CAPS Ontario announces winners of 2023 CAPS Cup wine tasting challenge 

Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) Cup participants represented Ontario’s diverse wine community included students representing the wine education spectrum of Court of Master Sommeliers, CAPS and WSET certified professionals

TORONTO, Sept. 27, 2023 – The Ontario chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) — Canada’s only national non-profit sommelier association — is pleased to announce the winners of its 20232 CAPS Cup tasting challenge, held last week at SIPS 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 “mystery” wines, to win bragging rights and a selection of spectacular prizes donated by high profile sponsors including Wines of Ontario, Wines of New York, and others. The wines tasted were 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 a Valdespino Manzanilla Sherry. 

Christophe Reitz, sommelier at Quatrefoil in Dundas, Ontario was awarded first place, followed by Dave Grant of Vintadg Consulting and Gianluca Alaimo Di Loro of Lifford Wines. Mr. Reitz takes home the grand prize of a VQA-branded YETI Roadie cooler and an all-expenses paid trip to Niagara 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 are 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. “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.”

Raising a glass… to winners, participants, and sponsors

The participants reflected the diverse wine community in Ontario and included students representing the wine education spectrum of Court of Master Sommeliers, CAPS and WSET certified professionals. Facilitated by dedicated CAPS Ontario Board volunteers and sponsors, the event enables CAPS Ontario to better connect with its members and advance the sense of community within the provincial wine trade. Sponsors and prize donors included Wine Country Ontario, New York Wines, Tre Amici Imports, Noble Estates Wines & Spirits, Nicholas Pearce Wines, Cave Spring Vineyard, Roger & Co Wines, Breakthrough Beverages Canada, Hidden Bench, Le Sommelier Wine, and SIPS Toronto.

About CAPS

CAPS is a pan-Canadian association that brings together the sommelier profession, restaurant services and key stakeholders of the hospitality industry. CAPS is comprised of provincial chapters based in Halifax (CAPS Atlantic), Montreal (ACSP Quebec), Toronto (CAPS Ontario), Winnipeg (CAPS Manitoba) and Vancouver (CAPS BC). Passionately dedicated to service, CAPS is committed to building a strong community of sommeliers and fostering the growth of the culture of hospitality in Canada. Visit www.sommelierscanada.com, follow @caps_bc, @ACSP-Quebec @caps_ac and @caps.ontario and tag #CAPS #capsontario.

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