2023 Holiday Party

Tuesday 12th – St Pauls’s, Bloor Street

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve been naughty or nice as Santa will soon bring you the annual Winetasters’ Holiday Party. Last year our members were a thirsty lot. Santa learned his lesson and his sack will include extra wine and food this year.

The cellar elves have been busy and already pulled over 100 bottles to bring to the event. There will be lots of Bordeaux and Burgundy as well as some special bottles from around the globe. We’ll provide further details in a future communication. For now, you’ll find some featured wines listed below. We need to also highlight that this year’s featured wine is a 1912 D’Oliveiras Verdelho Vintage Madeira. Tickets for this wine are $50 for a pour, which is at least 50% less than the wine’s fair value. There will be less than 40 pours available so register early if you want to make sure that you will get to taste this 111-year-old gem.

This walk-around event is once again in the Great Hall at St. Paul’s, Bloor Street East. The Great Hall was the original church on the site, built in the 1840s. It’s a lovely example of Gothic architecture that is also conveniently located a short walk from Bloor Station and close to ample parking.

How The Event Works

It’s a walk-around party, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to socialize. The wines are set out at five serving tables. Each will have a selection of wines at the start of the evening, both red and white. When you arrive you will be given a packet including a list of the initial set of wines and where to find them. Serving tables will be replenished throughout the evening. The new wines will be identified at the various stations as the wines appear, so look out for the “pink” signs, or just listen for the buzz in the room. Eighty percent of the wines are single-bottle lots only. After 20 or so pours they are gone.

Your packet includes an initial allocation of 70 tickets to buy tasting samples (~1 OZ each) at the serving tables. Pricing of the pour starts at 2 tickets. If you find yourself in need of additional tickets they can be purchased at the desk at the event for $1 each (cash or credit).

The Wines

We’ll be posting more info closer to the event, but you’ll have a chance to sample some rare finds, such as:

France
Vintage	Wine
1978	Chateau Leoville Barton, Saint-Julien, France
1985	Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone, France
1985	Domaine Pothier-Rieusset Les Rugiens, Pommard Premier Cru, France
1987	Maison Jaffelin Les Champimonts, Beaune Premier Cru, France
1987	Maison Jaffelin Pommard, Cote de Beaune, France
1988	Chateau Rauzan-Segla, Margaux, France
1990	Chateau Pichon-Longueville au Baron de Pichon-Longueville, Pauillac, France
1990	Chateau Latour, Pauillac, France
1994	Chateau Magdelaine, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France
1995	Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone, France

Other Old World
Vintage	Wine
1994	Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port, Portugal
1995	Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett, Mosel, Germany
1995	Michele Chiarlo Cerequio, Barolo DOCG, Italy
1998	Balthasar Ress Hattenheimer Nussbrunnen Riesling Spatlese, Rheingau, Germany
1999	Balthasar Ress Hochheimer Domdechaney Riesling Spatlese, Rheingau, Germany
2000	Marchesi Frescobaldi Castello di Nipozzano ‘Mormoreto’ Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy
2001	Rioja Gran Bodegas Muga ‘Prado Enea’ Gran Reserva, Prado Enea – Muga
2007	Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port, Portugal
2009	Gran Vino Pazo Barrantes Albarino, Rias Baixas, Spain
2010	R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva Rosado, Rioja DOCa, Spain

Feature Wine – 1912 D’Oliveiras Verdelho Vintage Madeira.

Toronto Winetasters is known for its Feature Wine at the Holiday party: a very old Port or Madeira. This year we’ve dug deep into the cellar and are excited to pour a rare Verdelho Madeira. This is a fantastic opportunity – it’s not every day you can taste a 111 year-old wine! Madeira is famed for its longevity and this will be a real treat. For context: 1912 is remembered as the year when the Republic of China is established, Arizona becomes the 48th state, the Titanic sinks, and Woodrow Wilson is elected president. You will be tasting history!

This rare and valuable wine is in limited to less than 40 pours.

Admin

Register here. You will receive a confirmation email. Cancellations accepted up to December 1, 2022 – Cindy Taylor (416.458.3147). No reservations by phone, please.

As always with tastings, please ask your guests not to wear aftershave, cologne or perfume. We do get first-timers at our event who may not be familiar with our etiquette. A scent-free environment ensures we all get to fully experience this exceptional assembly of wines.

And, of course, do not drink and drive. The subway is very nearby.

The 411

Location: St. Paul’s Church 227 Bloor St E
Date: Tuesday, December 12
Registration: 6:00 PM
Tasting: 6:30 PM
Fees: Members of Toronto Winetasters or Toronto Vintners $150; Non-Members $200. HST included.
1912 Madeira $50

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