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Tuesday, December 17, 2019

The November 28 2019 Event: Tasting of Arterra Wines with winemaker Marco Piccoli.

The Date and Time:  Thursday November 28, 2019   4PM  - 5PM
The Event: Tasting of Arterra Wines with winemaker Marco Piccoli.
The Venue: Fine Wine Reserve
The Target Audience: clients and sommeliers, wine media.
The Quote/Background: This was to be a casual guided tasting and a Q and A with Marco Piccoli. He told us some of winemaking philosophy ("wine is alive and expresses its unique vigour from the vine right through to our palate, and I enjoy infusing each grape with part of my own personality"). We tasted all four wines, asked questions, and he commented on the winemaking process for each sample we had tried. Marco Piccoli comes from Northeastern Italy and, after studying and working at various European wineries, he came as an exchange student to CCOVI (Brock University) before accepting an internship at Inniskillin Niagara Estate Winery. He joined Jackson-Triggs in 2005, becoming Senior Winemaker in 2017 with special responsibility for Arterra premium wines.
The Availability/Catalogue: All wines are available at the Jackson-Triggs winery and The Wine Rack.
The Wines: We did not get a chance to taste Arterra Epoca 2016 (meritage-style, 20% merlot was appassimento), $34.95) since it was sold out at the winery. Some bottles may still be available at The Wine Rack.
 
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Arterra Chardonnay 2017 VQA Niagara Peninsula $29.95 [my fave of the day]
-Arterra Pinot Noir Special Edition 2016 VQA Niagara Peninsula $34.95 [25% appassimento]
 
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Arterra Pinot Gris 2017 VQA Niagara Peninsula $29.95
-Arterra Pinot Noir 2017 VQA Niagara Peninsula $29.95 [15% appassimento]
 
The Food: an enormous platter from the Cheese Boutique, with international cheeses and various charcuterie, breads, mustards, relishes, etc.
The Downside: I had been hoping for some Epoca, but, for me, not this time...alas.
The Upside: a great opportunity to speak with Marco Piccoli
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 89
 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

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