New season, new site. We’ve been working hard to serve our Sommelier community and it was about time to update our site to make it easier for our members and host events.

If looking to become a member, find out more information about being a Sommelier, or participate in our events please visit our brand new shiny site: https://on.sommelierscanada.ca/ 

Thank you for supporting CAPS Ontario, the hospitality industry and welcome to the Sommunity.

The post We’ve Launched A New CAPS Ontario Site – April 2022 appeared first on Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers | Ontario Chapter.

Caps Ontario thanks the following generous sponsors of The Pinot Party:

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Lifford Wine & Spirits  https://www.lifford.com/

MASTER CLASS BY JAMIE GOODE

Wine Sponsors:

Ata Rangi - https://www.atarangi.co.nz/

Bachelder Wines - www.thomasbachelder.com

Blomidon Winery - https://blomidonwine.ca/ 

Blue Mountain Wines - http://www.bluemountainwinery.com/ 

Champagne Drappier - http://www.champagne-drappier.com/en/champagne-drappier   

Domaine Queylus - http://www.queylus.shop/ 

Henry of Pelham - https://henryofpelham.com/ 

Le Sommelier - http://www.lesommelier.com/ 

Lifford Wine & Spirits - https://www.lifford.com/

Lightfoot & Wolfville - https://lightfootandwolfville.com/

Long Dog Winery - https://www.longdog.ca/about_story.html 

Nicholas Pearce Wines - http://npwines.com/index.html

Tantalus Wines - https://tantalus.ca/

FOOD SPONSOR

Angelo Bean Sausage - http://www.angelobean.com/ 

WATER SPONSOR

ESKA - https://www.eskawater.com/

MEDIA SPONSOR

WineAlign - https://www.winealign.com/ 

CRU - http://sommelierscanada.com/

The Siren Group - http://www.thesirengroup.com/ 

The post Pinot Party Sponsors appeared first on Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers | Ontario Chapter.

Pinot Party – A fundraiser celebration in support of CAPS Ontario

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/pinot-party-a-fundraiser-celebration-in-support-of-caps-ontario-tickets-46906824575#tickets

Learn, sip and share your love of wine and Pinot Noir at our summer Pinot Party. In support of Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers join your fellow sommeliers, trade professionals, and wine lovers while we discover and honour the heartbreak grape.

The main tasting event will be an interactive walk-around tasting with 12 Pinot producers from across the world. Sip on Pinot Noir in all forms, including Champagne from Champagne Drappier, New Zealand’s Ata Rangi, Tantalus and Blue Mountain from the Okanagan Valley, as well as local superstars Bachelder Wines, Henry of Pelham and Domaine Queylus as well as Le Sommelier and Nicholas Pearce wine agents from Ontario. Discover and taste through top Pinot Noirs from across Canada around the world.

Good wine demands good food and we’ll have some of Toronto’s finest suppliers along with sausage master Angelo Bean. Plus the option to win amazing wine and food prizes in our silent auction raffle. Want to learn even more? Join us for a Masterclass in Pinot Noir hosted by British Wine Journalist Jamie Goode. Of course there are discounts on all tickets for CAPS members.

Details below.

Purchase tickets and/or renew your membership here:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/pinot-party-a-fundraiser-celebration-in-support-of-caps-ontario-tickets-46906824575#tickets

Where: Lifford Wine & Spirits 471 Jarvis St, Toronto

When: Monday, July 16

4:00PM – 10:00PM -

Pinot Party & Walk Around Tasting $40.00 CAPS Members / $60.00 Non-CAPS Members

Pinot Noir Master Class with Jamie Goode – 2:00PM – 3:30PM (Pinot Party & Walk around tasting follows)

The event will get underway with a comprehensive masterclass (45 Tickets Only) led by internationally renowned wine expert, Dr. Jamie Goode. Some special bottles will be emerging from the cellar for an in-depth look at Pinot Noir from Canada and around the world.

$75.00 CAPS Members / $100.00 Non-CAPS Members (Includes admission to walk around tasting)

For more information : Contact Kim Gertler communications@on.sommelierscanada.ca

Enjoy Pinot Noir for a great cause!

The post The Pinot Party – Monday July 16th appeared first on Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers | Ontario Chapter.

TORONTO, March 12^th, 2018 —  The Ontario chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS Ontario) has elected three new board members during an election conducted by the members in good standing during this year’s annual general meeting at George Brown College in Toronto. CAPS Ontario is pleased to announce that Lynn Abernethy, Alexandra Evans and Miho Yamamoto were voted in by the membership to replace three departing board members. The three new directors were welcomed to the board by the president of CAPS Ontario, Sara D’Amato: “We enthusiastically welcome our new members who bring with them eagerness and fresh perspectives to help us create new opportunities for Ontario’s Sommelier Community. We deeply appreciate the years of volunteer service and dedication of our board members who are stepping down: Carol Ann Jessiman, Adam Hijazi and Anjana Viswanatha. They have been absolutely essential in allowing us to accomplish our wildly ambitious goals. “ – Sara D’ Amato, President, CAPS Ontario

Each of the new board members expressed their commitment to serving Ontario’s sommelier community with their own experience and expertise: “Having been involved in now six competitions with CAPS (from 2004 to 2017), I feel that we keep getting better and better every year. With a great Technical Committee team beside me, like a great wine, we keep getting better with age!” – Alexandra Evans, new Board Member, CAPS Ontario

“I’m honoured and ready to continue the great work. CAPS and its Board are central to the community for Sommeliers in Ontario as a source of knowledge and leadership. I also wish to advocate for my home wine region of Prince Edward County.”  - Lynn Abernethy, new Board Member, CAPS Ontario

“I am passionate about wine education and very proud to be a CAPS member. I’d like to provide mentorship for sommelier students, increase visibility and awareness of CAPS in the hospitality community and restaurant industry” - Miho Yamamoto, new Board Member, CAPS Ontario

The membership also voted to ratify the appointment of Elsa Macdonald, who returns to the board of directors after taking leave to focus on professional goals. The new board members join the CAPS Ontario team as it prepares for an ambitious agenda of exciting new educational projects, competitions, professional development opportunities and great wine events:  In addition, CAPS Ontario will also present the return of our popular summer sommelier social and Pinot Noir, master class, The Pinot Party. Also on the agenda is our first-ever, cooperative sommelier winemaking venture, Cuvee CAPS ™.  This new bottling of Ontario wine will be blended, bottled and sold by CAPS students, working closely with VQA winemaking partners in Niagara Peninsula and Prince Edward County regions. CAPS Ontario is also proud to be part of the team supporting our national CAPS and Quebec chapters in hosting the ASI & APAS Contest of the Best Sommelier of the Americas this May 21-24 in Montreal Quebec where Canada’s top two sommeliers will compete with those from across North, South and Central America.

Join Us

CAPS Ontario is a non-profit organization representing Ontario’s certified sommeliers.  CAPS Ontario also welcomes student and associate members with an active interest in supporting our community and participating in our events.  

Sara D’Amato, President, CAPS Ontario  

Media Contact: Kim Gertler kgertler@yahoo.com Director, Media and Communications, CAPS Ontario 647 767-9380

Join the CAPS Ontario community and add your voice to the conversation:

facebook: CAPS Ontario twitter:@CAPSOntario  instagram: @CAPSOntario 

The post CAPS Ontario Welcomes New Board Members appeared first on Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers | Ontario Chapter.

Thursday March 1st | 7-9pm

IWEG Drinks Academy | 211 Yonge Street, Suite 501, Toronto, Ontario

To Buy Tickets: https://www.iweg.org/courses/caps-iweg-workshop-series 

Join wine enthusiasts and professionals as we invite back Dr. Melanie McBride to host another Aroma Seminar  co-hosted with IWEG.

While smell is often associated with memory and emotion, psychology and popular neuroscience won’t teach you to discriminate honeysuckle from hay, much less how to get them in front of your nose. Like wine, any given aroma source is shaped by complex environmental, temporal, material and sociocultural forces that contribute to valued (or unwanted) sensory properties, characteristics and qualities that can help you tell them apart. Drawing on varied perspectives, methods and cultural practices of smell and aroma, this ‘materials-centric’ workshop takes an experiential, ‘multimodal’ and hands-on approach to document, represent and communicate aroma as a form of learning inquiry beyond the ‘gridlocked’ rote memorization of descriptors. In addition to a tasting component, this workshop will introduce you to a variety of fine, uncommon and rare aroma resources, concluding with a ‘how to’ create your own ‘DIY aroma library.’

In collaboration with IWEG we’re pleased to bring a researcher like Dr. Melanie McBride. Sign up here: https://www.iweg.org/courses/caps-iweg-workshop-series

More About Dr. Melanie McBride: Dr. Melanie McBride is a postdoctoral researcher in the Faculty of Education at York University and founder of the ‘Aroma Inquiry Lab’ at Ryerson University’s Responsive Ecologies lab. Melanie’s research investigates the ‘hidden curricula’ of aroma culture with a focus on learning inquiry and DIY making practices with aroma materials. She has undertaken site-specific research of aroma-rich sites in Canada and France to explore the use of raw, living and processed aroma materials in various learning contexts. Her research contributes to providing more ‘ecologically’ situated and creative approaches to learning, communicating and making with aroma ‘from the nose down.’ For a more detailed overview of Melanie’s academic work and educational background please visit her website: melaniemcbride.net

The post WINE SCHOOL: Aroma Seminar II appeared first on Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers | Ontario Chapter.

Wine Agent. Negociant. Winemaker. Hostess with the Mostest. Family Man. Killer cook. There are many ways to describe Nicholas Pearce, the owner and brains behind Nicholas Pearce Wines (http://npwines.com/index.html) . Not only does Nic have one of the most killer French wine portfolio’s in Ontario, he’s known for having a special knack for finding some of the best value wines out there.

Running a wine agency is hard work but Nic Pearce makes it look all too easy.
Step a day in the life of wine agency owner extraordinaire & wine negociant, Nicholas Pearce of Nicholas Pearce Wines.

Photo courtesy of Nicholas Pearce + The Chase Hospitality Group

First a little background, Nic is an Ontario born and raised, chef, dinning room manager turned wine agency owner & negociant. Nic was educated in Bordeaux, and now owns and manages Nicholas Pearce Wines Inc (), known as NPW for short. Sommelier Krystina Roman sat down with Nic to learn how to start a wine agency, be successful and have fun doing it.

1. Take us through a typical day of yours?
The days always start early. I wake up with Benson (my 6 month old) before 6am, and then I setup my work station (iphone & lap top) and Benson’s toy station (blocks, cars, books). Benson plays, I work. I first start with the European emails due to the time difference and all the 2 am Sommelier emails.

After that, I focus on operations and administrative tasks with the team. We have an office team and a sales team, which is now 8 large so there is never a dull moment. It takes a lot of time, focus, trouble shooting with the LCBO and drivers to get everyone their wines on time.

2. How did you end up in the wine industry ?
My best buddy is a chef and when we were in university we wanted to open a restaurant. I decided I would have to be the wine guy. So I started to study wine from books and started tasting consciously rather then just drinking. In 2001, I ended up in England at Le Pont de La Tour (http://www.lepontdelatour.co.uk/ ) where I was exposed to a whole team of Sommeliers (in action) and was in awe. It was my first time seeing a team of real Sommeliers doing service.

The older Sommeliers would offer to train me, helping me memorize regions and grape varietals each night. When I nailed the Bordeaux varietals for them, they passed me an ounce of very old Petrus in a ridiculously large Bordeaux stem. It was pretty cool and I remember it vividly.

After that, I finished my B-comm at the University of Guelph and then started studying with the International Sommelier Guild. I was managing the Cookworks Kitchen Studio (99 Sudbury) for 3 years while doing ISG. At night I was helping run corporate cooking parties and hands on cooking classes. I then moved to the other side and started managing the dining room at Mildred Pierce Restaurant while helping with the wine program.

3. Wait you’re a cook?
Ya! I have the classic techniques down and am lucky to be able to cook most nights for my family. Back in University, we cooked nearly every dish in the French Laundry cookbook. Me and a few buddies started a catering company called “Inspirations” and we used it as an opportunity to test and learn.

4. Before you started NPW where did you work?
In 2009, when I first moved back from Bordeaux, I started managing the Ontario Market for an agency based out west. Then in 2011, I started my own agency, Alliance Garagiste Wines. Then AGW evolved into Nicholas Pearce Wines aka NPW (http://npwines.com/index.html).

When I was studying and based in Bordeaux I worked with Maison Sichel (http://www.sichel.fr/en/home.html ) in their export department. That is really where I learned the basics of exporting, distribution and most importantly, taking care of you clients, suppliers and staff. It was an amazing experience and I came back to Toronto with a network of wine producers that I wanted to work with and introduce to the market.

5. Why did you start an agency?
I always wanted to run my own company.
I had a strong network of small producers around the world, mostly French. However, a big catalyst was Julien Montagne from Clos Del Rey. He had just assumed control of a few old parcels of Carignan and Grenache from his father and started his own proper company. So that same year, I got my license and we starting bringing in the 2009’s and 2010’s. He had studied with me in Bordeaux, so it was like two student/friends realizing their dreams. We still laugh about it.

6. What has helped you more in running a business – education or experience?
Experience, but a solid education can help relieve a little doubt in yourself.
I have a Bachelors of Commerce from the Hospitality program in Guelph (https://www.uoguelph.ca/hftm/ ) and I went on to the Bordeaux International Wine Institute (INSEEC) (https://www.wine-institute.com/en/ ) to complete my MBA Wine Marketing and Management. This education provided a solid foundation for me which I think is crucial. Doing the job has been the best learning experience in the end.

7. Any words of advice for anyone looking to start working in wine?
For a career in wine you have to get out there. Do a stage at a restaurant for example. Or volunteer at an agency. Immerse yourself and learn from the best. My best time ever was working at a winery. If you can afford the time I highly recommend doing a harvest somewhere and crushing some juice.

8. Skills needed to succeed in the wine industry?
Relationship management and good stress management. Also long term focus is key. The wine industry is not a short game, it’s a long game. It doesn’t make sense day to day, it doesn’t make sense week to week nor month to month.
It makes sense year to year.

9. What would you tell someone thinking of starting their own agency?
Rely on other agents to help you, and they usually will. Just ask. There’s no handbook for how to run a successful wine agency, you learn by doing.
Also hang out at the docks as there is lots to be learned there.

There are a billion great wineries out there that aren’t represented, go for it.

10. Any fun wine finds these days?
Bergecrac from Chateau Barouillet (http://barouillet.com/en)
Also Muré (http://www.mure.com/en/ ) from Alsace – Alsatian biodynamic/raw producer with insane value across the board.

11. Who inspires you within the wine community?
There are so many that come to mind with so many different sides of the business. Obviously Will Predhomme has been a big inspiration as a sommelier, partner & best buddy. We met in 2009 when I moved back from Bordeaux and started selling new wines around town. I think it was love at fist sight ☺

As far as journalists go, the Winealign crew at top notch, John, Sara, Michael, David, Trev, Remy… Also Jamie at Good Food Revolution.

In the education field, I have lots of respect for Bruce Walner and Somm Factory (https://www.sommfactory.com/) gang. I highly recommend their classes if you want to up your game.

As for the subscribers, our legendary Crew Sauvage, the biggest inspirers are Peter Boyd, Corey Ladouceur, Steve Sousa, Anne Martin, Katy Moore, Christopher Sealy, Alex McMahon, Josh Corea, Svetlana Atcheva, Norm Hardie, Jimson Bienenstock… I could go on forever.

On the agency side, I really have a lot of respect for anyone on this side of business that is trying to help push the envelope, introduce new cutting products, take care of their teams & suppliers while focusing on education and fun rather then pure dollars. Mark Cuff and Bernard Stramwasser come to mind along with about 10 other really great agencies that I respect a lot.

12. Most underrated grape varietal?
Picpoul de Pinet, Jacquères, Lagrein and obviously Gual along with all the indigenous Canary Island varietals. We are always trying to push the limits with Chenin Blanc.

13. Most underrated wine region?
Niagara and PEC have a lot of potential, but they also have lots of work to do on a global level. We live and breathe them here but we need to get them on the right tables, list & cellars around the world.

14. Whose cellar would you raid?
Nicolas Potel’s personal cellar in Beaune is mental. Nico of Roche De Bellene (http://www.maisonrochedebellene.com/maisonroche.php ) has been trading wine with amazing producers around the world for 30 years. He has crazy wines, lots of large formats & verticals. He would always have few bottles planned but will be the first to let you go a pick a few. It’s hard to raid when people like that are so willing to share.

Nicholas Pearce & Nicholas Potel

The post Day In The Life Of ……. Nicholas Pearce appeared first on Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers | Ontario Chapter.

This year’s CAPS graduation ceremony was held on November 17th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. In addition to the new graduate sommeliers, friends and family, CAPS board members and some prominent wine industry professionals were in attendance.

“What these graduates have accomplished is extraordinary and we honour them today for their perseverance, their enthusiasm and their courage. As many of them can tell you, the final exam, which they have all recently passed, took a remarkable amount of courage to attempt. They met a very high standard of excellence in technical, written exam. Subsequently, they meticulously performed the tasks of Sommelier in a live restaurant scenario for experts in the trade while being surprised with unusual questions and requests, having to make adjustments under high pressure. All of this to prepare them for the awesome task of Steward of Wine – a career that will never be routine and will always challenge.” – Sara d’Amato. CAPS Ontario President

Those gathered enjoyed spirited presentations from Sara d’Amato and James Pollock as well as a congratulatory message from CAPS national President Michelle McCarthy, conveyed by Michelle Paris.

After receiving their diplomas and pins, the new graduates enjoyed a toast of Canadian sparkling wine (Jackson-Triggs Brut Grand Reserve Entourage,) followed by a passionate presentation about volcanic wines of the world from Master Sommelier, John Szabo.

Congratulations and cheers to this year’s graduating CAPS sommeliers:
M.E. Lynn Abernethy, Ryan Fayle, Leslie Anne Harbinson, Madeleine K. Hayles, Ashley Ellen Martin, Robert Daniel Allie, Shari Fanson (Honours), Manuel Gonzalez, Shawna Kaufman (Honours), Edward Gary Killops, Leslie Meloche (Honours), Reuben van Nie, Nick Bertrand, Andrew McArthur, Astra Marchi and Robert Kidd.

Visit the CAPS Ontario Facebook page for more pictures from the event.

The post CAPS Class of 2015-16 Graduation Ceremony appeared first on Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers | Ontario Chapter.

Wine terminology, service scenarios and other industry-specific exercises will be used as the lens for language study that focuses on conversational skills and reading abilities.

Classes are three hours weekly for 13 weeks and will cost $400.

Tuesdays 12-3pm
Next semester starts: January 26th

These classes will run at the Alliance Francaise, 24 Spadina Road.

Maximum 12 students.

This course will only run with sufficient registration.

Please contact Lesley Provost for more information or to register: lesleyprovost@gmail.com

The post French For Sommeliers’ Professional Development appeared first on Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers | Ontario Chapter.

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

The post Announcing Canada’s Best Sommelier appeared first on Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers | Ontario Chapter.

Reminds you to attend the 2015 Annual General Meeting

Sunday, March 8th AGM 1:45pm-2:15pm, Montecito 2nd Floor

The Annual General Meeting of the Ontario Chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers will be held on Sunday, March 8, 2015 from 1:45-2:15pm as announced on February 8, 2015.

The AGM is free and will be held during the day-long Best Sommelier of Canada Competition at Montecito Restaurant, 299 Adelaide Street West, M5V 1P7. Please remember, the competition is free for viewing 10am-1pm. Day passes for receptions, lunch and masterclasses are available here however we are almost sold out: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/best-sommelier-of-canada-competition-2015-tickets-15650633466

AGM Agenda:

Approve minutes from 2014 AGM
Review Financial Statements and accept budget for 2015
Review call for nominations process
Q&A

CAPS Members in good standing will be able to vote at the AGM. You can renew here at http://sommelierscanada.com/ontario/membership-account/membership-levels/. There will also be a registration desk to renew your membership for 2015 ($75) however online, beforehand is very much preferred.

Due to the focus on organizing the competition we will not hold the vote for the new board positions at the AGM. Rather, we are currently calling for nominations and will hold an online vote later this month. Call for Nominations and Nomination Form 2015

On behalf of the CAPS Ontario board, I look forward to seeing you at our AGM.

Best regards,
Lesley Provost
Nominations Committee

The post Reminder – CAPS AGM March 8 2015 appeared first on Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers | Ontario Chapter.