The Event: Gourmet Food and Wine Expo 2016

The Date and Time:  Thursday November 17, 2016  6PM to 8PM

The Event: Gourmet Food and Wine Expo 2016

The Venue: Metro Toronto Convention Centre

The Target Audience: wine trade and VIP night

The Availability/Catalogue: the distributed handbook was very informative.

The Quote/Background: I just strolled around from booth to booth. I sampled wines here and there, I sampled draught beer. I did not do any food or any seminars.

The Wines:

 

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

-Champagne Baron-Fuente Grand Cepage Chardonnay NV Brut, +471045  $75

-Zenato Veneto Rosso Appassimento 2013 IGT, +208579, $13.20

-Martin Berdugo Ribera del Duero Crianza 2012, +233733, $27 online lcbo.com

-Martin Berdugo Ribera del Duero Reserva 2010, +233741, $37 online lcbo.com

-Martin Berdugo Ribera del Duero MB 2011, +233709, $52 online lcbo.com

-Delhommeau Harmonie Muscadet Sevre et Maine sur Lie 2013, +164264 $16.45 Vint

-Clarence-Dillon Claredelle Bordeaux 2014, +28845, $24.95 Vint

-San Esteban In Situ Reserva Syrah Aconcagua Valley 2014, +662817, $15.95 Vint

-La Madone Le Perreon Beaujolais-Villages 2014, +98115 $16.95 Vint

-Atamisque Catalpa Malbec Tupungato Mendoza 2013, +194126 $19.95 Vint

 

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

-Domaine Amirault Cremant de Loire Blanc NV Brut Biodynamic, +462606 $23

-Martin Berdugo Ribera del Duero Verdejo White 2015, +476374 $17  online lcbo.com (or the Royal York LCBO "Destination Spain" for all the Bergugo wines)

-Martin Berdugo Ribera del Duero Joven 2015, +233758, $15  online lcbo.com

-Martin Berdugo Ribera del Duero Barrica 2014, +233717, $19  online lcbo.com

-Delaunay Sauvignon Blanc Touraine 2015, +391847, $14.95 Vintages

-5 Stones Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon KPM Margaret River 2015, +108001, $19.60 Vint

-Atamisque Serbal Malbec Tupungato Mendoza 2014, +444737 $16.95 Vint

-5 Stones Cabernet-Merlot 2014 KPM Margaret River, +127761, $23.95 Vint

-Domaine Courbis Rouge St Joseph 2013, +7914, $30.95 Vint

 

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

-Martin Berdugo Ribera del Duero Rosado 2014, +233691 $17  online lcbo.com

 

The Beers: I sampled Goose Beer, Railway City, Mill Street, Granville Island, and Nickle Brook. Because Mill Street and Brickworks Cider share the same ownership (and hence, booth at the show), I did their two ciders on display: Brickworks Batch 1904 (dry) and Batch 501 (less dry times two) – both excellent "Four Stars" and my house cider at home.

 

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

-Goose Beer Company IPA, 5.9% ABV,  55 IBU

-Railway City Double Dead Elephant IPA, 7.5%  90 IBU    – my FAVE of the show

-Railway City Express India Session Lager 4.8% ABV

-Mill Street West Coast IPA, 6.6% ABV   87 IBU

-Granville Island Brewing Winter Ale 5.5% ABV  more than 30 IBU

-Nickel Brook Equilibrium ESB 5.5% ABV  43 IBU

-Nickel Brook Head Stock IPA  7% ABV  80 IBU

 

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

-Goose Beer Company Honkers Ale, 4.3% ABV,  30 IBU

-Goose Beer Company Rambler, 6.7% ABV,  65 IBU

-Railway City Sweet Stout Black Coal 6% ABV

-Mill Street 100th Meridian 5% ABV  23 IBU

-Granville Island Brewing English Bay Pale Ale  5% ABV  23 IBU

-Nickel Brook Naughty Neighbour APA  4.9% ABV   38 IBU

 

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

-Railway City Cranberry Festive Lager 5.5% ABV

-Nickel Brook Cause and Effect Blonde 4.7% ABV  19 IBU

 

The Downside: there was no on-site LCBO store

The Upside: the show seemed to have better vibes this year.

The Contact Person: christopher.waters@sunmedia.ca

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

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com