CALIFORNIA — The largest tasting tour of California wines in Canada touches down in Quebec today, kicking off an eight-city tour across the country.
More than 8,000 consumers and trade insiders are expected to attend the 36th annual California Wine Fair Tour, which comes at an opportune time. “Since the California wine category is experiencing very strong growth in Canada, the annual Wine Fair tour presents an excellent opportunity for wineries to build on this momentum by promoting existing listings as well as assessing the potential for new products in some of the largest metropolitan markets in Canada,” said Rick Slomka, director of the Wine Institute of California’s Canadian office in Burlington, Ont.
Each city fair consists of two parts. The afternoon trade tasting events target restaurant operators, retails buyers and the media, while a consumer tasting in the evening is open to members of organizations such as wine clubs. Trade luncheons will also be held in Montreal and Toronto on the day of the fair in each city; tickets should be purchased in advance from local agents.
The schedule is as follows:
April 7, Quebec City, Espaces Dalhousie
April 8, Montreal Le Centre, Sheraton Montreal Hotel
April 10, Ottawa, The Westin Ottawa
April 13, Toronto, The Fairmont Royal York
April 15, Halifax, Halifax World Trade and Convention Centre
April 22, Edmonton, Shaw Conference Centre
April 24, Calgary, BMO Centre at Stampede Park
April 27, Vancouver, Vancouver Convention Centre
For more details, and to purchase tickets, visit calwine.ca.
