TORONTO — The Ontario chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) has revealed the winners of its 2023 CAPS Cup tasting challenge, held last week at SIPS Toronto.
A collection of the province’s best sommeliers and hospitality-trade professionals competed in a blind tasting event of six wines, including Domaine Wachau Weissenkirchen Gruner Veltliner Federspiel 2022; Cave Spring 2020 Riesling Estate; Altesino Brunello di Montalcino 2018; Buehler Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2019; Piatelli Vineyards Reserve Malbec 2021; and Valdespino Manzanilla Sherry. A selection of prizes were donated by high-profile sponsors including Wines of Ontario and Wines of New York, among others.
Christophe Reitz, sommelier at Quatrefoil in Dundas, Ont., was awarded first place, followed by Dave Grant of Vintadg Consulting and Gianluca Alaimo Di Loro of Lifford Wines. Reitz took home the grand prize of a VQA-branded YETI Roadie cooler and an all-expenses paid trip to Niagra provided by Wine Country Ontario, as well as an all-expenses paid trip to the Finger Lakes and Long Island, New York, provided by New York Wines.
“We’re continuing our mission of ongoing education by hosting this fundraising event to enable our sommelier-and-trade community to refine and hone their skills in a fun, challenging, yet competitive event, tasting a full flight of wines in a high-pressure environment,” says James Peden, president of CAPS Ontario, and director of Operations at Liberty Entertainment Group (LEG). “All funds raised from entry fees ($20 per person) allow us to sponsor wine professionals through our educational partnership with Vinequity. The challenge is also a great exercise for those wanting to compete in our Best Ontario Sommelier Competition (BOSC) and Best Canadian Sommelier Competition (BCSC) events, among others.”
