The Event: Discover New Zealand in a Glass; the annual NZ trade show in Toronto

The Date and Time: Thursday May 7, 2015  1:30 – 5:30PM

The Event: Discover New Zealand in a Glass; the annual NZ trade show in Toronto

The Venue: ROM

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: just about all wines are available through the LCBO or Consignment or Private Order.

The Quote/Background: I pretty well stuck to the special pinot gris table, the special pinot noir table, and avoided sauvignon blanc. We had just tasted a variety of savvies on Sauvignon Blanc Day (see my notes from last month, now posted to my blog at       ).

The Wines: I did not taste all the wines.

 

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

-Auntsfield Estate Heritage Pinot Noir 2010, $74.95  DB Wine

-Auntsfield Estate Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc 2010, $39.95  DB Wine

-Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels Syrah Hawke's Bay 2011, $58.99  Lifford

-Craggy Range Sophia Merlot Cabernet Blend Hawke's Bay 2011, $89.99  Lifford

-Marisco The King's Legacy Chardonnay Marlborough 2013, $19.99 +393694

-McArthur Ridge Pinot Noir Central Otago 2010, $32.65    Connectionz

-Mt.Difficulty Pinot Gris Bannockburn Central Otago 2013, $28  Small Winemakers

-Rocky Point Pinot Noir Bendigo Central Otago 2013, $39.95 +411777

-Rockburn Pinot Noir Central Otago 2012, $47.95  Epic

-Akarua Pinot Noir Bannockburn Central Otago 2012, $38.95   Vonterra

-Loveblock Pinot Noir Central Otago 2012, $39.95  Trialto

-Whitehaven Pinot Noir Marlborough 2012, $24 +245696

 

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

-Auntsfield Estate Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2012, $29.95  DB Wine

-Craggy Range Te Muna Road Vineyard Pinot Noir Martinborough 2011, $61  Lifford

-Craggy Range Te Kahu Merlot Hawke's Bay 2011, $33.99  Lifford

-Elephant Hill Syrah Hawke's Bay 2013, $22.95 +408633

-Hunter's MiruMiru Sparkling Wairau Valley Marlborough NV, $25.95  Rogers

-Kim Crawford Small Parcels Fizz Sparkling Marlborough 2009, $29.95 +381236

-Kim Crawford Small Parcels Favourite Homestead Pinot Gris Marlborough 2013, $24.95 +378604

-Pasquale Chardonnay Waitaki Valley Central Otago 2012, $12.95  Trilogy

-Loveblock Pinot Gris Marlborough 2014, $24.95    Trialto

-Marisco The Ned Pinot Gris Marlborough 2014, $18.99   Stem

-Marisco The King's Thorn Pinot Gris Marlborough 2014, $19.99  Glencairn

-Roaring Meg Pinot Noir Central Otago 2013, $35   Small Winemakers

-Oyster Bay Sparkling Cuvee Rose Hawke's Bay NV, $21.95 +280172

-Stoneleigh Latitude Pinot Noir Marlborough 2013, $25.95  +325654

-Saint Clair Premium Pinot Noir Marlborough 2013, $24.95 +413591

-Schubert Pinot Noir Wairarapa 2013, $37  Hobbs

-Sileni Estates The Lodge Chardonnay Hawke's Bay 2013, $19.95  Kirkwood Diamond

-Trinity Hill Chardonnay Gimblett Gravels Hawke's Bay 2013, $35  +415125

-Waimea Chardonnay Waimea Plains Nelson 2013, $21.95  +650242

-Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Marlborough 2013, $27.95   Trialto

 

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

-Craggy Range Kidnappers Chardonnay Hawke's Bay 2012, $29.99  Lifford

-te Pa Pinot Gris Marlborough 2013, $17.99  Family Wine Merchants

-Babich Black Label Pinot Noir Marlborough 2014, $29.95   Dionysus

-Marisco The King's Wrath Pinot Noir Marlborough 2012, $29.95  Glencairn

-Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Noir Marlborough 2012, $34.95   Dandurand

 

The Food: there were some cheeses from the Dairy Farmers of Canada (Albert's Leap Bel Haven, Tipsy, and Miranda), as well as the usual selection from Daniel et Daniel (cheeses, dips, breads, pates, charcuterie, veggies

The Downside: because of a conflict with a music recital, I missed the seminar for the first time in years – and it was my fave grape, chardonnay, and bubblies!!!!

The Upside: a good mix of crowd, although fewer people from the Ontario wine industry.

The Contact Person: nzwine@ketchin.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 92.

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com