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montreal wine

The SAQ Is Raising Prices On All Bottles, Except For Cheap Wine

Your next house party might cost you a bit more for booze. The Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) just announced they're bumping up prices on most of their bottles. But it's not all gloom for the budget-conscious buyer.

Wines that don't break the $15 mark are getting a free pass from the price surge, safeguarding roughly 41% of the SAQ's stash from the uptick. Quebec's liquor retailer says the price hike is all about keeping the balance between making customers happy and making sure the organization is still making money.

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montreal wine bar

15 Must-Try Wine Bars In Montreal For Vino Lovers To Sip In Style

It's a Thursday night in Montreal: you step into a dimly lit bar where the candlelight flickers and soft jazz fills the air. You pull up a chair and order your usual — a classic glass of red. The first sip of rich and velvety wine dances across your palate, awakening your senses. Feels good, right? Great even. Well, that's simply the effect of a wine bar with a perfectly curated wine list, which the city is certainly no stranger to.

Montreal is known for its vibrant food scene and selection of exceptional wine bars that cater to just about every vino lover's taste. From chic and trendy establishments to hidden gems tucked away in charming neighbourhoods, the island is home to an array of options for those looking to sip in style.

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I Tested The SAQ's 5 Highest-Rated Cheap Wines On My Party Guests & There Was A Clear Winner

Wine is great, but cheap wine is sublime. After determining the five highest-rated, cheapest wines at the SAQ, I knew it was time to test my work by bringing in a team of (unpaid) test subjects to taste and review the chosen beverages. After an evening of extensive trial and revelry, we determined a final ranking of the five champion wines. The verdict? It's worth the splurge to get a red that tastes good, if you catch my drift.

The initial selection process was simple: the wines had to have over 100 ratings that averaged to above four stars, and they had to be available at the nearest large SAQ — for me, it was at the Complexe Angrignon. All five wines were easy to find, but only some were easy to drink.

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Here Are 5 Of The Highest-Rated, Cheapest Wines At The SAQ & What To Pair Them With

It's officially the holiday season, which means plenty of seasonal parties, get-togethers and chill hangs. For those of us who consume alcohol, knowing the good and cheap picks is a lifesaver — and a wallet-saver — come your sixth housewarming of the year. I was determined to find the top five highest-rated, lowest-priced wines so we're all a little more prepared for the BYOB gatherings to come.

After a thorough research process, I landed on two reds, two whites and a rosé, all costing less than $15 at the SAQ. Alongside price, the wines were selected based on the number and quality of reviews: only wines with more than 100 reviews and an average of over four stars made it to the final list.

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best restaurants in montreal

Montreal Has An Ultra-Chic New Wine Bar With A Huge Terrasse

Montreal has a new wine bar to add to its already stacked list of drinkeries. Brouillon — third-wave café by day, bar by night — has opened in front of marketing agency TUX at Plaza Saint-Hubert with a natural wine menu, shareable dishes and food from local épicerie Chez Conserva, and a 40-seat terrasse right on the plaza, according to a press release shared with MTL Blog.

The interior design sets the mood.

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