Following in steps of French tradition and heritage, Montreal is an amazing city filled with wine lovers. For a city world famous for it’s local, beautiful cuisine; the Montreal wine scene is truly booming.

Private wine importers, as well as local wineries, help some of the best Montreal wine bars expand their catalogs.

It is due to the sheer selection and quality of wines that these amazing Montreal wine bars are making names for themselves.

A quality wine bar offers more than a great selection of wine. In addition to wine, they offer an unforgettable atmosphere. Fine wines paired perfectly with unbelievable food that complements one another. More than that, the best Montreal wine bars offer the opportunity to expand horizons and try something new. Be frivolous, you will not regret it!

Montreal wine tastings are offered all over the historic city. As well, Montreal wine bars are immensely varied. In addition, this makes sampling Quebec wines quite an adventure! SecondBottle presents 5 amazing wine bars that cannot be missed!

Montreal Wine Bars: Top 5 2018

Pullman

With over 350 wines on their menu, Pullman is the king of variety in Montreal. The owners take wine very seriously, which is why Pullman holds its spot among top-ranked Montreal wine bar listings year after year. Only the best wines, selected by Pullman experts are featured on the extensive menu.

This upscale jewel draws in crowds from all over Quebec. Pullman expertly pairs sophistication and modern aesthetic. The expert sommeliers at Pullman will assist in selecting the best wine for your meal, happy to share their knowledge! This is one Montreal hot-spot that cannot be missed!

Les Cavistes

Les Cavistes is an astonishing wine bar! With an extensive and renowned international selection of wines on the menu, this bistro is making waves among Montreal wine-lovers!

Additionally, Les Cavistes offers a unique Montreal wine tasting experience as well. Furthermore, the chic establishment offers classes in all things wine, allowing the customer to experience and learn. Learning something new about wine, and discovering new vintages and favorites; you cannot go wrong.

Les Cavistes is also the honored winner of Wine Spectator magazine’s highest recognition. The establishment has been won the award for the past three years.

Find out what wines Young Canadian Women are enjoying!

Montreal wine bar and restaurant M.Mme offers both amazing food and excellent wine!

Rioja Wine Brands

It is important to note that not all wine produced in Rioja, is Rioja wine. Rioja wine must meet regulatory conditions set by the Denominación de Origen (D. O)–the Control Board of the Rioja denomination.

Notably, Rioja received the prestigious “Calificada” (Qualified) nomination in 1991, becoming Spain’s first Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa). Because of the DOCa regulations, Rioja wine brands have four classification levels, based on the aging period of the wine.

Guarantee of origin

Wine in this level has a green label at the back of the bottle. The label shows that the grapes come from Rioja and the wine is a product of Rioja.
Aged in oak barrels for less than a year, this wine is young and fruity, with notes of raspberries. These wines are bright and fun, ideal to serve during a casual party.

Crianza

These wines have a cherry-red label at the back of the bottle. Crianza wines must mature for at least two years at the winery before sale. Specifically, the red wines must be in an oak aging barrel for at least a year. And, the white wine must spend at least six months aging in the oak barrels.
Crianza wines stay fresh and develop more complex aromas and flavors from the oak aging. Consequently, these elegant wines are fruity, smooth, full-bodied with notes of toasted wood and vanilla.

Reserva

Dark red labels on the back of the bottle help identify Reserva wines. Red wines in this category must mature for at least three years at the winery before sale. In addition, the wines must spend at least a year aging in oak barrels. With white wines, they must spend a minimum of two years at the winery, with six months aging in oak.
To produce Reserva wines, wineries use higher quality grapes that can survive the long aging. Therefore, production happens in the years that had a good growing season and from the best grapes. As a result, these wines are, complex, full-bodied, and rich with refined tannins.

Gran Reserva

The blue label on the back of the bottle helps identify these wines. Gran Reserva wines have the longest aging potential among the Rioja wines. Notably, these wines spend at least five years in the winery before sale. Red wines must age in the oaks for at least two years and spend at least three years in a bottle. As for white wines, they must age in oak for 6 months and released for sale after 4 years in the winery.

Due to production of this wine only happens during exceptional vintages, it has similar production conditions as Reserva wine. Uniquely, producers often age their wines for longer than the legal minimum.  As a result, they soften the tannins and develop complexity in this wine.
As a result of the regulations set by the Denominación de Origen Calificada, which have ensured that Rioja wine maintains its authenticity. Rioja wine brands continue to be famous for offering all the style, complexity and elegance of oak-aged wines.