Report on The Event: A Tasting of over 500 Wines from Italy 2022 in Toronto Oct 31, 2022

The Date and Time:  Monday October 31, 2022  11AM to 5PM
The Event: A Tasting of Wines from Italy 2022 in Toronto
The Venue: Roy Thomson Hall
The Target Audience: wine trade, media, sommeliers.
The Availability/Catalogue: there was a PDF available with all the information needed.
The Quote/Background: This year's show was the first since 2019. About 101 producers showed over 500 wines to an assortment of agents, the LCBO, hotels and restaurants, the wine media, sommeliers, and others. There were two Masterclass seminars, one on organic wines and another on pinot griglio. We were told that 55 million litres were shipped to Canada in the first eight months of 2022, up 12% over last year.

The Wines: Of course, I did not try every wine...I just moved about.I was very impressed with the wines repped by Le Savoir-Boire, Majestic, and Le Sommelier.

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Najma Prosecco Brut DOC  Le Savoir-Boire
-Il Drago e la Fornace RIBOLLITO IGT TOSCANA 2020 80% sangiovese, 10% merlot, 5% colorino, 5% cabernet
-Il Drago e la Fornace ORO IGT TOSCANA ROSSO 2020 65% cabernet franc, 35% sangiovese
-PASOLINI DALL'ONDA PIO 7 RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO DOCG 2016 100% sangiovese $35 Le Savoir-Boire
-PASOLINI DALL'ONDA PIO 7 GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO DOCG 2016 100% sangiovese $39
-Amastuola PRIMITIVO IGP PUGLIA 2019 BIO 100% primitivo
-Amastuola ONDA DEL TEMPO IGP PUGLIA 2019 BIO 25% primitivo, 25% aglianico, 25% merlot, 25% cabernet sauvignon
-Masi AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO Costaserra DOCG RISERVA 2016 70% corvina, 15% rondinella, 10% oseleta, 5% molinara
-Assuli Fiordiligi Grillo Sicilia DOC 2021 $20 Le Sommelier
-Assuli Fiordispina Perricone Rosato Sicilia DOC 2021 $20  Le Sommelier
-Assuli Lorlando Nero d'Avola Sicilia DOC 2019 $23 Le Sommelier
-Case Paolin Prosecco Superiore DOCG Asolo Sui Lieviti Brut Nature Col Fondo $29.95
-Antonella Corda Vermentino Sardegna 2021 $27.99 Noble Estates
-Feudo Antico Pecorino Terre di Chieti Organic 2021 Abruzzo  $16.95 Rare Earth Wines
-ICARDO Fossati Barolo 2016 La Morra $57.95  Wilson Wines
-LE RAGNAIE Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Casanovina Montosoli 2017 $168 Le Sommelier
-La Sabbie dell' Etna 2021 Etna Rosato Profile
-Tommasi Le Rosse Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC 2021 $16.90 Univins
-Corte Moschina Granetto Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC 2021 $18.95  Artisanal Wine



***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Najma Prosecco Millesimato 2021 DOC  La Savoir-Boire $17
-Najma Prosecco Spumante Rosato Brut  $17
-Il Drago e la Fornace ROSSO FOCO ETNA DOC 2016 90% mascalese, 10% nerello cappuccio
-Il Drago e la Fornace BIANCO FOCO ETNA DOC 2019 90% carricante, 10% catarratto
-Il Drago e la Fornace RIBOLLA IGT VENEZIA GIULIA 2021 100% ribolla gialla
-PASOLINI DALL'ONDA PIO 7 ANNATA BIO CHIANTI CLASSICO DOCG 2019 90% sangiovese, 10% merlot $28
-PASOLINI DALL'ONDA MONTOLI ANNATA BIO CHIANTI DOCG 2020 100% sangiovese $22
-PASOLINI DALL'ONDA Violante Vino Rosato Organic 2021 Toscano IGT 100% merlot $22
-Amastuola CENTOSASSI IGP PUGLIA 2017 BIO 100% primitivo
-Amastuola NEGROAMARO IGP SALENTO 2019 BIO 100% nero amaro
-Amastuola LAMAROSSA IGP PUGLIA 2020 BIO 100% primitivo
-Masi BROLO CAMPOFIORIN ORO ROSSO DEL VERONESE IGT 2018 80% corvina, 10% rondinella, 10% oseleta
-Masi TOAR VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO SUPERIORE DOC 2018 80% corvina, 10% rondinella, 10% oseleta
-Masi PROSECCO DOC MODELLO MASI NV 100% glera
-Assuli Carinda Insolia Sicilia DOC $20 Le Sommelier
-Assuli Lorlando Nero d'Avola Sicilia DOC 2019 $23  Le Sommelier
-Vino Lauria Terre Siciliane Frappato Scoglitti IGP 2021 $26  Le Sommelier
-Firriato Sicilia Cavaneva Etna Bianco 2021  Profile

The Food: a variety of small plates, such as mushroom risotto, pepperoni slices, sundried tomatoes, mortadella cubes, bean salad with canned tuna, cheese, beef brescola IGP, canoli, biscotti, biscuits.
The Downside: it was a long, long day, with two masterclass seminars and 500 wines to choose from.
The Upside: a chance to renew some old acquaintances

The Contact Person: Benedetta Marassi b.marassi@ice.it

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 89.

Dean Tudor,  Prof Emeritus T'karonto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) School of Journalism

Treasurer of Wine Writers' Circle of Canada http://www.deantudor.com
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