March 8, 2015, Toronto

On behalf of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommelier CAPS and Wine Country Ontario, we are pleased to announce Canada’s Best Sommelier, Elyse Lambert, Sommelier Consultant, Maison Boulud, Ritz Carlton, Montreal, Quebec. Congratulations as well to second place winner Steven Robinson, Atelier Restaurant, Ottawa, Ontario and in third place Carl Villeneuve Lepage, Toqué! Montreal, Quebec. A toast to these competitors who faced a grueling preliminary exam yesterday that included components of service, theory and tasting followed by a live performance this afternoon in front of their peers and public at Montecito restaurant in Toronto.

Thank you to our distinguished judges John Szabo MS, principal critic WineAlign, Geoff Kruth MS, Chief Operating Officer for the Guild of Sommeliers and Ricardo Grellet, founder and Vice-President of the National Association of Sommeliers of Chile as well as our guest judge Magdalena Kaiser.

Some of our champions have will have the opportunity to compete in the upcoming APAS competition in Chile April 20-25th and the ASI World Competition in 2016.

Thank you to our generous sponsors: Wines of Chile, Banville & Jones, Inniskillin,

Louis Martini, British Columbia Wine Institute, Eska, Moët & Chandon. Major prizes were thankfully received from Tolaini, SAQ, Wines of Greece, Wines of Germany, Wines of South Africa.

If you would like further information regarding the competition, would like photographs or to arrange interviews with the candidates, please contact Sara d’Amato, PR representative CAPS Ontario at sara@saradamato.com

CAPS National, CAPS Ontario, CAPS Atlantic, CAPS British Columbia, CAPS Manitoba and ACSP (Quebec) are all affiliated with Association de la Sommellerie Internationale, an organization representing professional sommeliers worldwide.   www.sommellerie-internationale.com

www.sommelierscanada.com

On behalf of CAPS and Wine Country Ontario, we look forward to meeting Canada’s Best Sommelier in less than one week! Come out and support our national sommelier community – tickets are selling fast! Whether you are a member of the trade or interested public, your support and encouragement greatly appreciated. Proceeds will help send the winner to the Pan-American competition in Chile next month and/or the ASI World Competition in 2016. Event details for the action packed day March 8th can be found at: http://sommelierscanada.com/best-sommelier-competition-2015

A reminder that the viewing of our live final competition featuring our three finalists can is free to attend and will take place at Montecito restaurant in Toronto on March 8th from 10 AM to 1PM. Daypass tickets include lunch and dinner, the master classes, tastings and the gala where the winners will be announced. They can be purchased at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/best-sommelier-of-canada-competition-2015-tickets-15650633466

*Discounts will be applied for CAPS members
*Please note the Daylight Savings time change on March 8th (clocks are moved up one hour). Please arrive at 9:45 AM.

Don’t miss out on our exclusive Master Class series on Sunday, March 8th from 2:15-4:45PM. Entrance is included in your daypass.

The Wines of British Columbia Master Class offers an exclusive opportunity for an in-depth exploration of not only history, geography, important varieties and wineries, but also a closer look at various sub-regions from Similkameen and Osoyoos to Peachland and Lillooet, along with the elements and issues that affect the current state of the British Columbia Wine Industry. BC wine educator, writer and consultant Kurtis Kolt, on behalf of the BC Wine Institute will present this educational overview along with a tutored tasting co-presented by renowned Canadian sommelier Véronique Rivest, through 8 BC VQA wines, from classic to contemporary styles, which illustrate the unique sense of place offered by BC VQA Wines.

Wines of Chile Innovation Master Class
with John Szabo MS

In honour of the Pan-American competition in Santiago, Chile April 2015.

Chile: Getting Down
Does the mention “Chilean wine” still conjure up the image of wood panelling and a tweed jacket? Times have changed. Join co head judges for CAPS Best Sommelier in Canada competition, Canadian John Szabo MS and Chilean Ricardo Grellet, in a Wines of Chile Masterclass that will examine how this conservative South American country has leaped from the 19th century directly into the 21st. Rampant experimentation, the rediscovery of “lost” varieties and ancient vines, innovative blends and intelligent perseverance are just some of the stories. A dozen wines will be poured to help tell the tale. An outsider was recently quoted as saying “Chileans look all structured and serious, even boring maybe, but there is a wild side to this culture”. So come prepared to lose your cravat, loosen the top button, and thrown on your red pants for this memorable tasting.”

Follow the events on social media and tweet and Facebook with us!
Use hashtag #CAPSCAN2015

If you are joining us from outside of Toronto, we can offer you assistance with your trip booking and special rates on hotel accommodation care of the Hyatt Regency. For bookings, please contact Lesley Chan at the Hyatt Regency T: + 1 416.595.2557 or Celine Smith Le Gousse: c.smith.legousse@gmail.com

Thank you to our generous sponsors of the 2015 Canada’s Best Sommelier Competition:

National Competition Principal Sponsor:
Wine Country Ontario – winecountryontario.ca

National Competition Major Sponsors:
Banville & Jones – www.banvilleandjones.com
Tolaini Estate – www.tolaini.it/en/wines
Wines of Chile – www.winesofchile.org
Inniskillin – http://www.inniskillin.com/
Louis Martini – www.louismartini.com

Location Sponsors:
Montecito Restaurant – www.montecitorestaurant.ca
Hyatt Regency Toronto – www.torontoregency.hyatt.com

National Competition Supporters:
British Columbia Wine Institute – www.winebc.com
Eska – www.eskawater.com
Moët & Chandon – http://www.moet.com/
The Vine – thevineagency.ca
Treasury Wine Estates – www.tweglobal.com
Oenophilia – http://www.oenophilia.ca/

If you would like further information regarding the competition, please contact Sara d’Amato, PR representative CAPS Ontario at sara@saradamato.com

CAPS National, CAPS Ontario, CAPS Atlantic, CAPS British Columbia, CAPS Manitoba and ACSP (Quebec) are all affiliated with Association de la Sommellerie Internationale, an organization representing professional sommeliers worldwide. www.sommellerie-internationale.com
www.sommelierscanada.com

“Canada’s sommelier community is vitally important for the entire local wine industry as they are the storytellers. We are proud to be supporting their profession and their important role with consumers.” said Magdalena Kaiser, Director of PR for Wine Country Ontario.

“CAPS is very proud to partner with Wine Country Ontario particularly given this is the first time the national competition has been held in this province. It reflects the strong bond between producers and the sommelier’s serving their wines” said Michelle McCarthy, President of CAPS National. She went on to acknowledge other generous supporters including Eska Water, Hyatt Hotels, Inniskillin, Banville and Jones, Wines of Chile, Montecito Restaurant, Tolani Estate Wines, British Columbia Wine Institute, and Moët & Chandon.

National competitors will hail from Quebec, Ontario, Atlantic Canada and, for the first time, we will have representation from the recently formed chapters in Western Canada, B.C. and Manitoba. The names of the competitors from each province are as follows:

Sean Dolenuck
La Boutique del Vino, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Bertrand Eichel
Le 357c, Montreal, Quebec

Elyse Lambert,
Sommelier Consultant / Maison Boulud, Ritz Carlton, Montreal, Quebec

Robert Noel
Groupe Culinaire Robert H. Noel Inc. / déjà BU! Bar a vin –resto, Caraquet, New Brunswick

William Predhomme
Predhomme Market Insights Inc., Toronto, Ontario

Steven Robinson
Atelier Restaurant, Ottawa, Ontario

Carl Villeneuve Lepage
Toqué! Montreal, Quebec

Jason Yamasaki
Chambar Restaurant, Vancouver, British Columbia

The victor will be qualified to have the honour of representing Canada at the Pan-American Sommelier Alliance (APAS) Competition to be held in Chile in April 2015 as well as the Association Sommelerie Internationale (ASI) World Best Sommelier Competition in Argentina, Spring 2016. Did you know, our previous National Champion, Véronique Rivest, went on to win 2nd place at the World’s Best Sommelier competition?

This year’s Best Sommelier of Canada Competition will take place in Toronto on March 7th and 8th at Montecito Restaurant. The format will be similar to the competitions of the Americas, as well as the World, and candidates will be asked to compete in a language other than their own.

Join us for two unforgettable days:

Saturday, March 7th
Closed room examination for all competitors followed by an exclusive wine experience in the Niagara Peninsula, courtesy of Wine Country Ontario for all competitors. (Ten members of the public may purchase tickets to this exclusive tour)

Sunday, March 8th
10 AM-1 PM – Finalists are announced and compete in front of a live public audience
1 PM-2:15 PM – Walk-around wine tasting event with light lunch
2:15-4:45 – Master classes: Wines of Chile with John Szabo MS and BC Wine Institute with Kurtis Kolt and Véronique Rivest
4:45 – 5:45 – Wine Country Ontario’s sparkling wine reception
5:45 -7pm – Winners announced at wine gala.

Tickets:

Saturday by invitation only.

Sunday Events – $150* includes competition, lunch, master classes, sparkling reception and Gala.

*$25 discount will be applied for those renewing their CAPS membership or joining CAPS for the first time. You don’t need to be an accredited sommelier to join. As an associate member, you will receive many of the same benefits. The membership fee remains $75 for accredited sommeliers and associates. Admission free to CAPS Ontario students given their pouring duties.
A link for purchasing tickets will be sent shortly.

Live Competition – Free public viewing
Live Video Stream of the Competition – URL to be announced.

If you would like further information regarding the competition, please contact Sara d’Amato, PR representative CAPS Ontario at sara@saradamato.com

CAPS National, CAPS Ontario, CAPS Atlantic, CAPS British Columbia, CAPS Manitoba and ACSP (Quebec) are all affiliated with Association de la Sommellerie Internationale, an organization representing professional sommeliers worldwide. www.sommellerie-internationale.com
www.sommelierscanada.com