November 5, 2019 – Toronto, ON // 700 wine enthusiasts packed the Royal Ontario Museum to celebrate the 14th annual Chilean Wine & Food Festival, hosted by Wines of Chile, in association with the Chilean Trade Commission and Pro Chile. The crowd included opinion leaders in trade; importers, LCBO buyers and product consultants, restaurateurs, sommeliers, food and beverage managers as well as consumers who explored Chile’s wine regions through a unique walk around tasting of 27 wineries. Representatives from the wineries were on hand to speak to guests and educate them about their wines on offer.
With the objective to inform trade and consumers about the diversity of Chilean wine, the event took flight with a featured trade seminar hosted by John Szabo (Master Sommelier) followed by a walk around tasting for all trade and key attendees from the LCBO. The day proceeded with a tutored tasting for Toronto Life Insiders and media hosted by Erin Henderson (Toronto Life Wine School). A consumer walk around tasting with nearly 250 avid wine enthusiasts took place in the evening where 23 Chilean wineries exhibited along with 4 additional wineries at a special Pequeños (small producers) section, an LCBO E-commerce table and a Fruits from Chile information and sampling table. One of the event’s most sought after attractions were the innovative audio tours and tastings, hosted by LCBO Product Consultants, every fifteen minutes on topics such as “Carmenere; Chile's Signature Grape” and on an exploration of “Chile's Wine Regions.” The all-inclusive event featured a copious Latin American inspired menu that paired superbly with the Chilean wines presented, including a selection of handmade empanadas!
The day was filled with passion, inspiration and enthusiasm for Chilean wine and viticulture within a lively and social atmosphere where trade and consumers could converse, dine on Latin American food and dance to the sounds of Chile. “We are delighted with the success of the 2019 Wines of Chile Grand Tasting, as not only did we surpass records for trade attendance, the evening session brought together an engaged and enthusiastic crowd of wine lovers. We thank all for attending, and in particular our partners, the LCBO, the wineries and their agent representatives,” said Ted Kalaboukis, Director, Andros Communications, representative for Wines of Chile in Ontario. As one of the largest Chilean wine festivals offered in Canada, the event truly proved yet again, to be one of Toronto’s best kept food & wine events.
About Wines of Chile
Wines of Chile is a non-profit and private organization that represents the wine producers of Chile. Our mission is to strengthen the wine industry while focusing on sustainable development in the vineyard, the winery and in the local community. We promote Chilean wine both nationally and internationally through research and development of new technologies and in ongoing training programs. Wines of Chile aims to be a meeting point for all associates within the industry, collectively orienting them through the different phases of their development while supporting them as individual wineries.
About Andros Communications
Founded in 2008, provides strategic counselling services and integrated marketing and communication solutions to the food and beverage industry in Canada and world-wide. Andros brings together a dynamic team of strategic, event and public relations professionals with a combined experience of more than 40 years of practice.
For further information or inquiries regarding next year’s event please contact Tricia Lumb: Media Contact for Wines of Chile, Ontario at Andros Communications, tricia@androscom.com, (289)-775-0944.
