(s). 

 

Someone over the legal drinking age must be present at the time of delivery and provide ID to the delivery driver (this is a legal requirement). Please do your best to ensure that an adult is available to receive the order on the anticipated delivery date.

What if there's a problem with my order or wines?

We will be very happy to assist you if there are any issues, and find a suitable solution. Please contact us at carl@carlswineclub.com or call 587-899-8249.

How does the nightly reveal work?

Tune in each evening from Dec 14 to Dec 25 for Carl & Mira’s live (or pre-recorded) reveals featuring tasting stories, winery spotlights, and festive cheer.

What wines are in the calendar?

Each bottle is a surprise! Carl tastes over 2,000 Canadian wines each year to bring you the most exciting and delicious bottles to try. The mix tends more towards reds (it's Canadian winter, after all!) but you can expect a mix of red, white and sparkling — all rated among the best we’ve tasted this year.