The Event: Gourmet Food & Wine Expo (20th anniversary)

 

The Date and Time: Thursday, November 20, 2014  5:00 PM to 10 PM

The Event: Gourmet Food & Wine Expo (20th anniversary)

The Venue: Metro Toronto Convention Centre

The Target Audience: opening night VIPs, wine trade

The Quote/Background: There was an engaging wine faults workshop at 5PM that I attended. Unfortunately, only white wine was covered. Paolo Lopes from the Faculty of Oenology at Bordeaux University and Amorim R&D did the presentation. While I was told that the seminar (free to trade) was full, they only had 40 people and lots of empty chairs-- which was too bad, for the tasting was pretty good.

The Wines: I did not taste all the wines at the show, just an eclectic number.

 

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

-Brancott Estate Letter Series B Sauvignon Blanc 2013 Marlborough, $19.95 LCBO

-Marisco Vineyards The King's Bastard Chardonnay 2012 Marlborough, $19.95 Vintages

-Oyster Bay Sparkling Cuvee Rose NV New Zealand, $21.95 Vintages

-Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2013 Marlborough, $17.95 Vintages

-Lailey Chardonnay 2011 VQA NOTL, $20

-Mure Signature  Gewurztraminer Alsace 2012, +387563, $21.95

-Decelle-Villa Savigny-Les-Beaune Cotes de Beaune 2012, +378208, $40.95

-Five Stones Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Margaret River, +157305, $20.95

-Domaine Martin Plan de Dieu Cotes du Rhone Villages 2011, +370197, $19.95

 

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

-Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2013 Marlborough, $18.95 Vintages

-Saint Clair Family Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2013 Marlborough, $15.95 LCBO

-Stoneleigh Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2013 Marlborough, $17.75 LCBO

-Stoneleigh Vineyards Pinot Noir 2013 Marlborough, $19.95 LCBO

-White Cliffs Sauvignon Blanc 2013 Marlborough, $14.95 LCBO

-Campo Viejo Reserva Rioja 2009

-Hermanos Lurton Tempranillo Toro 2012

-Torres Vina Esmeralda 2013 Catalana [gewurztraminer and muscat]

-Fowles Are You Game? Chardonnay 2012 Australia

-Casar de Burba Godello Bierzo Spain 2011, $16.25 +368381

-Five Stones Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon Margaret River 2010, +108001, $19.95

-De Buzet Red Badge Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon Buzet 2010, +350249, $12.95

-Chateau Le Grand Verdus Bordeaux Superiore 2010, +388330, $15.95

-Finca Allende Calvario Rioja 2005, +63206 $146

 

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

-Babich Sauvignon Blanc 2013 Marlborough, $14.95 LCBO

-Kate Radburnd Sun Kissed Pinot Gris 2013 Hawke's Bay, $15.95 LCBO

-Oyster Bay Chardonnay 2013 Marlborough, $18.95 Vintages

-Oyster Bay Merlot 2013 Hawke's Bay, $18.95 Vintages

-Stoneleigh Vineyards Chardonnay 2013 Marlborough, $16.95 LCBO

-Weingut Bischel Riesling Trocken Rheinhessen 2012, +377614, $16.95

 

The Downside: every year it seems that there are new rules and regulations, almost so it is no longer fun. In order to get in I had to be validated and show a wristband; I was also not told I could use a quick Elite entrance, which I found by accident, saving some half hour waiting.

The Upside: a chance to taste some wines I had missed this fall.

The Contact Person: vin@vaxxine.com; christopher.waters@sunmedia.ca

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 88.

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com