Summer Sipping on the Coast

New Vine's business plan was to help wineries navigate the minefield of state-by-state liquor laws in the U.S. and allow them to legally ship "direct" through New Vine to customers across the country. The premise was small margins on a large number of transactions.

Allowing any business to sell its product to anyone in the country doesn't seem like it should be so difficult, but when it comes to wine (alcohol), and direct delivery, the obstacles are many and persistent, and in the end they appear to have done New Vine in just as they have done many others.

New Vine was reported to be the company that Amazon had tagged to run its planned online wine program, but the deal was never consummated and likely never will, to the chagrin of venture capitalists and wineries betting on New Vines Logistics becoming the go-to, online wine retailer in the U.S.

As someone who has often attempted to ship wine around North America and encountered reams of regulations and roadblocks, I'm hardly surprised that Amazon executives have chosen to stick with books rather than wine for the moment. The sale and distribution of wine in North America is in the hands of a few and is highly regulated to make sure it remains that way. Even Amazon, with its amazing success, appears reluctant to wade into murky regulations of interstate alcohol shipments.

We are not immune to any of this in Canada. It is illegal to ship wine across any provincial boundary in this country without the consent (and a hefty payment) to the aggrieved provincial liquor authority. British Columbia wineries are effectively blocked from selling their wine directly to Canadians outside the province and that also goes for the pseudo-private wine stores operating within the B.C.'s jurisdiction.

With wines selling for $5 and $10 less per bottle in Ontario and Alberta, you can see why some provinces (such as B.C.) are happy with the laws just the way they are. B.C. wineries have had their online operations challenged by liquor boards in Manitoba and Ontario and have complained but to no avail.

Canadians should be able to buy and ship any wine they want anywhere across this country the same way they do books, clothes, furniture and, well, you name it, because we all live in Canada. The only reason it doesn't happen is the same reason why New Vine Logistics closed its doors. There is a small, highly profitable, well organized liquor lobby -- protected by government regulations -- that simply does not want it to happen.

Unfortunately, consumers pay the price for that cosy relationship.

Today we offer several interesting bottles you can buy in B.C., but remember you must drink them here.

Now under screwcap, Spain's Burgans Albarino Rias Baixas 2007 is as clean and as fresh as the day it was bottled, and it will stay that way for many months to come. Look for a crisp mineral, nectarine skin nose. On the palate it's juicy with creamy, green apple, melon honey notes with a citrus finish. Tailor-made for curious white wine drinkers who love seafood.

The Signorello Seta Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc 2007 from Napa Valley is as good as many of the best white Bordeaux and it is more affordable. We love its elegant, creamy palate and vanilla, melon, passion fruit, grapefruit, nettle, lemon/guava fruit flavours. There is finesse in a ripe style. Best with seafood.

I'm excited about the Domaine du Clos du Bourg Touraine Sauvignon 2008 from the Loire Valley. A new vintage, in time for the summer, should really help this label take off. Love the floral chalky, passionfruit aromas with bits of salt and mineral to enliven the palate. Similar freshness and fruit marks the palate with a chalky mineral, citrus, figgy-fruit finish. It's a less aggressive version of the New Zealand style that is very attractive. Great value.

If you are looking for something a bit fuller and riper try the LoTengo Torrontes 2007 from Mendoza, Argentina. The gewurztraminer-like sipper has spicy, ginger, lemon oil, melon and floral aromas. The palate is fresh, round and slightly sweet with lemon oil, mango, ginger, spicy, slate, melon-rind flavours. The finish is juicy and zippy. It's excellent for Indian or spicy Chinese food.

American winemaker Mark Shannon and his Italian wife Elvezia continue their search for the best inexpensive wine in the world. The A Mano Primitivo 2007 from Apulia, Italy, is my go-to spaghetti red with its floral, lifted raspberry nose flecked with bits of spice. Look for plenty of raspberry flavours streaked with a savoury-anise undercurrent and a dusting of tannins. Grilled meats or spaghetti Bolognese would work here. It is sold only in private wine shops.

I'm also enjoying the Arrogant Frog Ribet Red Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot 2007 from the Languedoc, France. Only one-quarter of the 55-45 blend of cabernet sauvignon-merlot is aged in new oak for four months; the other 75 per cent sits in stainless steel vats. The nose is clean and bright with herbal, black fruit and coffee, and a pleasant earthy, mushroom, vanilla note. It's a solid grilled-meat wine, but would be fine with a selection of cheese or most grilled barbecued meats. Very good value.

Price: $14

UPC: 03760040421377

Score: 87/100

Remarks: A solid, grilled-meat wine, but would be fine with cheese too. Good value.

LoTengo Torrontes 2007, Lujan de Cuyo,

Mendoza, Argentina

Price: $14

UPC: 07792319677457

Score: 87/100

Remarks: Fine juicy style for Indian or spicy Chinese food.

Domaine du Clos du Bourg Sauvignon Touraine 2008, Touraine, Loire, France

Price: $15

UPC: 03481730001005

Score: 89/100

Remarks: A less-aggressive version of the New Zealand style. Great value.

A Mano Primitivo 2007, Castellaneta, Taranto, Apulia, Italy

Price: $18, private wine shops

UPC: 726452003771

Score: 88/100

Remarks: Barbecued meats or spaghetti Bolognese would work here.

Burgans Albarino Rias Baixas 2007, Rias Baixas, Galicia, Spain

Price: $24.50

UPC: 8414825336749

Score: 90/100

Remarks: Tailor-made for curious white-wine drinkers who love seafood.

Signorello Seta Semillon - Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Napa Valley, California, United States

Price: $46

UPC: 00752183170215

Score: 91/100

Remarks: Melon, passionfruit, grapefruit, nettle and lemon flavours.