The Event: Discover Australia - a world of difference! Trade show, May 12, 2009

 The Time and Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2009  1 Pm to 5 PM

The Event: Discover Australia – a world of difference! Trade show, consumer show in the evening.

The Venue: Grand Banking Hall, The Suites, King Street

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: just about all the wines were represented by an agency. Many of the food and cosmetics, etc. were not.

The Quote/Background: This used to be a speculative wine tasting with food adjuncts. Wineries had been looking for agencies in Ontario. This time around, most of the wines were already repped – except for Farmer's Leap. My approach would have been different if I had known that there were wines available for sale in the province. Also, consumers were coming for the first time, in the evening.

The Wines: I tasted a few wines.

 

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

-Alkoomi Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, $19.95 (Merchant Vintner)

-Alkoomi Chardonnay 2007, $36.95

-Alkoomi Jarrah-Shiraz 2005, $31.95

-Balnaves Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, $34.95 (Merchant Vintner)

-Giant Steps/Innocent Bystander Pink Moscato 2008, $11.95 half-bottle (Portfolio)

-Giant Steps/Innocent Bystander Shiraz-Viognier 2006, $20.95 (Portfolio)

-Turner's Crossing Shiraz-Viognier 2006, $29.95 (Portfolio)

 

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

-Angove Red Belly Black Shiraz 2007, +58669 GL, $16.95

-Geoff Merrill Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon, $14.50 (TWC)

-Geoff Merrill Shiraz Pimpala Road 2005, $14

-Geoff Merrill Premium Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, $24

-Andrew Pirie Sparkling Chardonnay/Pinot Noir, $35 (Ex-Cellars)

-Andrew Pirie Pinot Noir 2007, $39

-Krinklewood Biodynamic Chardonnay 2007, $31.95 (The Living Vine)

-Paxton Vineyards Jones Block McLaren Vale Shiraz 2005, $30.95 (Living Vine)

-Turner's Crossing Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, $29.95 (Portfolio)

 

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

-Krinklewood Biodynamic Semillon 2009, $29.95 (The Living Vine)

-Krinklewood Biodynamic Verdelho 2009, $29.95 (The Living Vine)

-Paxton Vineyards Thomas Block Chardonnay 2008, $26.95 (The Living Vine)

-Paxton Vineyards Quandong Farm Shiraz 2007, $26.95

 

The Food: lots of Oz products, most of which I skipped. I had some kangaroo loin and some lamb, plus Canadian water.

The Downside: I was not properly informed about the content of the show, and this slowed me down.

The Upside: the Buyer's Guide was nicely put together.

The Contact Person: Australian.consulatetoronto@austrade.gov.au

The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 88.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com