Sept 13 - Wines of Brazil in Toronto

The Time and Date: Tuesday, September 13, 2011   10:30 AM to 5 PM

The Event: an all-day wine show featuring "Wines of Brazil"

The Venue: Biagio Ristorante

The Target Audience: wine media and trade

The Availability/Catalogue: hardly anything in Ontario, although some agents do represent Brazilian wineries.

The Quote/Background: this is their third show in Toronto in five years. Almost 90% of wine production comes from Serra Gaucha, in that southern part of Brazil close to Uruguay. There are about 700 wineries in Brazil, but only around 40 seem to want to export through the Wines of Brasil association (www.winesofbrasil.com).

 

The Wines: Ten wineries showed their wines. We began with a seminar about the different Brazilian regions, and tasted some wines (below) that were in the show (prices indicated).

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Salton Desejo Merlot 2007 ($32 USD)

-Santo Emilio Leopoldo 2007 (merlot/cab sauvignon) ($42 USD)

-Sanjo Maestrale Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 ($40 USD)

-Lidio Carraro Quorum 2006 (cabernets sauvignon and franc, merlot, tannat)

-Pizzato Tannat Reserva 2006, $22 CAN

-Pizzato Concentus 2008 (merlot, cabernet sauvignon, tannat)

-Vinicola Salton Talento 2006 (cabernet sauvignon, merlot, tannat)

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Basso Pinot Noir Brut Rose Monte Paschoal NV ($20 USD)

-Pietro Felice Chardonnay 2011 Reserve 

-Miolo Merlot Terroir 2008 ($24.50 USD)

-Pizzato DNA 99 Single Vineyard Merlot 2005 ($50 USD)

-Basso Moscatel d'Asti

-Basso Merlot 2009

-Casa Valduga Premium Merlot 2008

-Casa Valduga Premium Cabernet Franc 2007

-Casa Valduga Arinarnoa 2007 (merlot and petit verdot)

-Lidio Carraro Da'Divas Pinot Noir 2010

-Lidio Carraro Agnus Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

-Lidio Carraro Elos Touriga Nacional/Tannat 2008

-Miolo Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2009

-Miolo Tannat Reserva 2010

-Pizzato Chardonnay 2010 (unoaked)

-Vinicola Salton Chardonnay 2009, $25 CAN

-Vinicola Salton Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

-Decima Celebrato Moscatel 2010 8% sparkler

-Decima Toro Cabernet/Merlot 2009

-Sanjo Nubio Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Casa Valduga 130 NV Sparkling (chardonnay and pinot noir) ($30 USD)

-Aurora Brut Chardonnay NV ($12 USD)

-Lidio Carraro Da'Divas Chardonnay 2010 ($20 USD)  no oak

-Boutiq Brasil NV Prosecco ($21 USD)

-Aurora Merlot 2008, $12.95 CAN

-Aurora Pinot Noir 2010, $12.95 CAN

-Aurora Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, $15 CAN

-Basso Brut NV

-Basso Delicato Pinot Noir 2009

-Casa Valduga Chardonnay 2011 (no oak)

-Casa Valduga Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

-Lidio Carraro Agnus Merlot 2009

-Lidio Carraro Elos Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec 2008

-Miolo Millesime Brut NV

-Miolo Pinot Noir Reserva 2010

-Miolo Chardonnay Reserva 2010

-Miolo Pinot Grigio Reserva 2010

-Miolo Cuvee Giuseppe 2009 (merlot and cabernet sauvignon)

-Miolo Quinta do Seival 2008

-Pizzato Fausto Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

-Pizzato Merlot Reserva 2008

-Vinicola Salton Sauvignon Blanc Volpi 2011, $20 CAN

-Vinicola Salton Classic Tannat Reserva 2011

-Decima Boutiq Brasil Prosecco NV

-Decima Stellato Rose Brut NV

-Decima Cordon d'Or Meio Doce NV

-Decima Cordon d'Or Tannat 2009

 

The Food: the media had a luncheon, with other wines (listed above). It was a traditional Italian meal, beginning with bruschetta and apps (Aurora sparkler), funghi trifolati (sauteed mushrooms, goat cheese, phyllo pastry, served with Da'Divas Chardonnay), ravioli venison (but no wine), veal scaloppini (Pizzato DNA Merlot), and tiramisu (Boutiq NV Prosecco). The trade show had cheeses, breads, and fresh tropical fruits.

The Downside: more Brazilian wines are sold in Quebec than in Ontario.

The Upside: there was some active participation from the agents. Wine Guru has Aurora and Pizzato, HHD Imports had Casa Valduga, Halpern had Lidio Carraro, Wine World had Miolo, and Cipelli had Salton.

The Contact Person: spuritt@hotmail.com

The Marketing Effectiveness/Execution of the Event(numerical grade): 88

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com