Andros supports Drinkclusion Scholarship Program 2023

Andros Communications is proud to support the Drinkclusion Scholarship Program 2023, which provides scholarships ranging from $250-$5000 to a range of top tier wine education programs such as the Court of Master Sommeliers, and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. In particular the program provides BIPOC wine professionals access to high quality wine education and the support to excel in such programs that are vitally important to diversifying the ranks of the wine industry, especially in leadership roles.

About Drinkclusion
Drinks Ontario recognizes that a diversity of voices brings strength to the beverage alcohol industry through new and different perspectives, experiences, and knowledge. Drinkclusion was formed by Drinks Ontario in 2020, with support from Vinequity and LCBO, in order to focus on increasing diversity, equality and inclusion in our industry through 3 core initiatives: Scholarship Fund, Career Builder Program, and Drinks Ontario Membership Resources.

Supporter of Pathways to Education to Help #Closethegap

Andros Communications believes in equal opportunity and education for all youth and is a supporter of Pathways to Education.  

Pathways to Education is a non-profit organization with the sole purpose of ‘breaking the cycle of poverty through education’. Students in low-income communities and newcomers trying to assimilate in Canada are facing a growing gap between them and their education resulting in a high number of high school drop outs. These barriers have become more amplified since the onset of the pandemic. To close this gap Pathways to Education offers tailored one-on-one academic, financial, and social assistance to youths to help them overcome difficulties so all students can feel supported, graduate high school and look forward to a brighter future. 

Click Pathways to Education to learn more.

Andros produces ‘Drink Chile’, Canada’s First Hybrid Wine Tasting Event for the Trade

Andros Communications successfully produced ‘Drink Chile 2021’ for its client Wines of Chile, setting the stage and raising the standard for future trade wine tasting events in Canada.

The Drink Chile 2021 live event took place on November 3rd, 2021 at Arcadian Court in downtown Toronto and was streamed to trade audiences across Canada. 

The vision was to create an immersive experience in both live and virtual formats targeted to Canadian trade. Andros was able to achieve this by creating a custom virtual platform where attendee avatars enter a live venue. Online participants entered a virtual reality world as if they were attending the trade day in person, visiting producers 'tables’ at their choosing and learning about their wines. Meanwhile the live tasting environment was designed to make guests feel comfortable and safe by complying with all social distancing measures. The main tasting hall at Arcadian Court featured individual tasting tables per guest with masked wait staff and agents on hand to bring wine samples and food pairings to guests.

The highlight of this year’s event was the live streamed masterclass and wine tasting hosted by Master Sommelier, John Szabo and Amanda Barnes, author of South America Wine Guide. Together, John and Amanda presented and discussed five wines in depth as they interviewed Chilean producers live on-air from their wineries. In addition to the live audience, hundreds of viewers tuned in to watch virtually across Canada.

“Drink Chile has set the bar for the future of trade tasting events in Canada”, says Andros Director Ted Kalaboukis, “Andros is ever evolving, striving to be inclusive and innovative in its approach to creating customized experiences for attendees and clients.”

stackt market meets the coolest wines on earth Pop-Up Bar

From August to October 2021, the Andros team, for Wines of Germany created a brand immersive pop-up outdoor wine tasting bar, the “Berlin Bar,” at stackt market - Canada’s largest shipping container market located in the heart of downtown Toronto. 

 As the official wine partner, the Berlin Bar featured over 30 different German wines for three months, providing consumers the opportunity to explore and enjoy the wide variety of wines Germany has to offer. 

 To take the experience one step further, the world-renowned Berlin nightlife was brought to stackt market on the first Friday of every month, dubbed as “Berlin Night” with a live DJ spinning all the latest tunes. 

 With provincial health measures in place, guests were able to safely enjoy the Berlin Bar experience both indoors and outdoors. 

 “We were thrilled to work with such a unique partner like stackt market with whom we share the same values to bring Toronto the ‘Berlin Bar’ experience, the first Wines of Germany pop up bar. We created a cool vibe at the ‘Berlin Bar’ patio and offered visitors an exciting assortment of wines that paired with the diversity of cuisine on offer at stackt.” said Ted Kalaboukis, Director at Andros Communications.

About stackt market

In keeping with its core values of sustainability and innovation, stackt has taken 100,000 SQ. FT of land in the heart of downtown Toronto and transformed it into an experience of curated discovery, featuring local and international retailers, pop-up community events, outdoor art galleries and a mix of restaurants and outdoor patios with innovative culinary adventures. Click here for more information.

Andros Communications Supports LCBO’s Push of German Wine

With the support of Wines of Germany, the LCBO launched a German wine promotion throughout the summer months of July and August 2021. To provide maximum support for this promotion, Andros Communications launched the “Coolest Wines on Earth” advertising campaign for their client Wines of Germany, with a comprehensive print and digital marketing strategy. The goal was to create awareness of German wines and the LCBO promotion. The strategy implemented included the following:

LCBO Virtual Tasting Experience titled, ‘Cool German Wines,’  held on July 29th hosted by Founder + Chief sommelier of the Wine Sisters, Erin Henderson and Canadian sommelier, Kimberly Pollack. This offered educational information on wines currently available at the LCBO for purchase online and in-store, with food pairings featured (with recipes) in the latest Food & Drink Magazine. View the Cool German Wines virtual tasting experience here. 

The LCBO.com landing page, featured 15 German wines endorsed by the LCBO for purchase with engaging content about the region. An exclusive online curated Discovery Box was offered, consisting of a mixed case of German wines; a guide to German wines, and a summer themed value-add carrier bag.

The advertising campaign was implemented at select LCBO stores across Toronto and on city buses and bus shelters in the Kitchener-Waterloo region where the LCBO’s Destination Collection specialty German wine boutique is located. 

With the support of Andros Communications, this successful promotion increased overall awareness and sales of German wines at the LCBO.

Andros Communications organizes Canada’s first “Riesling Fellow” Awards

On behalf of client the Wines of Germany, Andros Communications developed and successfully executed on September 10, 2021, the Riesling Fellowship Awards reception and dinner in the Garden of the Official Residence of the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Toronto. Top members of the Canadian wine trade, LCBO, and media were in attendance to honour the two Canadian inductees: Al Drinkle (Partner & General Manager of Metrovino in Calgary, Alberta) and Harry Drung (President of HHD Imports in Waterloo, Ontario). Al and Harry were awarded for their hard work, dedication, and passion to promote German Rieslings throughout Canada. They join a distinguished group of Riesling Fellows which includes, Jancis Robinson, Hugh Johnson, and Paul Grieco.

“We are delighted, on behalf of Wines of Germany, to organise the first Riesling Fellow Awards in Canada,” enthused Ted Kalaboukis, Director of Andros Communications.

Guests were treated to an exquisite dinner by renowned Executive Chef Nick Liu of DaiLo restaurant. Paired with a curated wine selection provided by Wines of Germany, which included a special selection of old vintage Rieslings. 

Riesling Fellowship

The Riesling Fellowship, founded in 2013 was developed by the Wines of Germany – the  German Wine Institute  - in order to honour and recognize members of trade around the world who have over the years dedicated so much energy and passion in promoting German Rieslings. For more information on the Riesling Fellowship and Riesling Fellows click here.

Andros Communications Partners with Independent Retailer Legacy Liquor

Andros Communications formed a partnership with Vancouver retailer Legacy Liquors in June 2021 to showcase and promote German wines on behalf of its client Wines of Germany. The objective of this campaign was to educate consumers on German wines as the perfect summer wine with the tagline ‘the coolest wines on earth’ and increase overall sales of the German wine category.

To support the promotion, Legacy Liquors curated a distinct and diverse wine offering to showcase the incredible versatility of German wines.

Components of the campaign encompassed an in-store contest including digital and radio advertising initiatives to generate interest and maximize consumer reach. The in-store contest offered consumers a chance to win a gourmet German food and wine picnic for 4 people. The digital and radio advertising campaign supported Legacy Liquor’s retail promotion and the in-store contest.

High volume of contest entries and increase of German wine sales at Legacy Liquor compared to previous months indicated the success of this promotion. As an added bonus, sales results from this program opened the opportunity to discuss expanding the German wine offerings in Legacy Liquor moving forward.

Andros Communications Supports Equal Opportunity in Wine Sector in Canada with Non-Profit Vinequity

Andros Communications is a proud supporter of Vinequity, a not-for-profit organization with  mission to advocate and support equal opportunity for Canadians who identify as Black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC) that work in the wine industry in Canada.

Vinequity was founded by seven Canadian female wine professionals of colour: Nupur Gogia, Carrie Rau, Nabilah Rawji, Debbie Shing, Chanile Vines, Beverly Crandon and Olivia Siu. The organization has three main objectives: (1) to host a public online directory of Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) in the Canadian wine industry; (2) to raise scholarship funds and award them to BIPOC applicants wishing to further their wine industry careers in Canada; and (3) to provide advocacy, resources and support to marginalized people who have experienced barriers to advancing within Canada’s wine community.

https://www.vinequity.ca/

“It is imperative for us to do our part to ensure there is inclusion and equal opportunity for the BIPOC community everywhere, including the wine industry. We applaud Vinequity’s leadership and are proud to support their dedicated efforts.” 

Ted Kalaboukis, Director, Andros Communications