Exploring Southern Italy in October

Next month in October, we explore various wine regions and different grape varieties of Southern Italy. Toronto Vintners Club has 8 highly rated red wines from the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, Puglia, Calbria, Basilcata and Campania.

To view a map of the wine production areas, visit http://winefolly.com/review/italian-wine-regions-map/  and to learn more about wines of Southern Italy, visit www.lifeinitaly.com/wines/southern-italy-wine.asp#sthash.2zBwA8sJ.dpuf.

Italy uses an esoteric wine labeling system like France which can be baffling to understand, but more challenging is learning all the official grape varieties which number about 350!  Many of the grapes such as Nero d'Avola, Primitivo, Aglianico, Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera  are unfamiliar to most N. American oenophiles.  Although the grapes and wines may not be household names like their Piedmont or Tuscan cousins, the wines of Italy's southern districts are bold, full-bodied, satisfying AND generally, good value for money.  This event is a great opportunity to learn about and taste good quality Italian wines made from various grape varieties.  Many of these wines can be cellared for many years, if desired.

Seating is limited at this event so please register early. Note - all ticket sales are final.

Theme:  Red Wines of Southern Italy
Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Time: 6 PM - Reception Wine; 6:20 PM - Formal Tasting
Location:  U of Toronto Faculty Club, 41 Willcocks, St., Toronto ON
Price:  TVC Members:  $64; Guests / Non-members:  $84
Register / Buy Tickets
Note: All ticket sales are final!!!

Wine, food & MORE WINE!

TVC members and guest enjoyed a fantastic evening of great good, good fun and spectacular wines at our Cellar Clear Out / Bin End Dinner at Trevor Kitchen and Bar on June 17th. In addition, we gave away from door prizes - memberships and a couple bottles of wine.  All in all, a fabulous evening! Thanks to all those who came out.  Let's do it again in a few more years!

Dinner & Cellar Clear Out at Trevor Kitchen & Bar!

Well here it is! The event you've all been waiting for & to which we all look forward to every few years - our cellar clear out and fine dining on Tuesday June 17! Those who've attended one of these events in the past know that the wine is copious!! And when you see the list of wines we'll be bringing from our cellar, you know that to order just one bottle of just about any of these wines in a restaurant would cost an arm and a leg because a) they are pretty expensive to begin with and b) they are even more expensive in a restaurant because of heavy markups. But you get to enjoy not just 1, but several different pricey wines at each table along with a 5-course meal. What a great deal!!! And we usually have a couple of door prizes to make the evening more fun.

Seating is limited to 80 so don't delay making your reservation.Tickets have already started to sell quickly.

Event Theme: Dinner and Cellar Clear Out at Trevor Kitchen & Bar
Date: Tuesday, June 17th Time: Reception; 6:30 PM; Dinner: 7 PM
Place: Trevor Kitchen & Bar
Address: 38 Wellington Street East, Toronto M5E 1C7
Price: TVC Members: $112 / Guests/Non-Members: $137 (all inclusive)
Register / Buy Tickets

You are welcome to join TVC to get a reduced event fee at this and the remaining events in 2014.

Our menu.

menu dégustation - june 17th, 2014

shrimp & bacon potsticker with peppered tamari
watermelon & spearment gazpacho
cognac steak tartar tacos
sparkling wines


sweet pea & lettuce with feta & mint in champagne vinaigrette
chablis


roast pork loin with jalapeno & cheddar polenta, bacon, pickled peppers & honey mushrooms
bordeaux


pepper seared sirloin & braised beef cheeks with horseradish, crispy shallots & sunchoke purée
syrah


thunder oak gouda with fig & thyme flower honey
dessert wines

chef de cuisine: sean vodden
executive chef: trevor wilkinson

Some of our wines

Chablis

2004 Louis Michel Chablis 1er Cru Montee de Tonnerre
2004 Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos
2009 William Fevre Chablis 1er Cru Montee de Tonnerre
2009 Domaine Servin Chablis 1er Cru Montee de Tonnerre
2009 Gerard Duplesis Chablis 1er Cru Montmain
2009 William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros
2009 William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos
2009 LA CHABLISIENNE Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses
2009 Drouhin Chablis Grand Cru Vaudesir
2009 Albert Bichot Chablis Grand Cru Vaudesir

Red Bordeaux

1995 Malescot St. Exupery Margaux 3e
1997 LA CONSEILLANTE Pomerol
1997 La Croix du Gay Pomerol
2000 D'Angludet Margaux
2000 D'Issan Margaux 3e
2000 Malescot St. Exupery Margaux 3e
2000 D'Armailhac Pauillac 5e
2000 Grand Puy Lacoste Pauillac 5e
2000 Pontet Canet Pauillac 5e
2000 Grand Pontet St. Emilion GCC
2000 Talbot St. Julien 4e

Syrah 

2002 McNicol
2005 Henschke Mount Edelstone
2007 Clarendon Hills Moritz
2006 Montes Folly
1995 Chateau de Beaucastel CdP
1998 Chateau de Beaucastel CdP
1999 Chateau de Beaucastel CdP
2000 Chateau de Beaucastel CdP
2001 Chateau de Beaucastel CdP
2003 Chateau de Beaucastel CdP
2006 Ferraton Pere et Fils Les Dionnieres Ermitage

Plus Champagne, sparkling wines, ports and sweet wines for the appetizers and desserts. Tickets have already started to sell quickly!!

California Dreaming - SOLD OUT

Our May 20th tasting of premium California Cabernet Sauvignon wines is . . .

Sorry you couldn't get in.  Hope to see you at a future event hosted by Toronto Vintners Club.

California Dreaming - only 6 spots left!

There are only 6 tickets left for our May 20th California Dreaming  - Premium Cabernets!   Don't be disappointed because you missed it!

Details of the Wines
Register / Buy Tickets
Join Toronto Vintners (you'll get a discount on your event tickets if you're a member).

Hope to see you there!

Spain's White Gems - RESULTS

Thanks to all the members and guests that came out last Tuesday to taste some fantastic white wines.  We had a great turnout and everyone in attendance had the chance to taste some of the more unique wines that Spain has to offer.  The wines showed quite well, many full of bright citrus fruit, while others were more rustic and full.

Our guest speaker for the evening was Paul Giroux of Family Wine Merchants.  Two of the wines that we were tasting this evening are from his portfolio (the 2009 Celler Cal Pla, SL - Mas d'en Compte and the 2012 Torres - Vina Esmeralda Catalunya,).  Paul was also kind enough to provide the reception wine for the evening, a 2011 Henry of Pelham Chardonnay, which went over quite well with everyone at the tasting.

All the wines that were in the tasting were quite well received, but the unanimous winner of the evening was the 2012 Torres - Vina Esmeralda Catalunya, scoring 1's across the board. This was one of Paul's wines and he was also able to correctly identify it during the blind tasting.  It was describes as having bright citrus fruit, with a medium long finish, and that it was a perfect wine for this time of year.

And here are the final rankings:

Name of Wine (in order poured)	Group Ranking	Guest Ranking
A - 2012 Jean Leon Chardonnay $18.95	6	6
B - 2010 Bodega Del Abad - Abad dom Bueno Godello $15.75	5	5
C - 2011 Martin Codax - Burgans Albarino $17.95	4	4
D - 2012 Torres - Vina Esmeralda Catalunya, Spain $14.95	1	1
E - 2011 Bodegas La Emperatriz Sl - Finca La Emperatriz Viura $15.95	7	7
F - 2012 Beronia - Viura, Rioja $14.95	8	8
G - 2011 Fuente Elvira Verdijo Rueda Spain Verdijo $15.75	3	3
H - 2009 Celler Cal Pla, SL - Mas d'en Compte $27	2	2

California Premium Reds

For several centuries, the top Cabernet-based wines of Bordeaux have defined greatness in red wine.  So
it’s no accident that when Napa Valley winemakers first wanted to make exceptional wines in the 1800s, they imported Cabernet Sauvignon cuttings from Bordeaux.  Therefore, the rarest, most prestigious and priciest wines made in the US—and many would say the greatest—now happen to be California Cabernets. Whereas Bordeaux cooler climate produces more austere and less approachable wines unless cellared for at least a decade or longer, California's warmer climate naturally leads to fleshier, fruitier, more generous wines that can be readily enjoyed within a few years of their vintage.   At an average price of $4,750 for one ton of Napa Valley Cabernet grapes, $47 is the industry’s rule-of-thumb price for a bottle of wine made from these grapes. Thus Napa Valley and California Cabernets have become a category for the well-heeled wine lover.

“Napa Valley is the heart of Cabernet Sauvignon production and is clearly an ideal region for creating world-class wines. If any Cabernet-based wine is capable of giving Bordeaux a run for its money, it's Napa Valley's examples. However, due to the extremely high cost of purchasing and developing vineyards in California, and the cachet of Napa Valley on the label, this has largely become a category for the well-heeled wine lover.”
(http://www.wineaccess.com/wine/grape/cabernet-sauvignon)

TVC presents a total of 8 premium reds from California.  7 are from Napa Valley (Caymus, Chateau Montelena, Clos du Val, Cain, Terra Valentine, Trinchero, Corison) and 1 is from Alexander Valley (Kendall Jackson).  All are Cabernet Sauvignon with the exception of Cain Five (Cain Winery) which is a Bordeaux-style blend of five grapes. The vintages are 2005, 2006 and 2007 which are all rated as outstanding for northern California. This will be a fantastic tasting of premium Californian reds.  Don't miss it!!

Theme:  California Premium Reds
Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Time: 6 PM - Reception Wine; 6:20 PM - Formal Tasting
Location:  U of Toronto Faculty Club, 41 Willcocks, St., Toronto ON
Price:  TVC Members:  $92; Guests / Non-members:  $112
Register / Buy Tickets
Note: All ticket sales are final!!!