Les Dames d’Escoffier Ontario Celebrates “The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee”

About last night….

Another successful event for Les Dames d’Escoffier Ontario!!  It was a great turnout at our newly designed Wine and Cookbook Library La Bibliothèque d’Escoffier (Ontario) Toronto.

“Hats were on!” for the ladies.

Rory Sinclair, Piper for Earl of Caithness started the event with some lovely Scottish and Irish tunes ending with God Save the Queen!  The Gin Cocktail was one of Queen Elizabeth’s favorited cocktails – “Queen’s Refreshing Lemonade”

Some notable speakers included:  Hans Bathija, Master of the Honourable Company of Freemen of the City of London of North America, Rosemary Sadlier, Chair Royal Commonwealth Society Americas, and been appointed to the Order of Ontario, Professor Leo Chan, President of The Cambridge Food and Wine Society Canada, and Liz Palmer, President of Les Dames d’Escoffier Ontario.

Guests included Les Dames d’Escoffier members, British Canadian Chamber of Trade and Commerce members, as well as previous recipient of one of Les Dames d’Escoffier Ontario student bursaries, and other invited guests.

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Casa Grazia, a Sicilian Winery by Lake Biviere, that is fully immersed in biodiversity

Prior to Sicily en Primeur 2022, we visited a number of wineries. One winery that stood out was Casa Grazia. Maria Grazia Di Francesco, CEO of Casa Grazia opened to the doors of her new cellar and welcomed us to the magnificent rural landscape of Lake Biviere Oriented Reserve. Maria is truly an advocate for women in wine – I was thrilled to meet her and her daughter. The Casa Grazia Winery is located in Gela, Southern Sicily. The family has been grape producers since the 1980’s and starting from 2005 they bottled their first wine. More recently, in 2020 they achieved organic certification.

Casa Grazia covers an area of ​​about fifty hectares, almost completely planted with vineyards, is 120 meters above sea level and a few steps from the sea. The vineyards are influenced by Lake Biviere, a natural saltwater reservoir rich in biodiversity. In this area the mild winds and sea breeze meet the warm and dry air currents of the Sicilian hinterland, creating a unique microclimate which is favorable for the cultivation of both native and international grapes: Frappato, Nero D’Avola, Moscato and Grillo along with Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon all on limestone-sandy soil.

The estate has eight labels:
Two white wines: Zahara and Adorè;
Five red wines: Laetitya, Victoria 1607, Gradiva, Emiryam and Vi Veri, and
One Sparkling wine: (rosé) Euphorya.

After the tour we had a technical tasting of seven wines:

2020 ‘Euphorya’ Spumante Rose; 2021 Zahara; 2021 Adore; 2021 Laetitya; 2020 Victorya 1607; 2019 Gradiva and Emiryam.

All the wines have great balance, wonderful character, and elegance. My favorite wine was Victorya 1607.  I found out after the tasting that this wine was named as a tribute to Vittoria Colonna Enriquez, Countess Consort and regent of Modica , who in 1607 gave 75 settlers two hectares of land, on condition that they cultivate one vineyard. The vineyards also fall perfectly in the D.O.C.G. of the Cerasuolo of Vittoria, the only Sicilian D.O.C.G. The 1919 vintage of Cerasuolo di Vittoria “Victorya 1607” received a Gold Medal with 96/100 from “Decanter World Wine Awards 2021.” It was such an honor to have tasted this wine knowing the backstory.

It was wonderful to meet Maria Grazia Di Francesco, like her wines, she also has wonderful style and elegance.  Maria presented all the women at our tasting a beautiful bouquet of flowers – what a lovely surprise and memorable experience.

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Firriato “Gaudensius”: A Collection of Impressive Sparkling Wines from this Etna Producer

A few weeks ago, I had an amazing tasting experience with Federico Lombardo di Monte Iato, COO of Firriato Winery, and Rossella Marino Abate, Consulente presso Firriato at Riserva Bistrot at the beautiful Cavanera Wine Resort.  Federico gave me an extensive overview of the four different expressions of their sparkling wine label “Gaudensius”.

Cavanera Wine Resort

Cavanera and its surrounding vineyards are among the most beautiful in the area. We had views of one of Firriato’s treasures, their pre-phyilloxera vineyards, with an age, determined by a dendrochronological analysis, which has certified the age of the vines to be well over 150 years. Cavanera Etnea is Italy’s first carbon neutral winery and is highly recognized for its bio-architecture.

Gaudensius – Volcanic Line

The Nerello Mascalese and Carricante varieties are grown on specific slopes on Mount Etna, which give a substantial impact on the characteristics, as well as the Etna terroir, with its mesoclimate and its sandy soils of volcanic – these all offer ideal conditions for sparkling wine.

The combination of the pedoclimatic characteristics of Etna contributes to the development of grapes that are characterized by the intensity of the aromas and aromatic finesse.

The Gaudensius label now offers four different types of sparkling wines: Blanc de noir (Etna Doc Metodo Classico Brut made with Nerello mascalese grapes, Blanc de blancs (from Carricante grapes), Rosè, also Etna Doc from Nerello Mascalese and Pas Dosè.

The Gaudensius label is the culmination of a sparkling wine project that now makes Firriato the most important producer of the classic method on Etna.

Here are my tasting notes and other details of the four Gaudensius wines, which are produced from Nerello Mascalese and Caricante, two historical native varieties growing under the volcano.

 NV Gaudensius Blanc de Blancs

Classification: Terre Siciliane Bianco Spumante

Grape Variety: Carricante 100%

Subzone: Zucconerò, Zottorinotto, Imbischi

Exposure: North (650 m a.s.l)

Soil: Volcanic, highly draining in the Cavanera Etnea estate

Training System: Guyot, permanent cordon

Harvest: Hand-picking, 2nd week of October for Carricante

Vinification: Soft pressing of whole grapes and fermentation at controlled

temperature, second fermentation in bottle

Disgorgement: 2021

Production Method: Classic method

Aging: In bottle, in contact with the yeasts for over 36 months

Dosage: Brut

Alcohol: 12.60 % vol.

Pale straw yellow in color; the nose is fresh, elegant yet complex with notes of white fruits, hazelnuts and honey, enhanced by some wonderful mineral sensations; In the mouth, it is delicate, elegant and concentrated, with a long persistence on the palate and good aromatic persistence with a savory finish perlage: fine and concentrated
Overall, a great personality – dry crisp, light with a clean finish

91/100

 

NV Gaudensius Blanc de Noir

Classification: D.O.C. Etna Spumante

Grape Variety: Nerello Mascalese

Vineyard Location: North/northeastern slope of the countryside around Mt. Etna

Subzone: Verzella, Feudo di Mezzo, Sant’Antonio – Cottanera

Exposure: Northeastern side of the Volcano (650 metres above sea level)

Soil: Sandy, with high drainage capacity

Training System: Alberello Etneo

Harvest: Second week of September

Vinification: Soft pressing of whole grapes and fermentation at controlled temperature

Disgorgement: 2021

Production Method: Second fermentation in bottle (classic method)

Aging: In contact with the yeasts for over 36 months with frequent “Coup de poignet” to favor the complexity on the nose and palate

Dosage: Brut

Alcohol: 12.60 %

Pale straw yellow with some elements of bright gold hues; delivers some intense fruit and delicate Sicilian citrus notes on the nose; complex flavor, good structure – remarkable elegance; long-lasting sapid with mineral persistence – the freshness is ornamented with sense of nut and toast; perlage: fine and concentrated – an outstanding wine

92/100

 

NV Gaudensius Rosé Etna

Classification: D.O.C. Etna Spumante

Grape Variety: Nerello Mascalese

Vineyard Location: North/northeastern slope of the countryside around Mt. Etna

Subzone: Verzella

Exposure: Northeastern side of the Volcano (630 metres above sea level)

Soil: Sandy, with high drainage capacity

Training System: Alberello Etneo

Harvest: Hand-picked. Second week of September

Vinification: Soft pressing of whole grapes and slight skin maceration. Fermentation at controlled temperature

Disgorgement: 2020

Production Method: Second fermentation in bottle (classic method)

Aging: In contact with the yeasts for over 24 months with frequent “Coup depoignet” to favor the complexity on the nose and palate

Dosage: Brut

Alcohol: 12.50 % vol.

This wine takes on transparent shades of pale peach and pink; aromas of strawberries and raspberries are quite exquisite, with some light floral notes; on the palate imparts fresh, caressing sensations; a well-balanced wine, with good structure and acidity; an extremely prolonged aromatic persistence

91/100

 

Gaudensius Pas Dose

Classification: IGT Terre Siciliane

Grape Variety: Nerello Mascalese

Vineyard Location: North/northeastern slope of the countryside around Mt. Etna

Subzone: Verzella

Exposure: Northeastern side of the Volcano (650 metres above sea level)

Soil: Sandy, with high drainage capacity

Training System: Traditional Gobelet from Etna

Harvest: Hand-picked. Second week of September

Vinification: Soft pressing of whole grapes and fermentation at controlled

temperature

Disgourgement: 2021

Production Method: Second fermentation in bottle (classic method)

Aging: In contact with the yeasts for over 48 months with frequent “Coup de

poignet” to favor the complexity on the nose and palate
Dosage: Pas dosè

Alcohol: 12.50 % vol.

Production: 3,000 bottles produced

Pale golden yellow in colour; very fine bubbles transported me to complex and a harmonious nose of white flowers, orange peel, lime, bread, and nuts; on the palate there is a beautiful savory trail of Sicilian citrus with mineral persistence – long lingering finish; A wonderful olfactory complex wine

94/100

” The demand for Etna wines is growing and is moving towards increasingly identifying and medium-high range choices ” said Federico Lombardo di Monte Iato, Coo di Firriato.

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Cavanera Wine Resort – (Etna) Sicily

I arrived at Cavanera Wine Resort ….what amazing views of Mount Etna ….I certainly felt the energy of the volcano!  I can see that staying at Cavanera will seriously push this wine adventure to the next level!

The property is on the slopes of Mount Etna, approximately 650-950 metres above sea level, between the vineyards of Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante and Catarratto which are on a series of terraces, covering many contradas from north-east to north slopes of the Mount Etna.  It consists of pre-phylloxera vineyards with some younger replanting activities. The andisol soil has a high silicon content of 60%, and is extremely porous. The soil substrate of basaltic rock guarantees a constant source of water for the vines. The range in temperature between day and night and the great oenological merits of the volcano being silently emitted are exhibited when you taste the wines.

The resort, an ancient farmhouse with two 17th century palmentos, has all the modern comforts, is set in an unspoilt natural landscape with fabulous mountain views. Nature certainly serves as the central wine tourism theme at the Cavanera Wine Resort.  There are 21 double rooms with interiors combining modern style and typical Sicilian charm. A few steps from one of the terraces is a beautiful saltwater pool and the entrance to the Etna Wine Bar.

La Riserva Bistrot

The on-premise restaurant, La Riserva Bistrot has a captivating modern décor and a cozy ambiance. I discovered some amazing local traditional dishes, and local wines.  The wine list is a journey to discover Sicilian authenticity from Trapani to Catania. Just to let you know – you can taste all of Firrato’s labels, including Gaudensius which is produced in three classic method styles. The staff is quite knowledgeable on Sicilian wines and the service was impeccable.

The large bistro terrace offers amazing panoramic view of the vineyards of Nerello Mascalese and Carricante, some of the historical varieties of the Volcano. The sunset here is not to be missed – It becomes magical, with a mixture of colors that merge alongside the view of the majesty of Mount Etna.

All I can say is that at La Riserva Bistrot, I had some …

“Great wine tasting experiences, paired with refined exquisite Sicilian dishes, while being surrounded by this magical volcanic landscape certainly, all made my stay here more outstanding!”

Some Facts:

The Firriato winery owns three hospitality facilities: Baglio Soria in Trapani, Calamoni di Favignana on Favignana island and Cavanera Etnea on Mt Etna

Their wines are made from indigenous Sicilian Varieties and International varieties

Organically grown grapes

The winery is 100% Carbon Neutral

Six estates where the grapes are grown: Baglio Soria – Trapani, Borgo Guarini – Trapani, Dagala Borromeo – Trapani, Pianoro- Trapani, Calamoni on the Island of Favignana and Cavanera on Mt. Etna.

 

A special “Thank You” to Federico Lombardo di Monte Iato, COO Firriato Winery, and Rossella Marino Abate, Consulente Social Media presso Firriato for their warm welcome and wonderful hospitality.

 

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Les Dames d’Escoffier Ontario – About Last Night

Last night Les Dames d’Escoffier Ontario members (and guests) celebrated their first in-person event for 2022.

“There was a great turnout last night for our Spring Member’s Reception which was held at the beautiful women’s club Verity on Queen, Toronto” – “It was so nice to see and catchup with everyone over some wonderful wine and cheese” said, President Liz Palmer 

#happyhour #torontolife #verityclub #verityonqueen #womenleaders #wine #nonprofit #lesdames #lesdamesdescoffier #ldei #lesdamesON #womensupportingwomen #womeninwine #womeninhospitality #womeninwinebusiness #womensupportingwomen #torontoevent

@verityonqueen