The Event: Eradus Wines and the Essence of the Awatere Valley Toronto May 9 2018

The Date and Time: Wednesday May 9 2018 12:30AM to 3PM

The Event: Eradus Wines and the Essence of the Awatere Valley

The Venue: Kost, in the Bisha Hotel

The Target Audience: wine media

The Availability/Catalogue: some of the wines are finding their way into Ontario through the Consignment program of the Kolonaki Group. Currently, only the Sauvignon Blanc is available at Vintages; it is regularly re-ordered.

The Quote/Background: Michiel Eradus, owner of Eradus Wines, was in town for the New Zealand Wine Show the next day. He hosted a lunch for a dozen, and presented his wines (not all were showing at the next day's trade event). Along the way, he described his winery and the Awatere Valley growing conditions. And he had some great insights into the New Zealand wine industry.

The Wines:

 

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

-Eradus Sauvignon Blanc Awatere 2017 $19.95 +225557 (2016)

-Eradus Chardonnay Special Reserve 2015 Awatere, $20 – 25 14.5% ABV [very ripe] MY FAVE

-Eradus Sjacrri Special Reserve Pinot Noir Awatere 2015 14% ABV  magnum N/A

-Eradus Stickey Mickey Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2014  12.5%ABV 500 mL $40

 

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

-Eradus Pinot Gris Single Vineyard Awatere 2017, 13.2% ABV, $19.95

-Eradus Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Awatere 2016 14% ABV, $24.95

-Eradus Ana Sauvignon Blanc 2017 13% ABV  $17.95 Consignment Licensees

 

The Food: A sea of starters with Hawaiian kanpachi seviche (squid ink), fried calamari, ahi tuna ceviche, avocado and spiced farro flatbread, red beet salad, green chorizo and salsa balls, salad of pumpkin and persimmon and black quinoa, char-grilled octopus and pumpkin seed. The mains were off the menu, so I had steelhead trout with fennel salad and potato fingerlings. It was the best item on the menu that could accompany all of the wines.

The Downside: music was very loud, made it difficult to hear at first, and it only softened after 2PM.

The Upside: we were on the 44th floor, with a view out over the lake, on a totally white sunshine day. Almost like the Mediterranean, and we had that cuisine too

The Contact Person: steve.kriaris@kolonakigroup.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 88

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com