cheers.

OK, technically #bringitdowntown was aimed at getting people into the heart of the city for pre-Christmas shopping but just because Christmas is over doesn't mean you should stop hitting our local Downtown Fredericton businesses.   If you're looking to recuperate from your turkey coma, catch up with friends or just get out of the house, why not grab a glass of wine at Corked?

Last week having survived this and then this, Caleb and I decided to spend what was left of my Downtown dollars to toast the season at Fredericton's newest wine bar.  A great addition to the re-energized block of Regent between Queen and King, Corked is both stylish and cozy; equally suited for a glamourous private function or for a quiet glass of wine with a friend.

My partner in crime for the night is an avowed white wine drinker so I eschewed my usual winter red in favour of Santa Rita's 120 Sauvignon Blanc. The Chilean winery earned the distinction of Wine & Spirits magazine's Winery of the Year in 2010 and the fruity and fresh 120 Sauvignon Blanc earns pretty consistent raves for a great white at a good price point. I only found this out later, all I knew at the time was that it was a great burst of summer on a cold winter's night. 

And because Caleb is a bit of a history buff, no night out would be complete without a little history lesson.  So I was not as surprised as you might think when he announced while reading the label:  

 "This is revolutionary memento wine!"

Here's the story from the winery:

According to legend, 120 patriots, exhausted after a long, hard battle during the fight for Chile’s independence, reached the land belonging to Santa Rita. On that fateful night in 1814, these forces of liberty found refuge in the estate cellars. Today, within these same cellars, our award-winning 120 wines are crafted to honor their heroic character. 

Revolution may not be on your agenda but why not cap off a day of post-Christmas Downtown deal-hunting with a stop by Corked?