The Event: New Zealand Wine Fair in Toronto, May 21, 2009

The Time and Date: Thursday, May 21, 2009  1:30 PM to 5:30 PM

The Event: New Zealand Wine Fair in Toronto

The Venue: Design Exchange, Trading Floor

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: most wines are available through agents or the LCBO. The catalogue was its usual splendid self, with full details on the wines and their availability. And as usual, it suffered from last minute price changes, wines that never arrived, substituted wines, and the like. Some, but not all, agents proffered updated order sheets. EVERY AGENT SHOULD BE DOING THIS IF THEY WANT ORDERS – assuming that said agents are computer literate.

The Quote/Background: There was a self-pour, self-tour trade seminar on 15 Sauvignon Blanc wines, with a large booklet of details derived from a Powerpoint presentation. A first-rate job, complemented by excellent sandwiches.

The Wines:

 

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

-Esk Black Label Sauvignon Blanc 2008, $20.99 (PMA Canada)

-Neudorf Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Nelson 2008, $19.95 (Rubaiyat)

-Omaka Springs Estates Sauvignon Blanc 2008, $21.99 (B & W Wines)

-Seresin Marama Sauvignon Blanc 2007, $39.95 (Dionysus) [woody]

-Kawarau Estate Reserve Chardonnay Central Otago 2007, $29.95 (Living Vine)

-Millton Vineyard Opou Vineyard Chardonnay Gisborne 2007, $24.95 (Living Vine)

 

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

-Clos de Ste. Anne Chardonnay Gisborne 2007, $37.95 (Living Vine)

-Clos de Ste. Anne Pinot Noir Gisborne 2007, $37.95 (Living Vine)

-Mt. Difficulty Sauvignon Blanc Central Otago 2008, $25 est. (Small Winemakers)

-Pegasus Bay Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Waipara 2008, $35 (Empson Canada)

-Villa Maria Reserve Wairau Sauvignon Blanc 2008, $29.95 (PMA Canada)

-Paddy Borthwick Chardonnay Wairapara 2007, $21.90 (Conoval)

-Churton Pinot Noir Marlborough 2007, $29.95 Licensee (Merchant Vintner)

-Elephant Hill Sauvignon Blanc Reserve Hawke's Bay 2008, $28.95 (HHD Imports)

-Elephant Hill Syrah Reserve Hawke's Bay 2007, $34.95 (HHD Imports)

-Gibbston Highgate Estate Dreamer Pinot Gris Central Otago 2007, $32 (Amethyst)

-Kim Crawford SP Spitfire Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2008, $24.95 (Vincor)

-Schubert Marion's Vineyard Pinot Noir Wairapara 2007, $39 (Hobbs & Co.)

-Spy Valley Gewurztraminer Marlborough 2008, $19.95 (Kylix)

-Spy Valley Envoy Chardonnay Marlborough 2007, $29.95 (Kylix)

-Staete Landt Chardonnay Marlborough 2007, $38.95 (Lifford)

-Summerhouse Chardonnay Marlborough 2007, $21.95 (Amethyst)

-Te Kairanga Swing Bridge Pinot Gris Gisborne 2008, $20 (Small Winemakers)

-Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah Hawke's Bay 2007, $37.95 (PMA Canada)

-Richmond Plains Pinot Noir Nelson 2007, $19.95 (Living Vine)

-Kawarau Estate Reserve Pinot Noir Central Otago 2007, $34.95 (Living Vine)

-Millton Vineyard Te Arai Vineyard Chenin Blanc Gisborne 2007, $24.95 (Living Vine)

-Millton Vineyard Riverpoint Vineyard Viognier Gisborne 2008, $24.95 (Living Vine)

 

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

-Clos de Ste. Anne Syrah The Crucible Gisborne 2007, $37.95 (Living Vine)

-Brancott Terroir Series Festival Black Sauvignon Blanc 2008, $27 est. (Corby)

-Churton Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2008, $19.95 Licensee (Merchant Vintner)

-Gibbston Highgate Estate Soultaker Pinot Noir Central Otago 2007, $32 (Amethyst)

-Mount Fishtail Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2008, $17.50 (Vergina)

-Ngatarawa Alwyn Chardonnay Hawke's Bay 2006, $28.95 (Whitehall)

-Nobilo Icon Pinot Noir Central Otago 2006, $25.75 (Churchill Cellars)

-Ra Nui Pinot Noir Marlborough 2007, $29.95 (Churchill Cellars)

-Spy Valley Envoy Pinot Noir Marlborough 2006, $35.95 (Kylix)

-Neudorf Tom's Block Pinot Noir Nelson 2007, $26.95 (Rubaiyat)

-Richmond Plains Sauvignon Blanc Nelson 2008, $15.95 (Living Vine)

 

The Food: sandwiches at the trade seminar, cheeses and breads and crackers at the show. Water coolers were present for an unending supply.

The Downside: it seemed a little light, and the crowd was different too.

The Upside: the spit buckets were constantly being emptied, as fast as I could spit.

The Contact Person: rketchin@ketchin.com

The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 92.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com