The Event: Gourmet Food & Wine Expo – VIP night

The Date and Time: Thursday, November 19, 2015    6Pm to 10PM

The Event: Gourmet Food & Wine Expo – VIP night

The Venue: Metro Toronto Convention Centre

The Target Audience: VIPs, trade, wine writers

The Availability/Catalogue: each booth, of course, was different, with country themes, product themes, entertainment, All You need is Cheese, chef stage, entertainment, LCBO store (many wines were available here). I use the show to visit suppliers I do not normally get to.

The Quote/Background: the crowded entrance situation of last year was made better by splitting the VIPs away from the trade, with a separate escalator entrance.

The Wines:

 

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

-Garamvari Estate Winery Hungary Tokaji Szamorodni 2009, $18.95  Kovacs Agency

-Garamvari Estate Winery Hungary Optimum Brut 2011 [pinot noir, chardonnay, pinot blanc], $19.95  Kovacs Agency

-Matawhero Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2014, $21.95 +422428

-Duval-Leroy Champagne Brut Reserve NV, +661264, $55.95

-Atamisque Serbal Assemblage Tupungato Mendoza 2012, +415331, $19.95

 

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

-Garamvari Estate Winery Hungary Balatonlellei Merlot 2012, $15.95  Kovacs Agency

-Peter Yealands Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2014, $15.60 GL +277731

-Saint Clair Family Estate Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015, GL $16.95  +237255

-Thornbury Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2014, V $1895 +734798

-Thierry Delaunay Sauvignon Blanc Touraine 2014, +391847, $14.95

-5 Stones Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon Margaret River 2014, +108001, $18.25

-Bonnard Pouilly-Fume Loire 2014, +65987, $23.95

-La Madone Beaujolais-Villages Le Perreon 2014, +981175, $14.95

-Laurent Mablieau St. Nicolas de Bourgeuil Loire 2013, +61192, $19.95

-Clarendelle Bordeaux 2010, +28837, $23.95

 

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

-Garamvari Estate Winery Hungary Balatonlellei Delidolo Southern Slope 2013, $14.95  Kovacs Agency

-Ara Pathway Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2014, GL $14.95  +416222

-Babich Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2014, GL $15.95, +620054

-Nobilo Regional Collection Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2014, GL $16.95 +415745

-L'Orangerie Entre deux Mers Bordeaux Blanc 2013, +425520, $14.95

-Orsat Fendant 13 Etoiles Valais Switzerland 2014, +425405, $19.95

-Chateau Suau Cotes de Bordeaux 2010, +437889, $20.95

-Bonnard Sancerre Rouge Loire 2013, +65995, $23.95

 

The Food: bread at booths, water.

The Contact Person: vin@vaxxine.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 87.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com