“When we sat down to talk about it, we decided there would be two markets interested – the first is the young thirty-something who likes the best of the best. We work hard, and what do we do in our spare time? Go to wine tastings,” says Christine Scott-Nyuli, president of Avalon Master Builder.

The second vintage of Bordeaux buyer is equally savvy and upscale in taste, but is looking to leave behind the family home for low-maintenance living. To this would-be owner, who may have acquired an appetite for a large yard and formal dining room, size matters, says Scott-Nyuli.

Ranging from 1,541 to 1,878 square feet, addresses in the one-of-a-kind community (Avalon never repeats a project design) offer plenty of room to breathe, including double front garages, full driveways and fenced yards.

“We feel there are a lot of people who can afford the square footage but just don’t want to be worrying about yard work. So every single home has a fenced private yard – which is perfect of you have a dog, which a lot of people in this market do,” says
Scott-Nyuli.

Included floor plan features are options for wine fridges (of course), large granite-topped eating bars, hardwood flooring, as well as second floors with three bedrooms paired with lofts or bonus rooms and including master bedrooms with enviable ensuites.

Visitors to the show homes can sample two varietals of the plethora of possibilities for floorplans to uncork in their own Bordeaux addresses.

The Champagne serves up nearly 1,900 square foot of luxurious space, including a collection of haunts designed for eating and sipping wine – at the raised eating bar, generous bumped out nook or a grand dining room accessible via an arch from the kitchen or foyer punctuated by a pair of pillars.

“We have chosen two homes that are quite unique. This is a downsizers’ plan,” says Scott-Nyuli, adding three well-sized sleeping quarters (with guest rooms separated from the master), and a loft upstairs offer plenty of room for R and R.

Next door, the funky yet elegant Gamay appeals to the discerning younger crowd, offering up 1,731 square feet well planned space on two floors connected via an eye-catching curved staircase to above. At the rear, a square-shaped island helps dish out equal parts’ form and function in the smart “working” kitchen of the Gamay, while a great room and adjacent eating bar are perfectly poised for hosting wine and cheese parties with dozens of close friends.

“These are very comparable to estate homes in the area in terms of finishing and size,” says Scott-Nyuli.

A feature perhaps not as visible as the eye candy donning the showsuites at Bordeaux, but equally pleasing to the palate – and pocketbook – is the Built Green Alberta facet of the exclusive French-inspired community. The first multi-family builder to apply the Built Green building practices in the province with its West Citadel project, Avalon aims to deliver a rating of Silver or Gold (the highest level) for energy efficiency with Bordeaux.

“While in some price ranges the energy-savings aspects appeal to buyers, this is really geared at a prestige buyer, and that is important to them,” says Scott-Nyuli.

Of the 44 townhomes planned for Bordeaux, which saw its first purchasers move in a few weeks ago, just ten remain. With a release date set for mid-May, sales “connoisseurs” are taking $500 deposits for would-be buyers to secure a spot for the chance to own a Bordeaux address.

Show home hours (72 Cranleigh Drive) are Monday to Thursday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends and holidays noon through 5 p.m. Prices in the estate-style homes currently range from the $300,000 to $400,000.   CL