"A Tasting Of Wines From Italy ™ / Une Dégustation De Vins D’Italie" 2023, the Italian wine roadshow organized by the Italian Trade Commission (ITC) offices in Canada exclusively for trade professionals, kicked off its tour in Vancouver at the Terminal City Club on October 24, 2023, then headed to Calgary at the Brownstone on October 26. The show continued in Toronto at the Roy Thomson Hall on October 30 and concluded in Montréal at Marché Bonsecours on November 1. Over the years, this initiative became the most anticipated and accredited Italian wine event in Canada and a mainstay for the Canadian industry as a whole. The shows in Vancouver and Calgary returned after a six-year absence.
Overall, more than 3,500 people attended including wine agents, representatives from provincial Liquor Boards, Ho.Re.Ca leaders and their specialized media, opinion leaders, wine collectors, and other specialized participants. They were met by 86 Italian winemakers in Toronto and Montreal and 34 in Vancouver and Calgary.
All four events featured walk-around tastings and interactions with producers and/or their agents. In Toronto and Montréal, masterclasses open to the media and top sommeliers were also featured.
The Toronto masterclass, entitled “Geographic Precision: Understanding Italy's Latest UGA’s, MAG’s, CONTRADA’s and PIEVE’s” was conducted by Master Sommelier John Szabo and the masterclass in Montréal entitled "L'Italie Viticole, La Reine Des Bulles!" was led by Guénaël Revel, author of several acclaimed works on sparkling wines from around the world and host of the radio program Monsieur Bulles & Cie on Radio CIBL 101.5 in Montréal.
