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Sunday, April 28, 2019

The April 9, 2019 Event: Oregon Wine Trail in Toronto trade show

The Date and Time: Tuesday April 9, 2019  12:30 AM to 4PM
The Event: Oregon Wine Trail in Toronto trade show
The Venue: Globe and Mail Centre
The Target Audience: wine trade
The Availability/Catalogue: 30 wineries showed over 125 wines. While the catalogue was alphabetical by producer, the tables were not. Still the print was large. No prices were given. One producer was looking for an agent, while others were vague about the prices. Only a handful had price sheets or sell sheets. Some wines were listed in the catalogue but were not on the tables; other wines were on the table but not listed in the catalogue.
The Quote/Background: There were three seminars on Oregon wines (pinot gris, blind tasting strategies, selling points of Oregon wine [terroir, grape varieties]. Oregon wine sales increased 16% over the past three years. Oregon has over 700 wineries but only 30 were here – they have chosen to export. One thousand vineyards grow 72 different grape varieties.
The Wines: I did not taste every wine, concentrating on chardonnays first and then pinot noirs. I had tasted Citation wines the day before. In general, prices are licensee.
 
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Alexana Chardonnay Terroir Series 2016 Willamette Valley $36.95   Licensee  Le Sommelier
-Alexana Pinot Noir Revana Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir 2013 Dundee Hills $59.95   Licensee  Le Sommelier
-Anne Amie Vineyards Pinot Gris 2018 Willamette  winesbuykcm.com
-Archery Summit Arcus Pinot Noir 2016 Dundee Hills  Peller
-Argyle Reserve Pinot Noir 2016 Willamette    Profile
-Citation Pinot Noir 2015 Willamette  $48.97  Intra Vino
-Del Rio Vineyards Pinot Noir 2016 Rogue Valley   npwines.com
-Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir 2015 Dundee Hills   P Dandurand
-Foris Dry Gewurztraminer 2017 Rogue Valley    DB Wines and Spirits
-Phelps Creek Vineyards Chardonnay 2016 Columbia Gorge   Wine Online
-Trisaetum Chardonnay 2017 Willamette $46.95   npwines.com
-Walter Scott X Novo Chardonnay 2016 Eola-Amity Hills  Kinsale Wines
 
 
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Alexana Pinot Gris Terroir Series 2016 Willamette Valley $33.95   Licensee  Le Sommelier
-Division Chardonnay "Trois" 2017 Johan Vineyard Willamette Valley  $59.99   Lifford
-Archery Summit Chardonnay 2017 Eola-Amity Hills $60  Peller
-Boedecker Cellars Athena Chardonnay 2015 Willamette
-Centerstone Un-oaked Chardonnay 2017 Willamette $25   Intra Vino
-Domaine Drouhin Oregon Roserock Chardonnay 2016 Eola-Amity Hills   P Dandurand
-Domaine Drouhin Oregon Arthur Chardonnay 2016 Eola-Amity Hills   P Dandurand
-Elk Cove Chardonnay 2017 Willamette    Breakthrough Beverage
-Foris Chardonnay 2017 Rogue Valley   DB Wines and Spirits
-La Crema Pinot Noir 2017 Willamette   Breakthrough Beverage
-Lavinea Elton Vineyard Chardonnay 2016 Eola-Amity Hills   Lifford
-Sokol Blosser Estate Chardonnay 2017 Dundee Hills  Noble Estates
-Stoller Family Estate Chardonnay 2018 Dundee Hills   $24.95   The Vine Agency
-Walter Scott Freedom Hill Pinot Noir 2016 Eola-Amity Hills  Kinsale Wines
 
The Food: there was a wide variety – Oregon dungeness crab crostini with avocado, chili and lime; charcuterie board with smoked duck breast; Oregon cheeses, including Jefferson Cheddar, Oregonzola, Smokey Blue, and Mount Mazama; breads, plum jam, mustards; dark chocolate bark with blueberry, hazelnut, rosemary; Seely Mint Farm patties; Stumptown coffee roasters.
The Downside: there were three seminars, but I did not attend, preferring to taste more wines.
The Upside: I like what Oregon is doing these days. And the blue cheeses were phenomenal.
The Contact Person: npwines.com or Predhomme Strategic Marketing  <info@predhomme.ca>
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 87
 
Chimo! www.deantudor.com

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