TASTE ONTARIO ! TORONTO
The Date and Time: Wednesday April 12, 2023 11A to 5PM
The Event: TASTE ONTARIO ! TORONTO
The Venue: Park Hyatt
The Target Audience: wine media, agents, and sommeliers
The Availability/Catalogue: The paper catalogue was replete with data and info on each wine, plus an overview of the Ontario VQA wine industry. Prices listed were both for licensees and for retail sales. Contacts were listed for each winery.
The Quote/Background: 62 wineries participated from the Lake Erie North Shore, Niagara Peninsula, Prince Edward County, and Emerging Regions. All of the 300+ wines featured are available to order.
The Wines: I did not taste all the wines; I was focused on chardonnays and sparklers. I divided my time between the media room (where I could sit down) and the trade show floor (where I could stand up). Prices are retail.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Tawse Winery Robyn's Block Chardonnay 2020 $47.15 [MY FAVE]
-Adamo Estate Winery Growers Series Oaked Chardonnay 2019 $19.95
-Colio Reserve Chardonnay 2020 $19.95
-Closson Chase Vineyards Churchside Chardonnay PEC 2019 $50
-Lighthall Vineyards Estate Chardonnay PEC 2020 $37.85
-2027 Cellars Wismer Vineyard Foxcroft Block Chardonnay 2020 $30
-Bachelder Wismer Vineyard Foxcroft "Nord" Chardonnay 2020
-Bachelder Les Villages Chardonnay 2021 $35
-Cave Spring Vineyard Chardonnay CSV 2020 $34.95
-Domaine Queylus Chardonnay Signature 2018
-Flat Rock Cellars Rusty Shed Chardonnay 2020 $34.95
-Hidden Bench Bistro Chardonnay 2019
-Le Clos Jordanne Le Grand Clos Chardonnay 2020 $54.95
-Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Chardonnay 2020 $39.95
-Westcott Vineyards Estate Chardonnay 2020 $29.99
-Inniskillin Montague Vineyard Chardonnay 2021 $30.95
-Jackson Triggs Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2020 $27.95
-Southbrook Organic Vineyard Triomphe Chardonnay 2019 $26.95
-Ravine Vineyard Estate Limited Edition Vintage Brut 2011 $135 [300 bottles] [MY FAVE]
-Drea's Wine Co. Small Batch Blanc de Blanc 2020 $59.50
-Stratus Blanc de Blanc 2015
-Charles Baker Wines Cuvee du Boulanger Blanc de Blancs 2020 $39.95
-Rockway Vineyards Limited Edition Brut Cuvee Sparkling NV $90
-Trius Sparkling Brut NV $29.95
-Trius Sparkling Brut Rose NV $29.95
-Trius Showcase Brut Nature Sparkling NV $54.95
-Lighthall Vineyards Culmination Blanc de Blancs Sparkling PEC 2019 $39.95
-13th Street Winery Blanc de Blanc NV $29.95
-Two Sisters Blanc de Franc 2019
-Jackson Triggs Grand Reserve Entourage Blanc de Blanc 2017 $27.95
-Jackson Triggs Grand Reserve Entourage Sparkling Brut 2017 $49.95
-Henry of Pelham Family Cuvee Catherine Estate Blanc de Blanc Carte Blanche 2017 $49.95
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Adamo Estate Winery Sogno Unoaked Chardonnay 2021 $19.95
-KIN Vineyards Carp Ridge Chardonnay 2019 $32
-Pelee Island Winery Vinedressers Chardonnay 2021 $19.95
-Broken Stone Winery Chardonnay PEC 2020
-Closson Chase Vineytard Chardonnay PEC 2020 $35
-Lighthall Vineyards Fondation Chardonnay PEC 2021 $24.95
-Norman Hardie Chardonnay PEC 2020 $59.20
-Rosehall JCR Chardonnay Rosehall Vineyard PEC 2019 $36
-Bachelder Mineralite Chardonnay 2021 $25
-Calamus Estate Barrel Kissed Chardonnay 2021 $21.95
-Henry of Pelham Family Estate Chardonnay 2020 $19.95
-Le Clos Jordanne Jordan Village Chardonnay 2020 $29.95
-Leaning Post The Fifty Chardonnay 2020 $25.20
-Legends Estates Chardonnay Reserve 2017 $21
-Meldville Chardonnay 2019 $20
-Meldville Chardonnay Barrel Select 2019 $26
-Reif Chardonnay 2020 $19.15
-Two Sisters Vineyards Unoaked Chardonnay 2019 $39
-Westcott Vineyards Violette Sparkling Brut 2021 $29.99
-The Foreign Affair Winery Sparkling Rose Brut NV $24.95
-Bella Terra Vineyards Sparkling Brut $24.95
*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-KIN Vineyards Carp Ridge Skin Fermented Chardonnay 2021 $26
-Bonnie Vivant Chardonnay 2021 $34.04
-Cooper's Hawk Vineyards Unoaked Chardonnay 2020 $15.15
-Casa-Dea Estates Winery Unoaked Chardonnay PEC 2021 $20.95
-Trail Estate County Chardonnay Vintage 3 PEC 2019 $50
-Vineland Estates Winery Un-oaked Chardonnay 2021 $15.95
The Food: there were several charcuterie boards, with cheeses and meats and veggies and fruit, plus breads and dips.
The Downside: it was jam packed, which made it awkward to move about from table to table.
The Upside: I had a great opportunity to taste many chardonnays and sparklers. It was peaceful in the media room.
The Contact Person: lauren.garrard@wmao.ca
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 90.
The Date and Time: Wednesday April 12, 2023 11A to 5PM
The Event: TASTE ONTARIO ! TORONTO
The Venue: Park Hyatt
The Target Audience: wine media, agents, and sommeliers
The Availability/Catalogue: The paper catalogue was replete with data and info on each wine, plus an overview of the Ontario VQA wine industry. Prices listed were both for licensees and for retail sales. Contacts were listed for each winery.
The Quote/Background: 62 wineries participated from the Lake Erie North Shore, Niagara Peninsula, Prince Edward County, and Emerging Regions. All of the 300+ wines featured are available to order.
The Wines: I did not taste all the wines; I was focused on chardonnays and sparklers. I divided my time between the media room (where I could sit down) and the trade show floor (where I could stand up). Prices are retail.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Tawse Winery Robyn's Block Chardonnay 2020 $47.15 [MY FAVE]
-Adamo Estate Winery Growers Series Oaked Chardonnay 2019 $19.95
-Colio Reserve Chardonnay 2020 $19.95
-Closson Chase Vineyards Churchside Chardonnay PEC 2019 $50
-Lighthall Vineyards Estate Chardonnay PEC 2020 $37.85
-2027 Cellars Wismer Vineyard Foxcroft Block Chardonnay 2020 $30
-Bachelder Wismer Vineyard Foxcroft "Nord" Chardonnay 2020
-Bachelder Les Villages Chardonnay 2021 $35
-Cave Spring Vineyard Chardonnay CSV 2020 $34.95
-Domaine Queylus Chardonnay Signature 2018
-Flat Rock Cellars Rusty Shed Chardonnay 2020 $34.95
-Hidden Bench Bistro Chardonnay 2019
-Le Clos Jordanne Le Grand Clos Chardonnay 2020 $54.95
-Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Chardonnay 2020 $39.95
-Westcott Vineyards Estate Chardonnay 2020 $29.99
-Inniskillin Montague Vineyard Chardonnay 2021 $30.95
-Jackson Triggs Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2020 $27.95
-Southbrook Organic Vineyard Triomphe Chardonnay 2019 $26.95
-Ravine Vineyard Estate Limited Edition Vintage Brut 2011 $135 [300 bottles] [MY FAVE]
-Drea's Wine Co. Small Batch Blanc de Blanc 2020 $59.50
-Stratus Blanc de Blanc 2015
-Charles Baker Wines Cuvee du Boulanger Blanc de Blancs 2020 $39.95
-Rockway Vineyards Limited Edition Brut Cuvee Sparkling NV $90
-Trius Sparkling Brut NV $29.95
-Trius Sparkling Brut Rose NV $29.95
-Trius Showcase Brut Nature Sparkling NV $54.95
-Lighthall Vineyards Culmination Blanc de Blancs Sparkling PEC 2019 $39.95
-13th Street Winery Blanc de Blanc NV $29.95
-Two Sisters Blanc de Franc 2019
-Jackson Triggs Grand Reserve Entourage Blanc de Blanc 2017 $27.95
-Jackson Triggs Grand Reserve Entourage Sparkling Brut 2017 $49.95
-Henry of Pelham Family Cuvee Catherine Estate Blanc de Blanc Carte Blanche 2017 $49.95
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Adamo Estate Winery Sogno Unoaked Chardonnay 2021 $19.95
-KIN Vineyards Carp Ridge Chardonnay 2019 $32
-Pelee Island Winery Vinedressers Chardonnay 2021 $19.95
-Broken Stone Winery Chardonnay PEC 2020
-Closson Chase Vineytard Chardonnay PEC 2020 $35
-Lighthall Vineyards Fondation Chardonnay PEC 2021 $24.95
-Norman Hardie Chardonnay PEC 2020 $59.20
-Rosehall JCR Chardonnay Rosehall Vineyard PEC 2019 $36
-Bachelder Mineralite Chardonnay 2021 $25
-Calamus Estate Barrel Kissed Chardonnay 2021 $21.95
-Henry of Pelham Family Estate Chardonnay 2020 $19.95
-Le Clos Jordanne Jordan Village Chardonnay 2020 $29.95
-Leaning Post The Fifty Chardonnay 2020 $25.20
-Legends Estates Chardonnay Reserve 2017 $21
-Meldville Chardonnay 2019 $20
-Meldville Chardonnay Barrel Select 2019 $26
-Reif Chardonnay 2020 $19.15
-Two Sisters Vineyards Unoaked Chardonnay 2019 $39
-Westcott Vineyards Violette Sparkling Brut 2021 $29.99
-The Foreign Affair Winery Sparkling Rose Brut NV $24.95
-Bella Terra Vineyards Sparkling Brut $24.95
*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-KIN Vineyards Carp Ridge Skin Fermented Chardonnay 2021 $26
-Bonnie Vivant Chardonnay 2021 $34.04
-Cooper's Hawk Vineyards Unoaked Chardonnay 2020 $15.15
-Casa-Dea Estates Winery Unoaked Chardonnay PEC 2021 $20.95
-Trail Estate County Chardonnay Vintage 3 PEC 2019 $50
-Vineland Estates Winery Un-oaked Chardonnay 2021 $15.95
The Food: there were several charcuterie boards, with cheeses and meats and veggies and fruit, plus breads and dips.
The Downside: it was jam packed, which made it awkward to move about from table to table.
The Upside: I had a great opportunity to taste many chardonnays and sparklers. It was peaceful in the media room.
The Contact Person: lauren.garrard@wmao.ca
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 90.
Dean Tudor, Prof Emeritus T'karonto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) School of Journalism
Treasurer of Wine Writers' Circle of Canada http://www.deantudor.comhttp://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/gothicepicures
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