Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Israel wines in Toronto
LCBO: Wines from Israel: "Maturing for 3000 years, now aged to perfection..."
this article was published at Israelwines website as well: http://www.israelwines.co.il/ArticlesEng/Article.asp?CategoryID=82&ArticleID=2402
The results are just in… during the weekend of June 23rd-24th, 2007 more than 700 people came to the amazing Summerhill LCBO wine store in Toronto to enjoy an outstanding wine tasting event presenting several of the top Israeli boutique wines.
After a long and exciting first day, I had the pleasure to have the Israeli team for a nice and relaxed BBQ at my house. Everyone was exhausted yet very pleased from this extremely fulfilling and rewarding day.
this article was published at Israelwines website as well: http://www.israelwines.co.il/ArticlesEng/Article.asp?CategoryID=82&ArticleID=2402
The results are just in… during the weekend of June 23rd-24th, 2007 more than 700 people came to the amazing Summerhill LCBO wine store in Toronto to enjoy an outstanding wine tasting event presenting several of the top Israeli boutique wines.
Left picture: Summerhill LCBO store and on the right the event hall entrance
The Canadians had a unique opportunity not only to taste these great Israeli wines, but also to talk to the winemakers and winery-owners who gladly poured their wines and shared their stories.
The Israeli winemakers/winery-owners that were part of this event were:
Roy Itzhaki and Neta Mainz from Tulip Winery
Ze’ev Dunie from Sea Horse Winery (Suson Yam)
Barry Saslov from Saslov Winery
Yair Marglit from Margalit winery
Doron Belogolovsky and Sharona Paz-Belogolovsky from Vitkin winery
The Israeli winemakers/winery-owners that were part of this event were:
Roy Itzhaki and Neta Mainz from Tulip Winery
Ze’ev Dunie from Sea Horse Winery (Suson Yam)
Barry Saslov from Saslov Winery
Yair Marglit from Margalit winery
Doron Belogolovsky and Sharona Paz-Belogolovsky from Vitkin winery
On the left side of the table: Yair Margalit (Margalit winery), Barry Saslove (Saslove winery) and at the end of the table Neta and Roy from Tulip. On the right picture Doron and Sharona Belogolovsky (Vikin winery) and Howard from B&W (Canadian importer )
On the left, Ze’ev Dunie (Sea Horse Winery) near the Israel wines display at the LCBO and on the right picture another Israel wines display at the Summerhill
The wines that were part of the tasting:
Tulip - 2005 Just Cabernet Sauvignon (C$ 19.95)
Sea Horse - 2003 Antoine Syrah (C$ 35.95)
Saslov - 2004 Saslov Adom (C$ 29.95)
Vitkin - 2005 Carignan and (C$ 19.95) 2006 Israeli Journey (white) (C$ 16.95)
Margalit - 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon (C$ 59.95) and 2004 Cabernet Franc (C$ 39.95)
Yatir - 2003 Yatir Forest (C$ 49.95)
Flam - 2005 Classico Red (C$ 27.95)
The response we got from the visitors was overwhelmingly positive. As in other previous occasions in which Canadians tasted Israeli wines, we witnessed the typical surprised faces and the most common remark was – “wow… we didn’t know Israel produces this level of high quality wines”.
Many people showed interest in the technical aspects of the wine production such as which part of Israel the grapes were grown at and how long the wines were aged in barrels etc.
Vitkin was the only winery with white wine and they monopolized many Canadian white-wine fans that tasted and bought many bottles (their price was very competitive too) – they had tremendous success with their smooth and pleasant red Carignan as well.
One of the better value-wines of this event was the Tulip Just Cabernet Sauvignon – it seemed to appeal to many of the visitors, both in quality as well as a great price point. Later this week, I was happy to hear that the famous Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto not only agreed with these appreciations but also decided to add Tulip Just Cabernet to their wine list (this is REALLY a big deal, since this hotel is considered to be one of the top ones in the world!).
Yatir Forest and Margalit (especially the Cabernet Franc) got the attention of the serious wine lovers – the sophistication, complexity and the fact that these wines are age worthy caught the eyes of many Canadian wine collectors. Yatir, being the only Kosher wine in the event, was a big attraction to the local Jewish community. Even with the relatively high price (C$ ~50), it seemed as if there were no bottles left in the store (and that’s many bottles…) – Kol Ha’Kavod !
And then there was Sea Horse… Like many other wines from the talented Ze’ev Dunie, the Antoine is another unique and exciting experience; The comments I heard from a few people about Suson Yam’s Syrah were mainly around the fact that they would never have guessed it was a Syrah – Ze’ev Dunie’s Syrah is outstanding by any standard, and the Canadians recognized it very quickly. They complimented it for possessing such a very high quality and a very pleasant after-taste. Many bought the Syrah for themselves and for their best friends to “share the glory…”
Flam’s and Saslov’s offerings were very exciting too – they seemed to be appealing to many of the Canadians’ palates. While buying these wines, many of these visitors also heard about the Reserve series both wineries have to offer, and they expressed their hope to see them soon in Toronto.
The wines that were part of the tasting:
Tulip - 2005 Just Cabernet Sauvignon (C$ 19.95)
Sea Horse - 2003 Antoine Syrah (C$ 35.95)
Saslov - 2004 Saslov Adom (C$ 29.95)
Vitkin - 2005 Carignan and (C$ 19.95) 2006 Israeli Journey (white) (C$ 16.95)
Margalit - 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon (C$ 59.95) and 2004 Cabernet Franc (C$ 39.95)
Yatir - 2003 Yatir Forest (C$ 49.95)
Flam - 2005 Classico Red (C$ 27.95)
The response we got from the visitors was overwhelmingly positive. As in other previous occasions in which Canadians tasted Israeli wines, we witnessed the typical surprised faces and the most common remark was – “wow… we didn’t know Israel produces this level of high quality wines”.
Many people showed interest in the technical aspects of the wine production such as which part of Israel the grapes were grown at and how long the wines were aged in barrels etc.
Vitkin was the only winery with white wine and they monopolized many Canadian white-wine fans that tasted and bought many bottles (their price was very competitive too) – they had tremendous success with their smooth and pleasant red Carignan as well.
One of the better value-wines of this event was the Tulip Just Cabernet Sauvignon – it seemed to appeal to many of the visitors, both in quality as well as a great price point. Later this week, I was happy to hear that the famous Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto not only agreed with these appreciations but also decided to add Tulip Just Cabernet to their wine list (this is REALLY a big deal, since this hotel is considered to be one of the top ones in the world!).
Yatir Forest and Margalit (especially the Cabernet Franc) got the attention of the serious wine lovers – the sophistication, complexity and the fact that these wines are age worthy caught the eyes of many Canadian wine collectors. Yatir, being the only Kosher wine in the event, was a big attraction to the local Jewish community. Even with the relatively high price (C$ ~50), it seemed as if there were no bottles left in the store (and that’s many bottles…) – Kol Ha’Kavod !
And then there was Sea Horse… Like many other wines from the talented Ze’ev Dunie, the Antoine is another unique and exciting experience; The comments I heard from a few people about Suson Yam’s Syrah were mainly around the fact that they would never have guessed it was a Syrah – Ze’ev Dunie’s Syrah is outstanding by any standard, and the Canadians recognized it very quickly. They complimented it for possessing such a very high quality and a very pleasant after-taste. Many bought the Syrah for themselves and for their best friends to “share the glory…”
Flam’s and Saslov’s offerings were very exciting too – they seemed to be appealing to many of the Canadians’ palates. While buying these wines, many of these visitors also heard about the Reserve series both wineries have to offer, and they expressed their hope to see them soon in Toronto.
Left picture: Roy (Tulip) signing one of the bottles for an enthusiastic customer. On the right picture: A few of the visitors in the beginning of the first day. Later that day you couldn’t move around and take pictures…
At one point I took a role of a host and shared the wonderful Yatir with the visitors.
After a long and exciting first day, I had the pleasure to have the Israeli team for a nice and relaxed BBQ at my house. Everyone was exhausted yet very pleased from this extremely fulfilling and rewarding day.
“Menuchat Lochamim”… At Gaby’s house:
Top-left row: Yair Margalit, Roy Itzhaki, Neta Mainz, Zeev Dunie
Bottom row from left: Gaby Israel, Barry Saslov, Sharona Paz-Belogolovskyand Doron Belogolovsky
Lechaim !
Gaby.
Bottom row from left: Gaby Israel, Barry Saslov, Sharona Paz-Belogolovskyand Doron Belogolovsky
Lechaim !
Gaby.
