Frequently Asked Questions

Cork Fine Wine is located at #183, 250 6 Ave SW, Canada inside Bow Valley Square. Enter through the 2nd Street doors and our fine wines store is on the right-hand side opposite the escalator.

Yes. We do deliveries in downtown Calgary and surrounding areas.

Unfortunately, we are not allowed to ship outside Alberta due to provincial laws. We only deliver within Calgary.

Yes, we offer complimentary wine-tasting events every Thursday and Friday from 1:30PM to 6PM. We have fine wine experts who come into our store to guide you through the wine tasting and give you a deeper understanding of the fine wines we offer. We do product discoveries on Thursdays and host fancy events on Fridays. Join us for our next wine-tasting event - it’s always a good time!

We are open Monday to Friday from 10:00AM to 6:00PM.

Yes, we do. We also offer a ‘locals discount’ of 10% off all products to Calgary businesses and customers who live or work around downtown Calgary. For large volume orders (5+ cases) we offer increased discounts - contact us to discuss further.

Yes, we do. Please get in touch with us for more information.

Yes. We offer:

• A 10% Cork Discount online and in-store when you sign up on the website and you can enjoy exclusive releases from the Cork Fine Wines email list.
• Case Discounts of 10% off 6 bottles and 15% off 12 bottles with Promo code 'SAVE10' or 'SAVE15' at checkout.

The difference between fine wines compared to others is that they are produced with the highest level of winemaking techniques, right down to the smallest details. Only the highest quality grapes are used, grown in specific conditions in a vineyard site that is managed with extreme attentiveness. Fine wines have the potential to develop character with age and meet the viticultural standards of the region. The result is a rich, unique wine with depth and flavourful aromas.

Fine wines typically keep for about five days with proper wine storage. Port wines can keep for 1-3 weeks after opening. We recommend recorking the bottle with the original cork, using a wine stopper, or covering with plastic wrap and storing it in the fridge.

This depends on the type of wine and how it’s stored. As a general rule of thumb:

• White wine keeps for 1–2 years past the printed expiration date
• Red wine keeps for 2–3 years past the printed expiration date
• Cooking wine keeps for 3–5 years past the printed expiration date
• Fine wine keeps for 10–20 years with proper wine storage conditions

Opened wine goes bad because it’s exposed to oxygen, heat, and bacteria. Oxidation triggers a chemical reaction and the alcohol breaks down to produce acetic acid, which gives it that vinegar-like taste that it indicates its gone bad.

There are a few things to consider when picking a bottle of wine, the main concern being your personal preference. If you’re hosting an event, consider the occasion and purchase a few options that can suit everyone’s tastes. Here are some things to look for when choosing wine:

• Be familiar with regions and what they do best
• Consider what type of food you’re pairing the wine with
• Read online reviews

A good quality wine is smooth, complex, and has a nice balanced taste. When a wine is balanced, there’s no component that stands out above the rest (ie: acidity, alcohol, fruit, or tannin). Quality winemakers know how to balance the characteristics while adding depths and layers of flavour. High-quality wines have a longer finish - the longer the taste lingers after you swallow the wine, the better it is.

The five wine characteristics are:

1. Sweetness - The level of sweetness or dryness
2. Acidity - Lighter-bodied wines have a higher acidity while a rich wine has less acidity
3. Tannin - Adds bitterness to a wine that rounds out its balance and complexity
4. Alcohol - Wines with less alcohol tend to be lighter-bodied while wines with a higher alcohol level taste bolder
5. Body - Used to describe the overall impression of the wine, such as a light, medium, or full-bodied flavour

Cork Fine Wines offers high-quality wines from around the world, including Spain, France, Italy, Australia , United States, New Zealand, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Germany, and Portugal.

With a few exceptions, the alcohol level in our wines ranges from 10-15% depending on the brand and varietal. You can pick up a product guide at our store, which contains all of the details.

Different wines have different serving temperatures that work best. As a general rule of thumb:

• Red wines - Best served between 15-20°C
• White wines - Best served between 7–12 °C

There are many different types of wines, including (but not limited to):

• Sparkling
• Champagne
• White
• Red
• Rose
• Dessert
• Fortified

This depends on the flavour of the wine. Here is a simple guide for the best food pairing with different wines:

• Sparkling - Salty snacks, fatty foods, smoked salmon, spring rolls, bruschetta
• Champagne - Seafood, pasta, caviar, oysters, baked brie, goat cheese
• White - Seafood, chicken, appetizers and salads, light appetizers
• Red - Steak, lamb, pork, chocolate, cheese, tomato sauces
• Rose - Salmon, charcuterie, duck, chicken, soft cheeses
• Dessert - Dark chocolate, white chocolate, truffles, creme brulee, olives, nuts

While there are many types of spirits, the top types are vodka, tequila, gin, rum, and whiskey.

Most spirits are distilled from fruit while others are distilled from grains or sugars.

Spirits are best served at room temperature, though experts say some spirits are best served between 12-17°C.

Generally speaking, there are no ‘rules’ to mixing spirits. However, to truly enjoy the robust flavour profile of different spirits, it’s best to drink them alone and not mix them with any other alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages.

No, spirits stop aging once it’s been bottled. Opened liquor starts to lose its flavour after about a year or two.

Spirits are best served:

• Neat - Directly poured into a glass.
• Up - Refers to serving a spirit chilled. Combined with ice, shaken, strained, and served without the ice.
• Straight Up - Refers to mixed drinks or cocktails, such as martinis and manhattans. Combined with ice, shaken, strained, and served without the ice.
• Straight - Sometimes used interchangeably with “neat” when the appropriate term is “straight” for a particular type of spirit.
• On The Rocks - Poured and served with ice cubes.

The main ingredients of beer are grains, hops, yeast, and water.

Beer is made from starched-based malted cereals while cider is made from pressed apple juices. Cider is a great option for those who want to avoid grain-based drinks.

This depends on what the beer is stored in and how it’s stored. Bottled beer can last up to six months in a refrigerated area and will typically spoil after three months at room temperature. Beer in other containers such as growlers spoils faster.

Craft beer is produced by small breweries using a more traditional method. Craft beers are often made in smaller batches with varied brewing techniques and new, unique flavours introduced.

Beers are best served cold, between 3-12°C. Darker beers are generally served warmer than lighter beers.

Beer can be just as versatile and fun as wine. With the rising popularity of craft beer, there are seemingly endless options for beer. There’s no wrong or right way to buy beer - it’s all about finding what you like, trying different flavours and types, and having fun in the process. When choosing a beer, consider the flavour, style (IPA, lager, stout, etc), and brewery.