Aaron Shaw was our guest wine expert for the Rose Podcast and he just won a blind tasting award at an annual Trade tasting in Toronto.  Aaron is a wine rep, winemaking instructor and a hell of a good taster.  Here’s a note that came out today about his award:

“Congratulations to the winner of the 8th Annual Tony Aspler Blind Tasting Competition held last Thursday (January 11) at The Wine Establishment – Aaron Shaw of Lifford Agencies.

This event was created in the spirit of fun to test the palates and enhance the tasting skills of full-time employees of OIWSBA Member organizations.  Aaron will be presented with a special engraved decanter and certificate at OIWSBA’s 28th Annual Awards Dinner on Friday, February 9, 2007. 

Contest participants were asked to blindly identify the grape type, region, vintage and, if possible, the producer of the following six wines:  

2004 Silverado Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley);
2003 Studert-Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese (Mosel);
2004 Tohu Pinot Noir (Marlborough, NZ);
2005 Sanford Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills (Santa Barbara County);
2004 Huff Estate South Bay Cabernet Merlot (Prince Edward County); and
2003 Scali Pinotage (South Africa). “

Good on ya Aaron, from all of us here at Groovy Grapes Headquarters! 

A great article about buying wine from a restaurant list and finding good value was published in the Toronto Star today.  Gordon Stimmell writes with contributions from our friend Zoltan Szabo fo Szabo & Szabo Drinks Trade Consultants.  It’s worth a read, especially the part about the dangers of buying older wines.  Lots of great tips about new and interesting wines to look for as well.

Katy Sinha is as comfortable leading a wine tasting as she is a group of whitewater paddlers down the Nahanni River. Swapping her paddle for a wine glass Katy moved to New Zealand’s premium wine growing country for two years and discovered her passion for wine. Upon returning to Ottawa, she became qualified as a Sommelier through Ottawa’s Algonquin College Sommelier Program in 2002.

Since then, Katy has been consumed with countless wine trade shows in Ottawa, Toronto, Napa, Sonoma and the Niagara region; she has diligently continued her education at wine tastings with the National Capital Sommelier Guild and the Australian Wine Society; she has hosted corporate and private wine functions both independently and with Groovy Grapes, and has represented imported wine portfolios to the top restaurants in Ottawa.

Joining the Groovy Grapes team in hosting private and corporate events, Katy is eager to help turn the mysteries of wine into simple tips and techniques for everyday wine enjoyment.

Jacques Breau loves to talk wine and he’s been doing just that for more than 10 years. Currently an independent wine representative with Henry of Pelham Winery. Whether it’s selling wine to the LCBO and Restaurants, or exhibiting at wine and food shows, he’s got a lot of wine experience to draw from. He’s taught seminars about wines from around the world as well as vodka, whiskey, grand marnier, rum, beer, bitter and liqueurs.

Jacques finished his sommelier certificate in 1998 and can demystify wine in both English and French.

Antonio Mauriello developed a strong passion for Italian cuisine and for its inseparable companion, wine, while in his native Rome, Italy. He is a graduate of the Associazione Italiana Sommelier in Rome. Now living in Canada’s National Capital since 1997, Antonio is the founder and owner of DiVino Wine Studio, and a gregarious and enthusiastic wine and food authority.

He is a director of the National Capital Sommelier Guild, a sommelier consultant to the Italian Trade Commission and Groovy Grapes, and a wine instructor with The Cultural Kitchen and The Urban Element cooking studios. Antonio is a teacher at Algonquin College sommelier program and also serves as a restaurant wine consultant, a wine columnist and a broadcaster. He travels extensively because of his insatiable passion for researching unknown grape varieties, small wine producers and regional cuisine.