UCP PP collage

They’re back! Pearce Predhomme is launching the latest vintages of their Oregon line and their new Chenin Blanc from South Africa and we are excited to have them back for another Up Close & Personal on Wednesday, May 11th, from 6PM onward. Come and check them out — by far our most entertaining & energetic guests.

Reservations can be made via OpenTable or by calling us at  416.792.4157

ABOUT PEARCE PREDHOMME

Pearce Predhomme is a collaboration of like-minded individuals from around the globe. Founded with a mission to build and import wines from their favorite appellations while offering an unequaled value/quality ratio for the sommeliers & wine buyers in Ontario.

Along with creating a range of wines from Willamette Valley Oregon with a team of French winemakers that have called Oregon home for some time, they have launched their inaugural Chenin Blanc. The wine was produced from old vines grown in decomposed granite/quartz on the Helderburg (Eng. Clear Mountain), in the southwestern-most corner of Stellenbosch, adjacent to False Bay, in collaboration with Radford Dale http://www.thewineryofgoodhope.com/radford-dale/ & assembled by a fine group of Canadian sommeliers.

ABOUT NICK

Owner and manager of Ontario based wine agency Nicholas Pearce Wine Inc. Nicholas graduated from Guelph University with a Commerce Degree specializing in Hospitality and Tourism Management and also studied with the International Sommelier Guild.

After working in Toronto for some years as a dining-room manager and kitchen-studio manager, he moved to Bordeaux and studied at the Bordeaux International Wine Institute where he completed an MBA specializing in Wine​ Marketing and Management, graduating second in his class. Nicholas has also been recognized in his industry by being awarded Top 30 under 30 by the Ontario Hostelry Institute

ABOUT WILL

Will Predhomme’s career began in the hospitality industry in his teenage years as a cook in Windsor Ontario Canada. Fast forward 10 years & Will was leading one of Canada’s most respected wine programs, at Oliver & Bonacini’s Canoe Restaurant & Bar. Will also managed the group beverage training & education programs until starting Predhomme Inc. in 2013, a contracting and consulting company focusing on wine, sprirtis and beer in the hospitality industry.

Will’s work experience includes Canadian & Global brands such as Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Harrah’s – Caesars Entertainment, & the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO). Will was awarded Best Sommelier in Ontario in 2010, & represented Canada at the Meilleur Sommelier du Monde in Tokyo Japan in 2013. Will holds the Advanced certificate through the Court of Master Sommeliers & is an educator at the University of Guelph (Ontario).

ABOUT ASCARI’S RELATIONSHIP WITH NICK & WILL

All of the above seems pretty formal so we wanted to point out the long-standing relationship we’ve had with Nick and Will since we opened our doors over four years ago. They are part of our Eastside family, living just a hop-skip-and-a-jump away from our doorstep, have played a big part in helping support and build our wine program, been part of many of our landmark celebrations and in general are pretty great dudes. We had Pearce Predhomme in last year for an  Up Close & Personal, showcasing the first vintages of their wines and it was all good times! They dominated the floor and we’re looking forward to doing it all over again this year.

ABOUT UP CLOSE & PERSONAL

At Ascari Enoteca we have been fortunate to meet many of the unique personalities behind the wines we pour. We would like you to meet them too. We consider our ‘Up Close & Personal’ wine series as the anti-wine dinner; a continuing series of commitment-free evenings, conceived of as an alternative to expensive, multi-course winemaker dinners. We will be welcoming winemakers from around the world and closer to home. In addition to our regular menu and wine list, we will be offering a selection of their wines by the glass or by the bottle. Our guests will be spending evenings with us pouring their wines at your table, chatting about anything you may find interesting, sharing their passion and having a glass and a plate of food themselves. If you enjoy hearing the winemakers tell you their stories and the stories of their wines, these are rare opportunities to personally meet the people behind the bottles and the labels. Ask them anything, or just relax and enjoy the fruits of their labour.