CAPS Ontario Reveals Winner of Best Ontario Sommelier Competition 2022

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Ontario Sommelier Competition 2022
Photo Credit: Nick Lee at BestofToronto.net

TORONTO — Justin Madol, sommelier at Toronto’s Michelin-starred Don Alfonso, has been crowned the winner of the Ontario chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers’ (CAPS) Best Ontario Sommelier Competition. Held last Monday at the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex in Toronto, the competition challenged four semi-finalist sommeliers in a series of skill-testing scenarios including blind tasting, live service and knowledge components. Madol will go on to compete in the Best Canadian Sommelier Competition (BCSC).

The other semi-finalists included Nathan Hooper, sommelier, Grand Cru Deli//Somm Factory and Don Alfonso 1890 Toronto; Cristian Perreault Hamel, general manager and sommelier, Pompette and co-owner, Pelican Wines Toronto; and Christophe Reitz, sommelier, Quatrefoil Restaurant, Dundas, Ont. The fifth competitor, Connor Gallagher, sommelier at Atelier, Ottawa, was unable to attend.

The judging panel included Jennifer Huether, MS, José Luis Fernández, winner of BOSC 2019, and Pier-Alexis Soulière, MS and Best Sommelier Canada, 2021.

“We’re thrilled with the results of our #BOSC22 fundraising event and very proud of the competitors and Ontario’s new best sommelier, Justin Madol,” says James Peden, CAPS Ontario president, and director of Operations at Liberty Entertainment Group. “It was a close competition, and extremely well-supported by gracious sponsors, donors and the entire industry who came out to cheer the competitors. Our vision is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for wine profs to continue their education while refining their skills, offer the opportunity to taste great wines and showcase their knowledge. It was good to be back together as a community, and we’re proud of everyone’s achievements.”

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