It was a full house at Cavinona’s portfolio tasting at their Adelaide Street location, and that’s no surprise considering the calibre of the wines on display.
It’s not often that one finds oneself at a wine tasting on a Saturday afternoon, but what with it being my birthday, and the portfolio in question being that of Cavinona, the importer behind those deliciously intriguing Terroni lists, well… how could I possibly refuse?
Unfortunately due to some literal teething problems at Chez Drummond, I arrived too late to catch the Alta Piedmont seminar hosted by Terroni’s very own wine Svengali, Max Stefanelli. Thankfully Max was kind enough to take me through the lion’s share of the tasting’s wines when I eventually arrived at Adelaide Street a couple of hours later.
Jamie Kennedy Kitchens Chef Kenneth “Man of” Steel and friends had a great afternoon at the tasting.
No stranger to these pages (and indeed he has an article on the site this week) Terroni alumnus Christopher Sealy gave us this thoughts on the day’s wines:
Marco Porello Roero Arnies ‘Camestri’ 2014
Arneis, a great and noble variety of Piemonte has not yet received all the attention it deserves. Wines are raised primarily in Roero on sandy soils providing wines of distinct florality and softness in texture but with great freshness. Marco’s wines was nothing short of delightful.
I Clivi ‘San Pietro’ Friuli Colli Orientali 2014
And
‘Brazan’ Friulano 2012
My colleague Jamie Drummond brought to my attention this fantastic producer.
Precise and focused white wines from North East Italy. The wines were fantastically pear and apple with that classic ‘gentle bite’ that makes these wines great partners at the dinner table. Not to mention great texture. Friulano produces without exception some of the greatest white wines Italy has to offer. Cool
Germano Ettore ‘Prapo’ Barolo 2010.
From great vintage this Barolo exhibited classic notes. Warm red berry aroma sweet floral notes and elegant tannin. Located in Serralunga a commune known for muscled Barolo, this wine was fresh and supple. Ready to sleep for a few years but equally at the ready to please if decanted and shared with the right company.
And the band played on. We were entertained by a wonderful jazzy quartet.
Nunzio Fuda from Campi Valerio was there, pouring some pretty tasty wines.
Terroni Price Street Sommelier Nabiliah Sawji is photobombed by a very enthused Christoper Sealy (George/Midfield)
“Booky” and Lawren were taking their afternoon’s tasting extremely seriously.
Trying to get in on as many pics as humanely possible, the irrepressible Christopher Sealy (George/Midfield).
Ferdinando Zanusso of Friuli’s I Clivi, looking rather wistful. His wines were, for me, the highlight of the afternoon.
Cavinona’s Gianni Sami and a couple of extremely happy Cavinona customers exploring the afternoon’s wines.
Chef Didier Leroy and a friend. A trés gentile gentleman who knows his way around a decent bottle of wine, and is a much-mixed fixture of Toronto’s dining scene.
Sommelier (and probably the only man in Canada wearing open-toed sandals in November) Al Jiwa accosts the ever ebullient Anna Mammoliti.
The room fitted the size of the assembled crowd like a glove… I’m thinking that Saturday afternoon tastings may be the way to go.
CAPS (Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers) Vice President, Michelle Paris and brand new Terroni recruit, Gint Prunskus, with Terroni’s Max Stefanelli hiding in the background.
The gorgeous Sheila Flaherty (Halpern/Grand Cru Dinners) and, dominating the pre-tasting seminar, Terroni Price Street Sommelier Nabiliah Sawji.
Edinburgh-born/Toronto-based Sommelier, consultant, writer, judge, and educator Jamie Drummond is the Director of Programs/Editor of Good Food Revolution… And that was a wonderful way to spend a birthday.
