Your Best Cellar
“Sometimes we just want someone to hand us a bottle of wine. Sometimes we want to learn more about that wine. And sometimes we want to feel something about wine.” - Jane Lopes
What is best for you may not be best for someone else - but that's the beauty of it all, isn't it? Let me help you find what your version of best is for this season of your life.
The idea that expensive and rare wines are the best, or the only way to build your cellar, is patriarchal propaganda. Wine shouldn’t be a members only party where everyone outside the velvet red rope is made to feel inadequate.
Wine can, understandably, be intimidating. It has been described as “the game with an endless volume of ever changing expansion packs.” Enter, Maura (YBC).
Maybe your best cellar is having the perfect bottle on hand for an impromptu dinner party. Maybe it is collecting wines from a certain vintage so you have something to help celebrate a landmark year. Maybe it is something to help make your tired Friday evening dinner feel a little more special. Maybe your cellar is not a cellar! Maybe it is a list of wines that you know you like to remove some of the emotional labour from the mass selection of labels and confusing language.
What is Your Best Cellar
My name is Maura Casey (she/her). I am a Court of Master Sommelier Certified Sommelier and Advanced Sommelier Candidate, Wine Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Diploma graduate, and a Canadian Food and Wine Institute alumnus. At the end of 2023 I won ‘Best Sommelier of Canada’ for Atlantic Canada, and then represented the Atlantic provinces at the National Best Sommelier of Canada competition.
About a decade ago I found myself in wine and spirits and haven't looked back. I have worked building cellars for everyone from Michelin starred chefs, to non-drinkers that want to make sure they have options for guests and gifts.
I can wear a suit with all my accreditation pins, but am most comfortable in blundstones and a sweater. You will often find me popping bottles while camping, hiking, making friends with every dog I see, and entertaining with my wife.
About Maura
2025 is coming to a close; hosting gifts are flowing, fridges are packed, and dinner tables are full of laughter. Also, never ending to-do lists and decision fatigue around every corner.
I created a quick shopping list of crowd pleasing wines in hopes of removing some emotional labour. This list is by no means groundbreaking, exhaustive, or complete - but more of a ‘25 wines to toast the end of 2025’. A personalized list like this one is something I normally send an invoice for, but consider this my thank you gift for a wonderful 2025. Take a breath, enjoy the season, and if you have the capacity - try to help others do the same.
This world isn’t a straight forward one, so consider this prompt: Use the 30 minutes you’re not spending trying to find the perfect bottle in 2 halves. 15 minutes to fill your emotional cup - whatever that looks like for you. The other 15 minutes? Give to your community. What do I mean?
- Pop a few extra items into your cart for the food bank
- Check your pantry for things for your local community fridge
- Grab a few extra pairs of socks to donate when you’re already out shopping
- Donate that winter coat you no longer wear, but still has lots of life
Let me know what you’re doing, I’d love to hear about it! Sending health, joy, and happiness to you and those you hold dear.
Sláinte,
Maura
Click Here for Holiday Wines of 2025
This list is accurate at the time of release, won’t be updated should changes occur. A wine being listed is not a guarantee of enjoyment, and of course - is only meant to be shared with people of legal drinking age to enjoy in a responsible way.
Services
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Cellar Curation
If you are looking to start from scratch, build on what you have, learn about an inherited cellar, or evaluate your collection for insurance purposes, I can help!
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Personal Wine List
After a focused consultation, you will be provided with a list of wines that can help to take all the guess work out of choosing just the right bottle.
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Private Tastings
Learn about a region, grape, category, or style from a proven tasting template. This is a popular option for team building, birthdays, or for bespoke menu pairings.
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Beverage Programming
Develop a profitable beverage programme, made with your guests in mind. YBC will curate a beverage programme that is approachable to implement, sustain, and train.
looking for something That is not listed above?
Let’s connect! Based in Halifax, YBC was created with the hope of making wine and spirits inclusive, accessible, and fun. Always open to new ideas, YBC would love to hear yours!
Fully customizable, please enquire for pricing