Ontario has a new sommelier champion, after an intense day of competition before a live audience at George Brown College’s Culinary and Hospitality Campus on Sunday March 5th, 2017.

Twenty-four intrepid, highly skilled certified working sommeliers came out early in the morning to write a demanding theory exam and engage in a competitive ‘blind’ wine tasting.  After a program of ‘Somm Games’ sponsored by Lifford Wine & Spirits and a luncheon sponsored by Southbrook Vineyards, the three top finalists were announced. The five frontrunners had very close results, which meant that the judges had to be particularly diligent when grading and crosschecking final scores. Once the three finalists were announced, each competitor, took their turn facing a series of challenges designed to test their wine knowledge, their tasting, service, theory and stamina, live in front of an audience of peers and members of the public.

CAPS Ontario congratulates Emily Pearce-Bibona of Femmes du Vins and sommelier at Barberian’s Steak House in Toronto, who claimed the coveted top spot as winner of the Best Ontario Sommelier Competition. José Luis Fernández, sommelier at Quatrefoil restaurant in Dundas, Ontario, finished in second place. Nathan Morrell, sommelier at Bar Isabel in Toronto, was the third place sommelier. The winners were cheered on by the audience and toasted with a glass of Inniskillin Icewine.

José Luis Fernández, Emily Pearce-Bibona and Nathan Morrell

Ms. Pearce-Bibona also won the Lifford Wine and Spirits Award for Best Taster, presented by honorary event judge and sponsor, Steven Campbell of Lifford Wine and Spirits. She attributes her success to three factors:

Patience practice and perseverance. This is a quote that I adopted from Thomas Keller – and it’s patience – taking the time to learn your craft and truly being patient to learn the intricacies of your trade. Perfection never happens and it probably never will but repetition brings you closer to performing at that high level. Finally, perseverance – especially for the women in the industry – never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something or you can’t achieve something or you can’t be something. Work hard and pursue your goals.

The event’s distinguished judges included John Szabo, Master Sommelier (MS) and author of Volcanic Wines; Sara d’Amato, president of CAPS Ontario and critic at WineAlign, and Brent Fraser, sommelier at Toronto’s Granite Club. The competition’s technical committee is comprised of director Alexandra Evans, Serge Janic (Best Serbian Sommelier, 2014) and Jennifer Huether, Master Sommelier (MS) of Jackson Family Wines in California.

CAPS Ontario wishes to acknowledge our generous event sponsors  and the great contribution of our team of volunteers who provided assistance throughout the day of the event.

The complete list of sponsors for the Best Ontario Sommelier Competition: http://sommelierscanada.com/ontario/spectacular-best-somm-sponsors/

See photos from the event on the CAPS Ontario Facebook page. Photo credits to Biserka Livaja (bismark@sympatico.ca)

Competition puts Sommeliers in the Media Spotlight

The 2017 Best Ontario Sommelier Competition helped bring sommeliers into the media spotlight.

Master Sommelier Jennifer Heuther (MS,) of our technical committee was interviewed by Matt Galloway of CBC’s Metro Morning.  You can listen to it here
Interview courtesy of:  CBC Metro Morning)

CBC Radio’s Matt Galloway talks about the Best Ontario Sommelier Competition with Master Sommelier, Jennifer Heuther, of Jackson Family Wines

Jennifer Heuther and Sommelier competitor Julie Garton (The Oxley Public House) were the stars of an entire hour long show, which includes an “on the spot” blind tasting, on the Newstalk 1010 show, “Let’s Eat” with Zane Caplansky. You can listen to it here:

Even sportscasters got in on covering the competition!  TSN Radio 1050 host (and fellow wine lover) Matt Cauz shared his experience and some great stories on “Game Day.” Check out Matt’s twitter feed here: @mcauz56

TSN Radio 1050 host Matt Cauz

You can also read all about the competition at winebusiness.com , Food Service and Hospitality Magazine , and WineAlign 

Distillery District Magazine also covered the competition on page 44 of the February Issue and the Good Food Revolution profiled Emily Pearce-Bibona this week.

The post CAPS Ontario crowns Best Ontario Sommelier 2017 appeared first on Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers | Ontario Chapter.

With all the interest in the Best Ontario Sommelier Competition – (get your tickets here) – we wanted to check in on sommelier competitions on the national level.

CAPS Media director Kim Gertler journeyed to the Vancouver International Wine Festival where he met with British Columbia’s Sommelier of the year.

“Sommeliers are very important to the Vancouver International Wine Festival. Our awards lunch sells out in a flash. Fifty restaurants are honoured at the wine program excellence awards, so usually the wine directors and sommeliers are there.  Plus somms attend our afternoon trade tastings. The BC Somm of the year is of course, chosen by CAPS, BC.”  - Harry Hertscheg, Executive Director, Vancouver International Wine Festival

BC’s Somm of the Year is Shane Taylor, wine director of Cin Cin Restaurant who will compete against somms from coast to coast – including the winner of the Best Ontario Sommelier competition – at the Canadian National Sommelier Competition, set to take place in Vancouver in September 2017.

BC Sommelier of the year, Shane Taylor

Give us some background about yourself and your work in wine:

I was born and raised on Prince Edward Island and got the wine bug when I was working at Topper’s at The Wauwinet on Nantucket Island. They had the Grand Award from Wine Spectator (still do) and I thought the Sommelier was the coolest guy in the room. I said to myself “How do I become like him?” 15 years later I am still trying!  

Were you at the Vancouver International Wine Festival this year?

I attend every year and it is always a fantastic event. It is a “who’s who” of both Vancouver and International wine folk and I always learn so much. The theme was Canada this year and it is very impressive to see the quality of our wines.

How do you account for the incredible support that the industry and general public accord to local BC wines?

If the wines weren’t amazing the support would be fickle at best. We are making world-class wines in our backyard and locals appreciate and admire that.

Tell us about the competition and process of winning BC Somm of the year:

The competition is intense and for me the goal is always to make the final 3. The grueling written exam delves into the obscure and tests you on both depth and breadth of your wine knowledge. Making the final 3 thrusts you onto centre stage and you are trying to outpoint the competition. You need to keep your wits about you and not succumb to the nerve-racking pressure. A battle of wits and nerves ensues!

How do you prepare for a competition?

Theory, theory and more theory! You need to hit the books hard to make it to the final 3. Even when you make the finals it still comes down to theory. You need to retain the info but also be able to use it in a practical manner.

How you are ramping up for the nationals?

I am continuing to hit the books. I have my Master Sommelier Theory exam in July so the timing is perfect. As always my goal is to make the final 3. My French is weak so I am taking French courses so if I am fortunate enough to make the final 3 I can compete without embarrassing myself by calling a madam “a lobster” in en Francais!

Tell us about your other interests or obsessions.

My obsession is wine and becoming a better sommelier. I am also teaching my French Bulldog to open a bottle of wine, he is French you know!

Tell us about your best wine moment or biggest fail ever?

My biggest moment and fail are one and the same. Finishing in second place at the BC Sommelier Competition twice in a row wasn’t easy. You are so close and yet so far! Finally having the stars align and winning it this year was an amazing wine moment!

~

Best Ontario Sommelier Competition 2017

Ontario’s epic wine challenge will culminate on March 5th, with a single sommelier being proclaimed the very best in Ontario. Come and join the best and brightest in Ontario’s wine world for a fantastic wine and food tasting … while you watch the competitors go head to head. Be there to see who gets to go to the nationals.

Get your tickets here: Best Ontario Sommeliers Competition 2017

The post British Columbia’s Somm of the Year is Ready to Rumble! appeared first on Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers | Ontario Chapter.

Wine competitions don’t happen often, but when they do, you’ll usually find Steve Robinson competing, and in the case of the 2014 Best Ontario Sommelier Competition – emerging as the winner.  A well known sommelier from Ottawa’s exquisite ‘tasting menu only’ restaurant, Atelier, Steve is known for his warm, professional style and his uncanny memory. Just in time for the upcoming Best Ontario Sommelier Competition, Krystina Roman chatted with Steve to get some insider tips on how to prep for the big event.

Steve Robinson

First of all what are you up to these days?

Working at Atelier, we expanded last year so now we have a somm team. I help manage the restaurant and the sommelier team, while being the wine director.

Drinking anything fun these days?

English breakfast tea and beer. Which I usually don’t drink at the same time. 

What are you reading these days?

There are always five or six wine books near my bed that I try to pickup as much as I can. I am actively reading The Quantum 10. 

What’s happening in the Ottawa Wine Community right now?

There’s a big trend towards natural wines. Alex McMahon is pushing that boundary and with Véronique Rivest opening Soif Bar à vin those types of wines are much more accessible to everyone. The wine community here has also expanded. Interestingly in the wine trade we don’t see as many trade tastings as we used to. We are definitely missing that these days compared to a few years back. Not sure what happened.

Are you preparing for a wine exam or wine competition?

I am currently preparing for the CMS, Master Sommelier theory exam. I am also studying for the CAPS National Sommelier exam in Vancouver. My goal is to represent Canada one day internationally so I’m always preparing for that. 

How do you prepare?

I’m taking a few wine programs, the Italian Wine Scholar for example. And I’m also taking French language courses as well. My somm group meets weekly to taste, review theory and do service mocks. I’m training a group of sommeliers and this is helping me prepare. By helping and teaching others I’m improving my own confidence. Giving back and supporting other sommeliers is helpful for everyone involved. My job also inherently prepares me as I constantly taste wine, pair, am on the floor and educate. 

Is there a difference in how you prepare for an exam versus a wine competition?

Mostly the same. The only main difference that I see is the blind tasting portion. In exam situations the wines are more defined and testable versus, in a wine competition setting, it’s the whole world of wine. You have to open your mind up to an endless world of opportunity …and trust your gut.

What are some of your go to wine resources for studying wine?

No doubt GuildSomm. The World Atlas. The internet. I do most of my theory studying on my own. 

What is it like to compete in wine competitions?

Nerves are high. Especially in the finals and the service portion. So it’s quite the experience. I have fun doing it, as I normally don’t get asked to do these things so there’s a thrill to meeting the demands of the “customers” in those types of situations. It’s fun and surreal. There’s no other experience like. And I’ve competed at national levels in sports. 

Steve Robinson in Action – BOSC 2014

Any fun memories you’d like to share?

The two competitions, BOSC 2014 and Nationals 2015. Before the finals for both competitions, I didn’t sleep at all. It wasn’t because of nerves, 2014 I took a midnight train and barely slept. I actually ran into Bruce Wallner at one a.m. at the Ottawa bus station. We had a scheduling problem and I had to be on the floor at Atelier so I couldn’t leave earlier, as planned. At one a.m. I finally got to the bus station and there’s Bruce Wallner with his family in tow trying to get back to Toronto for the same competition. I barely slept, and caught a few hours of sleep before competition started.

The night before the Nationals someone pulled a fire alarm at the hotel where a few of us competitors were staying. It was four a.m. and we barely slept after that. It was rough both times but I ended up winning BOSC 2014 and placing second at the Nationals in 2015. 

What is the best part of writing wine exams or competitions?

The wonderment of what you do not know. It’s the best way to learn what you don’t know and work towards learning more and more. I grow the most by doing the exam and competitions. 

Who inspires you within the wine community?

Without a doubt Véronique Rivest is a big inspiration. It’s a very long list but any Canadians going for their higher sommelier levels inspire me. Pascaline Lepeltier of Rouge Tomate in New York City is another inspiration. 

Why do you continue to study for wine exams or compete?

I’m a competitive person, but competitive with myself. I set some goals for myself earlier on and I want to achieve them. I was an athlete growing up and within wine I have an opportunity to hopefully one day represent Canada. Which I never got to do in sport. 

Any words of advice for sommeliers interested in competing?

Do it. There’s nothing to lose. I think the main thing people fear is their lack of knowledge or showing their weaknesses. Remember it’s confidential and it helps you grow. You have to learn that being wrong is okay and being wrong in public might be humbling or painful but it’s the best way to grow. 

What’s next for you?

I’m in the middle of planning the next 2 years. I passed the Advanced Sommelier exam in Spring of 2015 and now it’s time to reach the next levels. If we had the laws to open a private wine store I’d do that, maybe one day.  Also I will try to make a restaurant industry skateboarding video.

(Steve Robinson is also a killer skateboarder)

~

Who will be the 2017 BEST ONTARIO SOMMELIER?

Competitor registration fpr BOSC 2017 closes Feb 28! - Register here: https://bosc2017.eventbrite.ca

The post How to Prep For a Wine Competition with Steve Robinson appeared first on Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers | Ontario Chapter.

Sunday March 5th 2017, George Brown College – Hospitality and Tourism Campus, 300 Adelaide St E, Toronto

An epic wine challenge will culminate on March 5th, with a single sommelier being proclaimed the very best in Ontario.

The call has already gone out across the province. To qualify, competitors must be sommeliers currently working in Ontario who agree to partake in an extreme program of testing, tasting, pairing and serving in front of an audience of their peers and the public.

“Armed with their knowledge, palates, panache and pride – the competitors vying for the Best Ontario Sommelier Competition are like tableside Olympians who will stun you with their brilliance.” - Sara d’Amato, President, CAPS Ontario

The day is set up like a ‘pentathlon’ of wine. After completing an hour-long exam testing their wine knowledge, competitors will take part in a blind tasting of four different wines. The three competitors who score the highest from the morning of testing and tasting will face a final ‘gauntlet’ of sommeliers’ challenges:

• A wine list and/or photo correction;
• A wine service challenge in a simulated restaurant setting;
• A verbal blind tasting of wine and spirits, as well as:
• A wine and food pairing challenge.

In addition to the ‘bragging rights,’ there will be some great prizes for the winners – but for those taking on the province’s biggest wine challenge – it’s all about professional development. As the former victors attest, winning BOSC is a real career-booster:

“For sommeliers, there is no better way to elevate yourself from the pack and to establish your career than by participating and having success in BOSC. There is literally nothing to lose and everything to gain.” - Steven Robinson, BOSC Winner, 2014

“As a past winner of the BOSC Ontario Sommelier Competition, I can honestly say that this award helps promote excellence in our sommelier community. Past winners have gone on to play vital roles in the wine and spirits industry in Canada and abroad.” - Jennifer Heuther, Master Sommelier, former BOSC winner

The public is invited to take part in an amazing day of wine and food, including sampling from superb tasting stations and numerous opportunities to win great prizes in a raffle and silent auction. At the end of the day – they’ll be there to raise a glass of sparkling wine to toast Ontario’s new champion sommelier!

For interviews and media inquiries:

Kim Gertler
CAPS Director, Media and Communications
kgertler@yahoo.com
(416) 767-1475

For event tickets: 
https://bocs2017epicwinechallenge.eventbrite.ca

To compete in the Best Ontario Sommelier Competition
https://bosc2017.eventbrite.ca

The post Ontario Sommeliers Sharpen Skills for Epic Wine Challenge appeared first on Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers | Ontario Chapter.

2017 BEST ONTARIO SOMMELIER COMPETITION

RULES AND REGULATIONS

The Competitors

Art. 1         The competition is open to all Ontario residents aged 19 years or older, of Canadian citizenship or legally able to work in Ontario, who exercise the trade or function of sommelier in Ontario, who is a member in good standing of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers.

Art. 2         The following individuals may also participate in the competition:

Maîtres d’hôtel, servers, restaurateurs, chefs and cooks and all other individuals holding a sommelier role in the dining room of a licensed establishment in which wine is sold, provided they justify an experience of at least two years in the profession prior to the competition.  All entrants must be members in good standing of C.A.P.S.

Art. 3         Ineligible competitors:

-          Past winners of the CAPS Ontario Sommelier Competitions who have competed a maximum of three (3) times

-          The Technical Directors of the competition.

-          Technical Committee members

-          The members of the Board of Directors of C.A.P.S.

-          Those whose primary profession is teaching Sommeliers (over income from teaching exceeds 50% of their taxable income)

Art. 4               A link for the competition including the Rules and Regulations, the application form and CAPS membership payment can be found at:

https://bosc2017.eventbrite.ca

All completed applications including an up to date CV and confirmation of employment can be sent to Alexandra Evans at evansa@rogers.com for approval. Acceptance of the applications will be confirmed based on the Rules and Regulations for the competition. 

* Registration Fee $50 for CAPS members (includes competitors event ticket)

* Registration Fee $50 plus $75 for 1 year CAPS membership for non members

Art. 5        With the registration, each candidate must also provide an up-to-date curriculum vitae and a confirmation of employment. 

Competition Organization

Art. 6         The C.A.P.S. Best Ontario Sommelier Competition will take place every two years. It is organized by the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers, Ontario Chapter.

Art. 7         The Board of Directors of CAPS selects the members of the Technical Committee of the competition, as well as its Director.

Language

Art 8         The official language of the Best Ontario Sommelier Competition is English. French-speaking candidates will be accommodated. Note: to qualify as a representative of Ontario for the National Competition, competitors must be bilingual in two of the official languages – English, French and Spanish.

Required Knowledge

Art 9                        The competition will be judged on the following elements:

• The history of vine growing and wine
• Basic winemaking practice
• Winegrowing regions around the world
• Wine list development and correction
• Vintages
• Spirits, sake and eaux-de-vie
• Legislation related to wine and spirits around the world
• Wine service (including decanting, sparkling, and different scenarios)
• Food and wine pairing
• International gastronomy
• Other beverages served in licensed establishments including beer as well as non-alcoholic beverages such as water, tea and coffee
• Wine cellar management
• International wine related terminology
• Wine and spirit tasting and identification
• Hospitality cost and profit percentages, multiple venue and market scenarios, product viability, staff training, staff incentives
• Trade ethics and the required qualities of a sommelier

Competition Agenda

Art 10a                       The CAPS Ontario competition timeline is as follows:

Qualifying Round

o   Sunday March 5^th 2017 – George Brown College Toronto (Morning)

                        Written theory exam

                        Written Blind tasting of four (4) wines

Final Round

o   Sunday March 5^th, 2017 – George Brown College Toronto (Afternoon)

- The 3 finalists are announced as a result of the qualifying exams

- A series of practical service exams and verbal blind wine tasting.

Art 10b     The Final Round will be divided into four (4) parts.                

Verbal/Practical:

• Wine list and or photo correction
• Wine services, in a mock restaurant setting, according to the ASI International Competition Standards
• A verbal blind tasting of wine and spirits
• A wine and food pairing exercise

Art 11        Competitors may attend the Qualifying Round in the attire of their choice.

Art 12        Finalists are required to appear in formal working attire.

Art 13        The Judging Panel will be selected by the Technical Committee.

Art 14a       The three (3) highest overall scoring participants in the Qualifying Round will qualify to compete in the C.A.P.S. Best Ontario Sommelier Final and will be announced no later than 3 hours after completion of the Qualifying Round. Note: Numbers to be drawn amongst the 3 finalists to determine the order for afternoon Final Round.

Art 14b      In the event of a tie for third (3rd) place, the participant with the higher score in the written theoretical paper will qualify for the final.

Art 15        All decisions of the judging panel will be final and without appeal.

The three (3) finalists from the Qualifying Round will be announced in alphabetical order. Their scores will not be revealed and the scores will not have relevance on the scores of Final competition

Art 16        The Judging Panel will be composed of professionals from the wine world, restaurant and hotel trades, as well as food and wine writers, presided over by the Technical Director.

Art 17a      Final scores will be calculated based on the aggregate scores from the Final Round of the competition only (i.e. not cumulative from the Qualifying Round.)

Art 17b      In the event of a tie for first (1^st) place, the Judging Panel will consider the results of the written theoretical paper of the Qualifying Round.

Art 18        All decisions of the Judging Panel will be final and without appeal.

Art 19        The title of C.A.P.S BEST ONTARIO SOMMELIER and year of the competition will be awarded to the winner of the Final Round of the Ontario competition, announced during the end of day Sunday March 5^th, 2017

The post Rules and Regulations – 2017 Best Ontario Sommelier Competition appeared first on Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers | Ontario Chapter.