The special 1834 Malvazia has been sold out. In its place, we are happy to offer a 1903 Boal for $24 a tasting.

News reports insist we’re downscaling and drinking wines under $20. But you can’t believe everything you ‘read in Newspapers’. Once a year (at least) there should be time to relax and enjoy life (in moderation of course).

So break out those salivatory glands and head for Casa Loma on Wednesday December 9, where WINETASTERS will again present its annual Party. This is always the best-attended event of the year. We’ve been running this outstanding celebration for over 20 years!

We’re breaking out some gems from our cellar, and will also feature some wines that you might have missed first time around. We have a mixture of classic wines, eclectic selections, rarities, the unusual and some lesser-known diamonds in the rough. Last year we served around 100 different wines, but this is not a competition, just our way of finding something delicious for all tastes. And we’re holding costs to the same level as last year to give your PORTfolios more time to recover.

First, arrive early to pick up your admission envelope. We recommend the TTC, a cab, or perhaps have someone collect you. A list of the first 50 or so wines, with their locations, will be provided together with sufficient tickets to exchange for 10-15 average servings.

At 7:00, when the doors are opened, you can then head straight for your top picks. Normal tasting size portions of each wine will be served. Throughout the evening, as selections are exhausted, they will be replaced with unadvertised wines, with the identity being displayed at the various serving stations as the wines appear. Towards the end of the evening you can expect more dessert-style selections to appear, including Port.

We will also have our usual food tables featuring our traditional smoked turkey. This will be supported by an assortment of finger foods, including a variety of breads, cheeses, crackers, crudités, fresh fruit etc., with coffee and dessert being set out later in the evening. This year we have a new surprise with the dessert – at least it was a surprise until we just announced it! We have arranged for servings of a special ‘Madeira ice-cream’, flavoured with a 10-year-old fine rich Madeira.

We originally offered an 1834 Madeira as a supplementary order ($47) but this has already sold out. In its place we have located, and are now offering, a small amount of a 1903 Vintage Boal Madeira from d’Oliveiras. This is medium sweet in style, but should display toffee-like characteristics – perhaps crossed with orange peel. Probably about a 7 or 8 on the LCBO scale. There’s a review of this wine at http://tinyurl.com/yzuhr6p

This will cost an additional $24 for a regular tasting size portion.

Quantities are VERY limited, so reserve early.

The special 1834 Malvazia has been sold out.
Traditionally, we manage to locate a very special wine, available in strictly limited quantities. This year posed a difficult challenge as we have never seen a Madeira from 1809, 1859 or 1909. While searching for a substitute we managed to locate a small quantity of something really special – a Madeira that reaches 175 years-old this year! This Vintage 1834 wine is from the Malvazia grape (the Portuguese name for the English Malmsey) – this is the sweetest style of Madeira, but should be balanced with a good acidity (think orange marmalade). Expect flavours of caramel, molasses, coffee and toffee. This wine was shipped to North America by Barbeito (who are one of the most reliable shippers of old Madeira – we had their 1795 back in 1995 – still recalled with the highest regard). This 1834 Vintage Malvazia Madeira from Barbeito is available for a supplementary amount of $47.
The special 1834 Malvazia has been sold out.

To help manage the crowds, we do not traditionally advertise any specific wines. However, we will feature several ‘famous’ names along with some relatively unknown treasures and some that we were just intrigued enough to take a flyer on. You can concentrate on a specific country or region – or take a trip around the world, exploring both traditional and newer countries. Typically people split between ‘old’ and ‘new’ world – but we encourage you to try something new, as well as some familiar favourites. On the traditional ‘old world’ front, you will find representation from France (specifically Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire, Rhone & Sauternes); Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Also, some lesser-found areas will be included: Austria, & Greece.

From the ‘new world’ you’ll be able to try wines from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, New Zealand & USA (California, Oregon & Washington). And we will also serve limited quantities of a 1949 Armagnac, a 1969 Scotch Whiskey and a 1989 Calvados.

We also try to find something special for those celebrating significant anniversaries. In addition to the 175-year-old Madeira, anybody celebrating an anniversary from any of the years 1949, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999 and 2004 will find something of interest (as well as many other vintages).

The main reason for coming, however, is to socialize with your fellow WINETASTERS, in the perfect setting. So, come on out and bring your friends; that way you can share your ‘discoveries’ with them. This is our biggest and best social function of the year and we certainly believe that wine should be fun. This is the perfect opportunity to relax with old friends and meet our newer WINETASTERS.

As always with tastings, please ask your guests not to wear aftershave, cologne or perfume.

The list of first 50 wines is available here.

Please click here to open a pdf version of the event description to mail in your reservation.

The special 1834 Malvazia has been sold out. In its place, we are happy to offer a 1903 Boal for $24 a tasting.