The Event: Taste Ontario! Toronto; experience the VQA wines of Ontario

The Date and Time: Monday, February 29, 2016  11AM to 4PM

The Event: Taste Ontario! Toronto; experience the VQA wines of Ontario

The Venue: ROM

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are available at the winery; some are also available at the LCBO.

The Quote/Background: The media were invited to the Glass Room at the ROM at 11AM, ahead of the 1 PM show – so that they could taste in private and in a sit down situation.

The Wines: There were about 127 wines; I did not try them all. The first price listed below is the licensee price, the second is the retail.

 

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

-Niagara Escarpment    Flat Rock Cellars    Chardonnay    2013    +286278     $15.83 $19.15

-Niagara Escarpment    Flat Rock Cellars    Riddled    2009    +383315     $25.29 $30.15

-Niagara Escarpment    Henry of Pelham Family Estate    Cuvée Catharine Vintage Estate Blanc de Blanc Carte Blanche    2008    +315200     $37.78      $44.95

-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Château des Charmes    Equuleus, Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard    2012    +319525     $33.60      $40.00

-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Château des Charmes    Old Vines' Riesling, Estate Bottled    2013    +277228     $14.14      $16.95

-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Château des Charmes    Rosé sparkling wine, Méthode   Traditionnelle     2012    +78055     $24.27      $28.95

-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Stratus Vineyards     Stratus Red    2012    +131037 $37.15 $44.20

-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Stratus Vineyards Stratus White 2012 +660704 $32.08      $38.20

-Niagara-on-the-Lake Southbrook Vyds Estate '101' Cabernet Franc 2013 $29.34 $34.95

-Niagara-on-the-Lake Southbrook Vineyards    Estate 'Wild Ferment' Chardonnay 2013 $29.34      $34.95

-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Two Sisters Vineyards    Eleventh Post [Bordeaux-style]    2011         $32.76      $39.20

-Lake Erie North Shore    Colio Estate Wines Lily Sparkling Wine NV    $14.14 $16.95

-Prince Edward County    Norman Hardie Winery & Vineyard    Chardonnay Unfiltered    2013    +184432     $32.93      $39.20

-Niagara Escarpment    13th Street Winery    13th Street Vineyard Cuvee Rose NV MT

-Niagara Escarpment    Tawse Winery Tawse Quarry Road Chardonnay    2012    111989     $30.35      $36.15

-Niagara Escarpment    2027 Cellars 2013 'Aberdeen Road Vineyard' Chardonnay    2013         $25.14      $30.00

-Niagara Escarpment    Bachelder Wismer Chardonnay    2012        $38.50

-Niagara Escarpment    Cave Spring Cellars    Blanc de Blancs CSV    2008    +908404     $33.57      $39.95

-Prince Edward County Closson Chase The Brock Chardonnay Niagara River 2014 $19.21      $22.95

 

 

 

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

-Niagara Escarpment    Tawse Winery    Tawse Grower's Blend Cabernet Franc    2012    +284570     $22.75      $27.15

-Niagara Escarpment Henry of Pelham Family Estate Speck Family Reserve Cabernet-Merlot    2012    +616433     $33.56      $39.95

-Niagara Escarpment    Henry of Pelham Family Estate    Speck Family Reserve Chardonnay    2014    +616466     $25.12      $29.95

-Niagara Escarpment    Tawse Winery    Tawse Grower's Blend Pinot Noir    2011    +130989     $22.75      $27.15

-Niagara Escarpment    Tawse Winery    Tawse Limestone Ridge Spark Riesling 2014    +370361     $16.84      $20.15

-Niagara Escarpment    Vieni Estates Wine  Classic Brut    2013     $22.95

-Niagara Escarpment    Vieni Estates Wine  Merlot Private Reserve 2012         $29.95

-Niagara Escarpment    Westcott Vineyards Estate Chardonnay 2013    +427484 $21.23 $26

-Niagara-on-the-Lake Reif Estate Winery Estate Merlot Reserve    2013    $19.95 $25.95

-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Two Sisters Vineyards    Riesling    2013    $29.38      $35.20

-Niagara Escarpment Domaine Queylus Chardonnay Tradition 2013    $20.90      $24.95

-Niagara Escarpment Domaine Queylus Pinot Noir Signature 2013    $25.12      $29.95

-Niagara Escarpment    Fielding Estate Winery    Sparkling Rose, Traditional Method    NV     $25.29      $30.15

-Prince Edward County Closson Chase South Clos Chardonnay    2014         $33.56 $39.95

-Niagara Escarpment Malivoire Wine Stouck Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 $29.38 $34.95

-Niagara Escarpment    Kacaba Vineyard & Winery    Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon    2010         $37.95      $45.15

-Niagara Escarpment    Kacaba Vineyard & Winery    Terrace Vineyard Syrah    2011    +394171     $21.06      $25.15

-Niagara Escarpment    Nyarai Cellars    Viognier    2015         $18.36      $21.95

-Niagara Escarpment    Ridgepoint Wines    Cabernet Appassimento    2012     $45.42 $55

-Prince Edward County Closson Chase Watson Pinot Noir    2014         $29.33      $34.95

-Prince Edward County Norman Hardie Winery & Vyd Riesling 2014 +131169 $17.73 $21.20

-Niagara-on-the-Lake Southbrook Vineyards    Triomphe Cabernet Merlot 2014 $19.21 $22.95

-Niagara Escarpment    Rosewood Estates Winery    Lock, Stock & Barrel 2013 $31.20 $34.95

-Prince Edward County    Rosehall Run CEREMONY Blanc de Blanc Brut    N/V    [black or white label]     $29.51      $34.95

-Prince Edward County Rosehall Run JCR Chardonnay Rosehall Vineyard 2013 $25.12 $29.95

-Niagara Escarpment    Creekside Estate Winery    Iconoclast White    2013 $15.83 $18.95

-Lake Erie North Shore    PELEE ISLAND WINERY LOLA    2014    +450981     $10.79 $12.95

-Niagara Escarpment 2027 Cellars 2012 'Queenston Road Vineyard' Sparkling Wine 2012         $25.14      $30.00

-Niagara Escarpment 2027 Cellars 2013 'Queenston Road Vineyard' Pinot Noir    2013         $29.35      $35.00

-Niagara Escarpment    Bachelder Lowrey Pinot Noir    2013         $38.50    

-Niagara Escarpment    Bachelder Niagara Chardonnay    2013         $21.90    

-Niagara Escarpment Cave Spring Cellars La Penna 2011    +224303     $33.57      $39.95

-Niagara Escarpment Cave Spring Cellars Riesling CSV 2014 +566026     $25.12      $29.95

 

 

 

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

-Niagara Escarpment    Kacaba Vineyard & Winery Reserve Riesling    2014    $15.15 $18.15

-Niagara Escarpment    Rosewood Estates Winery    Origin  Riesling    2014 $22.95 $19.38

-Niagara Escarpment    Vieni Estates Wine     Momenti    2013             $13.95

-Niagara Escarpment    Megalomaniac John Howard Cellars of Distinction    Bubblehead NV $24.45      $28.95

-Niagara Escarpment    Nyarai Cellars    Cadence    2011    +451781     $18.36 $21.95

-Niagara Escarpment Westcott Vineyards Violette Sparkling Brut NV +438200 $20.89 $24.95

-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Reif Estate Winery Gewurztraminer Reserve    2014 $16.85 $19.95

-Niagara-on-the-Lake Reif Estate Winery Kiln Dried Syrah    2012         $50.00  $65.00

-Niagara-on-the-Lake Southbrook Vyds Triomphe Chardonnay 2014 +172338 $19.21      $22.95

-Prince Edward County    Grange of Prince Edward Vineyard & Estate Winery    Traditional Method Brut 'Lot 3'     2010 $26.00      $29.95

-Niagara-on-the-Lake Stratus Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2013    +412759     $32.08 $38.20

-Niagara Escarpment Creekside Estate Winery Iconoclast Syrah    2013    $19.21 $22.95

-Lake Erie North Shore    PELEE ISLAND WINERY Chardonnay Vinedressers 2012 $14.99 $19.95

-Niagara Escarpment    Bachelder Niagara Chardonnay    2012    Mineralite     $19.95    

-Niagara Escarpment 2027 Cellars 2013 'Wismer Vineyard - Fox Croft Block' Chardonnay    2013         $19.19      $22.95

-Niagara Escarpment 13th Street Winery 13th Street Vineyard Riesling 2014 $20.05 $23.95

 

The Food: the media had a sandwich buffet lunch from Daniel et Daniel with meaty baguettes and vegetarian brioches, plus assorted salads and desserts, coffees and teas.

The Downside: too little time for looking in at the booths during the trade show, but that was my fault.

The Upside: a chance to taste some really good wines and meditate over them.

The Contact Person: magdalena@wmao.ca

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 90.

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com