Sommeliers and oenophiles at private wine clubs are part of the Toronto wine scene. The Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) is a pan-Canadian association, which brings together individuals within the sommelier profession, restaurant services, and other sectors of the wine industry. Here’s a link to CAPs member’s list. A number of local sommeliers were recently introduced in a spotlight on the up-and-coming wine professionals currently in charge of some of the most intriguing wine lists in Toronto.
Sommelier Wickens in Toronto
Exquisite Toronto restaurants carry hundreds of labels, and a sommelier is essential.
Chris Wickens is among the sommeliers in Toronto who received recent recognition for his distinctive work; he offers expertise on wine selections at La Banane in Toronto. The classic French restaurant carries wines for every taste and takes special pains to put the fizz front and center, partly due to Wickens’ particular interests. He expressed his delight at seeing Toronto make thoughtful, exquisite Champagne selections. He has spent considerable time in the vineyards of Chablis and Burgundy and gives an occasional nod to the Ontario wine region, though he has a personal focus on Old World wines.
Wine and Food Pairings by McHugh
At Toronto’s renowned Actinolite restaurant, general manager and somm Merrin McHugh finds the work of pairing food with the changing menu to be an ongoing challenge. Which wines pair best with the vegetable harvests of each season? With meats taking a backseat to veggies on the menu, fresh, light, high-acid wines are often the best with a range of entrees. In summer, her wine list is dominated by Ontario wines, though she also selects more complex wines from places such as the Canary Islands, Sicily, and Slovenia.
Oben, at a Restaurant with a Wide Selection
Sommelier Krysta Oben works at Byblos, a Toronto restaurant serving Eastern Mediterranean cuisine. The wine list she has to offer guests is quite broad. She says that it achieves a balance of Bordeaux, California cabernets, and relatively new wine regions, such as Greece and Lebanon. She is manager of an extensive wine cellar and enjoys matching guests with the wines that perfectly complement their meals. This is, of course, what sommeliers do!
Get Your Toronto Wine Cellar
Rubbing shoulders with the likes of such wine professionals as these and others in the Toronto area, it’s easy to join in with the love of wine. The first thing a wine collector needs is an atmosphere with the right attributes for protecting wine. Contact us at Rosehill Wine Cellars for your own custom wine cellar or wine cabinet, complete with a high-quality wine cooling unit, such as the ones available from Wine Guardian.
