Where shopping is a pleasure. Since 1930, Publix has grown from a single store into the largest employee-owned grocery chain in the United States. We are thankful for our customers and associates and continue remaining deeply dedicated to customer service and community involvement, and being a great place to work and shop. Currently, we are not able to service customers outside of the United States, and our site is not fully available internationally.But, the next time you travel to Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, or Virginia—make sure you visit the store “where shopping is a pleasure” during your stay. Upon your arrival, you may plan your grocery trips, find weekly savings, and even order select products online atColumnist Danny Hewitt and a panel of local wine experts hunt for the city’s best wine values. This is our fourth edition of the Top 20 wines. We consider it our annual state of the wine market in Halifax, and an important barometer of which wines are both affordable and excellent.

Each year we try to expand the variety of offerings, as the demand for wine, and our consumption of it, increases. Since our first year we have evolved from a tasting panel of four experts to six. We have also raised the maximum price from $20 to $25, in recognition of the high pricing on wines in Nova Scotia, and to increase the quality of offerings. We kept the number of wines to a maximum of 50 entries, and took reader recommendations as the basis for this review. We also include the top five from the previous year. For the first time we also allowed the judges to nominate their three favourite wines. This year, a wide range of regions and grapes rose to the top. Interestingly, only two wines in the top 10 came in over $20, proving that you can still buy great wine with less than a twenty in Halifax. We also had a nice selection of Old and New world wines, along with two Nova Scotia winners. Italy yet again had the most awards with four, and California next with three.

Our average score this year rose from 85 points to over 86 points, and both red and white wines were well represented. What follows is an interesting tour of the wine world, including everything from French Malbec to South African Chardonnay. It is our hope that you will use this list as a basis to explore new wines, and share with friends. 10. Chateau Haut-Montplasir Malbec 2009 Cahors, France, $21.99, Harvest Wines and Spirits. Most of us know Malbec from Argentina. This wine is actually from the original home of Malbec, in France. The judges thought this wine was nicely layered with aromas of blackberry and tar. Lots of black fruits and a nice smokey finish. 9. Di Majo Norante Sangiovese Molise, Italy 2010, $15.99, Cristall Wine Merchants. A great value wine from Italy. Aromas of dried fruit and herbs. Has that nice cherry flavour typical of Sangiovese, with lots of chalky tannins. A great food wine. 8. Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Marlborough, New Zealand, $19.99, NSLC.

Number five from last year’s list drops three places, but still checks all the boxes for great New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Zesty acidity, citrus fruits and an intense finish. 7. A Mano Primitivo 2009 Puglia, Italy, $19.99, NSLC.top 50 wine labels A popular wine from the NSLC, this one impressed the judges with its dark, spicy characters and peppery, leathery nose. best food and wine matches 6. Sea Glass Pinot Noir N/Vtop wine tweets A gulpable Pinot Noir for under $15. buy new zealand wine in franceClassic California style of strawberry and cherry fruit. top 10 bc white wines

Lighter in style than many, but offers a great introduction to the grape. A great apertif when chilled. 5. Campo Viejo Reserva 2009 Rioja, Spain, $22.99, NSLC. A definite contrast to the Pinot Noir above, this wine carries all the classic weight and body of the Rioja style of red wines. best red wine for asian foodRich, and flavourful, with tons of dark fruit and rich vanilla oak. best white wine for christmas partyA great winter wine, lots of structure for the price.best wine and food vacations 4. Zenato Valpolicella Superiore 2009red wine glass phone case Veneto, Italy $20, Bishop’s Cellar. Last year’s number-one wine drops a few places but still comes out near the top with great balance, a ton of cherry fruit, and a beautiful, long finish.

This wine never disappoints, and was the favourite of more than one of our group. 3. Anselmi San Vincenzo 2011 Soave, Italy, $19.99, NSLC. This is a new General Listing at the NSLC and we know why. It has an intense perfume nose combined with a rich, balance mouth feel. It is herbal and ripe, and yet carries great balance. If you are looking to expand your white wine horizons, this one is for you. 2. DeMorgenzon DMZ Chardonnay South Africa, $19.50, Bishop’s Cellar. Our lone white wine entry from South Africa wowed every judge. All agreed finding great chardonnay in a sea of over-oaked and mass-produced wines is next to impossible. Finding one that is under $20, and has amazingly intense fruit balanced with a perfect touch of oak, and a long, rich finish is a miracle. This is a fantastic wine! 1. Falernia Syrah Reserva 2008 Elqui Valley, Chile, $19.99, Harvest Wines and Spirits. Our new highest scoring wine had everyone on the tasting panel gushing with enthusiasm.

Thevwords excellent and amazing came up several times. Descriptors like Rhone-like, peppery, cola, cocoa, blackberry, leather, dense but balanced, and great tannins were common. There was unanimous consensus that for $19.99 this wine performed at least $10 more than its price, and it is proof that great things are happening with Chilean wines. Martin Codax Albarino 2011. Rias Biaxas, Spain, $19.99, NSLC. Luckett Tidal Bay 2011. Nova Scotia, $19.99, NSLC and Private. Nova Scotia, $19.99- NSLC and Private. Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2011. New Zealand, $22.75, Bishop’s Cellar. Beaujolais L’Ancien Jean-Paul Brun 2010. France, $23.99, Cristall Wines. Las Roca Garnacha 2009. Domaine de Cristia 2011. Cotes du Rhone, France, $19.99, Queen of Hearts Pinot Noir 2009. Wente Southern Hills Cabernet Sauvignon. California, $19.99, Bishop’s Cellar. Sandhill Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2009. British Columbia, Canada, $19.99, NSLC.