TORONTO — Approximately 50 food and wine experts, media and industry representatives gathered recently at Gare De L’Est in Toronto for The Charming Taste of Europe campaign reception. Co-funded by the European Union, The Charming Taste of Europe was created to increase awareness of the merits and quality standards of select European wines and fresh fruits with promotional activities in the competitive markets of Canada and the U.S. Presenters included Magda Chatzi, project manager at Novacert, the largest agri-food consulting company in Greece and facilitator of The Charming Taste of Europe campaign in North America, and Anne Popoff, certified sommelier and owner of Le Savoir-Boire.
The Charming Taste of Europe campaign is promoted by the Consortium for the Protection of Wines of Abruzzo, the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Kavala, the Agriculture Cooperative of Rachi Pieria and the Union of Sweet Bordeaux Wines.
“These [companies] aim to promote added value of these products in terms of authenticity, safety, choice and labour,” says Chatzi.
The evening showcased high-quality Italian wines from the Abruzzo region alongside a custom dinner menu. First, guests were served salmon crudo with kiwi vinaigrette, cucumber, pickled jicama and basil, which was paired with Abruzzo Cococciola DOC 2022 White Wine. Up next was a lavender-glazed roasted duck breast with confit fennel, carrot purée and cherry-and-black-olive jus, paired with Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC 2022. For dessert, pistachio pavlova with rhubarb pudding, coriander Chantilly and strawberries was paired with Abruzzo Passerina DOC 2022 White Wine.