The Event: How Italy Does Italian; Italy at the table, 2015 tour in Toronto

The Date and Time: Monday, March 23, 2015  10AM to 5:30 PM

The Event: How Italy Does Italian; Italy at the table, 2015 tour in Toronto

The Venue: Liberty Grand

The Target Audience: importers, wine and food media, sommeliers.

The Availability/Catalogue: there were 18 wineries, about half of them already repped in Ontario and/or Quebec. The catalogue was first rate in its production, with explanations and correct listings for the most part.

The Quote/Background: The annual show visited Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto, promoting Italian foods and wines.

The Wines: I did not try all of the wines, just the older vintages.

 

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

-Baglio dei Fenicotteri Eloro Pachino Riserva Respensa 2007 [organic]

-Baglio dei Fenicotteri Noto Passito Prim'amore 2008 [organic]

-Paradisone Colle degli Angeli Brunello di Montalcino 2008

-Paradisone Colle degli Angeli Toscana IGT Incanto 2009

-Pascale Francesca Colli Luni Pilastri 2013 Vermentino

-Tonino Lamborghini Barolo 2008

-Tonino Lamborghini Brunello di Montalcino 2009

 

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

-Agriverde Piane di Maggio Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2013, +394999, $15.95

-Adanti Az. Agr. Sagrantino di Montefalco 2007

-Adanti Az. Agr. Montefalco Rosso Riserva 2009

-Baglio dei Fenicotteri Eloro Pachino Cala'mpisi 2008 [organic]

-Ferrarini Vara Colli di Scandiano e di Canossa 2013 Italianissmo Fine Wine & Spirits

-Guidi Chianti Riserva 2010

-La Caseta Az. Agr. Mio Vino Spumante Chardonnay Pinot Nero Trebbiano IGP

-La Caseta Az. Agr. Mio Vino Spumante Rose Chardonnay Sangiovese IGP 2013

-Molinetto Gavi Re.Lys 2013

-Paradisone Colle degli Angeli Rosso di Montalcino 2009

-Fratelli Ponte Vini Moscato d'Asti 2014

-Severino Garofano Salento IGP Le Braci 2007

-Severino Garofano Salento IGP Simpotica 2007

-Viano Michele Moscato d'Asti 2014

 

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

-Adanti Az. Agr. Montefalco Rosso 2010

-Agriverde Solarea Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2010 AMV-WHIZ

-Molinetto Gavi 2013

 

The Food: the delegation itself sponsored a polenta and meat stew hot plate with salads, and a range of desserts. After that, it was going from table to table and sampling a variety of cold cuts, cheese, olives and oils, pastas, and coffees. There was even a stand for bottled water (fizzy and flat varieties).

The Downside: there was too much food and wine.

The Upside: a good chance to taste some older wines, although pricing was vague.

The Contact Person: p.titone@ice.it

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 91.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com