Greek Women Winemakers 2023

Theodora Rouvalis, Katerina Bosinakis & Sosanna Katsikosta 

3 Greek Women Winemakers

Pelopponnese Penensula

May 15, 2023

Three young, pioneering Greek Women Winemakers from the Peloponnese Region: Sosanna Katsikosta/Acheon Winery, Katerina Bosinakis/Bosinakis Winery and Theodora Rouvalis/Rouvalis Winery, have joined forces to promote their region and wines in selected countries around the world. This was their Montreal stop. They presented their wines to the industry professionals at the Monsieur Cafe et Vins on Bleury street.

Pelopponnese peninsula is one of the most known of vineyard cultivation in Greece. The references to the wine production in this region go as far back as 2nd millennium BC. Presently, it has the largest number of vineyards, wineries, wine producers, as well as the greatest number of registered types of wines than any other region in Greece.

In addition, it is quite significant that although traditionally the art of wine making was considered a male activity, now there are very talented women who put a lot of efforts to learn and then successfully embark on making their own quite unique and distinct wines.

Each woman has several parcels of land, some of them at different levels above the sea. That offers a very surprising variety of testing experiences. Some wines are gentile and have a smooth aftertaste. Others, especially from the higher and cooler regions of the peninsula, have a more profound mineral aftertaste. All of them offered a unique olfactory experience.

Each woman has several parcels of land, some of them at different levels above the sea. That offers a very surprising variety of testing experiences. Some wines are gentile and have a smooth aftertaste. Others, especially form the higher and cooler regions of the peninsula, have a more profound mineral aftertaste. All of them offered a unique olfactory experience.

Katerina Bosinakis/Bosinakis Winery

Katerina presented two wines, both made from the same grape Moschofilero.

She uses the bare minimum of standard chemical products used in wine industry:

MARTINIA BOSINAKIS, Dry White, 100% Moschofilero

IERIA BOSINAKIS, Dry Rose, 100% Moschofilero 

Sosanna Katsikosta/Acheon Winery

Sosanna presented 4 wines.

All her wines are organic:

IRON - SIDERITIS IN AMPHORAE, Dry White, 100% Sideritis

ICON R - SKIN CONTACT, Dry White, 100% Roditis Fox

FAIRITALE, Semi-sweet Rose, 90% Muscat white, 10% Mavrodaphne

Laura Nobile, Dry Red, 100% Mavrodaphne

Sosanna Katsikosta talking with the Consul General of Greece Katarina Varvarigou

Theodora Rouvalis/Rouvalis Winery

Theodora presented 3 wines.

All her wines are organic:

ASPOLITHI, Dry White, 100% Mountain Riditis

ASSYRTICO, Dry White, 100% Assyrtico

TSIGELLO, Dry Red, 100% Tsigello (Mavrodaphne)

Cold cuts and cheese were also served. 

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All Photos @ Nadia Slejskova

It was an educational and an epicurean event.  Although there were only 9 wines to taste, each of them was special. The producers explained their philosophy, their process of wine making, and their desire to create some exceptional wines in which they succeeded.

California Wine - Montreal 2023

 

Eureka! Discover California Wines

May 10, 2023

California Wine Show welcomed not only the Quebec wine professionals but also an impressive number of the general public. It took place at the picturesque Montreal's Old Port, in a spacious and bright pavilion located on the St Laurence river's Le Grand Quai.

The Show presented to wine connoisseurs a wide array of great California wines. There were over 100 wine producers from various California wine growing regions who showcased more than 400 different wines. This regional tasting also included a special climate action exhibit titled "California Wines on a mission" and a sensory garden to explore the aromas of wine. This event offered wine tasting experience from many regions and appellations. It was also a special occasion to meet many vineyard representatives to be able to learn more about what makes their wines so special. This was an excellent opportunity to taste California wines!

The show was also a fundraising event to benefit the Pierre-Boucher Hospital Foundation:

Beyond government investments that help build the infrastructure essential to health care, it is the generosity of donors that allows the Foundation to improve the services and equipment of the Pierre-Boucher Hospital care units. Since its creation in 1987, the Foundation has donated more than $50 million to Hôpital Pierre-Boucher to finance numerous projects. This support addresses both the acquisition of high-tech medical and general patient care equipment, as well as the means to improve the care and the work environment of doctors and employees.

Tables with food, greatly appreciated by all the attendance, were catered by the PARREIRA TRAITEURE.

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Santorini Wine Tasting 2023

 

Salon de dégustation des vins de Santorin 

Santorini Wine Tasting
May 1st, 2023

Santorini is an island in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km southeast from the mainland Greece. Because of its volcanic nature, it has a mineral-rich soil. In the combination with a very favorable climate, it is a perfect place to cultivate grapes and produce wine. There is a number of heritage vineyards with vigorous wine plants some even 200 years old. Their roots have grown very deep into the soil reaching many mineral-rich layers. This produces very complex and rich-tasting wines with a wide gamut of sensations and a unique bouquet. These vintages offer very exceptional, and in some cases pleasantly unusual wine tasting experience. The bouquet of sensations covers the back of the mouth and does not quickly evaporates as with many other wines but linger on and on.

The following wine producers and/or their Quebec distributors were present:

Santo Wines

Estate Argyros
Domaine Sigalas
Gaia Wines

See below the additional photos of the Santorini Wine Tasting. The event was well organized and very much appreciated by all attended. There were many questions asked and a lot of information exchanged about these exceptional wines. It was the perfect opportunity for the professionals to meet, to exchange their opinions, and enjoy new experiences tasting the wines featured by four Santorini vineyards.

The delicious food generously provided by the organizers of the event was much appreciated by all who attended. 

Italian Wines 2022

 

The Italian Trade Commission

A Tasting of Wines from Italy
27th Edition

100 PRODUCERS / 15 REGIONS 

November 2, 2022

A TASTING OF WINES FROM ITALY is The Italian Trade Commission's flagship event connecting Italian wine producers and their agents with Canadian wine buyers.

Two venues were presented in Canada: the first one in Toronto 0n October 31, 2022 at the Royal Thomson Hall, and the second one in Montreal on November 2, 2022 at the Bonsecours Market in Old Montreal. This is an annual event hat has become a flagship commercial event for Canadian professionals. It celebrated its 27th edition with a great style. The Montreal event was truly significant, well attended and appreciated by wine connoisseurs and many professionals.

This year, no less than 100 Italian producers from 15 regions took part presenting impressive 500 wines. Counting Toronto and Montreal, they hosted more than 2,000 industry specialists, including agents, representatives of provincial monopolies, hotels and restaurants, specialist journalists, top sommeliers, commentators and wine enthusiasts.

This year, the event included a masterclass on organic Italian wines, as well as a preview of the tasting reserved for representatives of the provincial monopolies and the specialized press. In the afternoon, a second masterclass dedicated to a specific category of Italian wine took place.

Italian wine is very popular in Canada. The figures speak for themselves: the value of imports over the past 10 years has increased very rapidly, from 301 million to 540 million dollars, with a growth of 71%. Italy is Canada's top wine exporter by quantity, with 55 million liters shipped in the first eight months of 2022 and a 12% increase from the same period a year earlier (source: Statistics Canada). In terms of value, during the same period, Italian wine exceeded 422 million Canadian dollars, becoming the fourth largest destination market for Italian wine in the world. it was the fifth in 2021.

The wine sector is one of the fundamental pillars of “Made in Italy” in Canada. Italian wine represents a fifth of sales from provincial monopolies, thanks to the 467 million liters sold for a value of 8.5 billion Canadian dollars. The provinces of Quebec and Ontario represent respectively 45% and 33% of Italian wine sales which, in the first eight months of 2022, reached 69 million liters for a value of 1.4 billion dollars Canadians. It is very obvious that Italian wine producers are increasingly positioning themselves in leading positions in Canada.

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