Sommeliers and trade compete in wine knowledge and blind tasting skills
The Ontario chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) announced the winners of its 2024 CAPS Cup tasting challenge, which was held on August 27th at the Vintage Conservatory on King St. in Toronto.
A collection of the province’s best and brightest sommeliers and hospitality trade professionals competed against their peers in a blind tasting event of six wines and spirits, to win bragging rights and a selection of prizes donated by high profile sponsors, including Wines of New Zealand and California Wines.
Read Also: CAPS Ontario announces ‘Best Ontario Sommelier Competition 2024’ with call-for-entries
The CAPS Cup winners were Kyle Paton, sommelier and chef of Meanwhile Wine Inc., in first place, followed by a three-way tie for second place, between Lori O’Sullivan, sommelier, Justin Madol, sommelier at Liberty Entertainment Group, and Matt Landry, sommelier at Pearl Morissette.
The lineup of wines and spirits blind tasted included a 2022 grüner veltliner from Kurt Angerer, Niederösterreich, Austria; a 2019 gewurztraminer, Grand Cru Mambourg Vineyard Pierre Sparr, Alsace France; a 2021 pinot noir from Holloran, Willamette Valley, Oregon; a 2020 shiraz, Langmeil in Barossa Valley, Australia; a 2018 nebbiolo, Castello di Perno, Piedmont, Italy, and last, a Buffalo Trace Kentucky Bourbon, US.
“We kicked off the competition season with our fun and friendly peer-to-peer challenge, in our ongoing mission to offer continuing education to enable our sommelier and trade community to refine their skills,” said James Peden, president of CAPS Ontario. “Funds raised from this year’s CAPS Cup entry fees allow us to sponsor wine professionals through our educational partnership with Vinequity.”
He added, “We’re thrilled to be once again hosting the Best Ontario Sommelier Competition (BOSC) 2024 this November, so this week’s event got the competitive juices flowing once again. It is going to be a great year and a tight race, by the looks of this competition. Save the date for #BOSC2024 November 12th at the Liberty Grand in Toronto!”
