Ontario Archives

Moët Hennessy partners with LCBO to create exclusive experiences

Moët Hennessy Canada announced today the launch of the Luxury Discovery Suite, the first dedicated luxury champagnes, wines, and spirits shopping pop-up experience of its kind. Created in collaboration with the LCBO, this exceptional pop-up experience will be located at the Summerhill location from November 14th to December 8th, 2018.

Accessible to LCBO customers, the Luxury Discovery Suite is a lifestyle destination offering guests an exceptional experience with some of the most prestigious products offered at the LCBO. From everyday essentials to exceptional gifts, customers will discover everything they need to know about entertaining ahead of the busy holiday season with free tastings and exclusive dinners hosted by Moët Hennessy leadership.

“At Moët Hennessy we are always looking for ways to offer our customers exciting and exclusive experiences,” says Alexis de Calonne, Managing Director, Moët Hennessy Canada. “There is something very special about entertaining during the holiday season. We are thrilled to launch the first Luxury Discovery Suite with the LCBO to bring the magic of our brands to customers.”

“We are excited to partner with Moët Hennessy on this exclusive retail partnership,” says Carolyn O’Grady Gold, Vice President, Merchandising, LCBO. “These iconic global brands are perfect to help our customers create memorable moments this holiday season.”

The Luxury Discovery Suite will open to the public on Wednesday, November 14th and run until Friday, December 8th, 2018. Customers can sign up for exclusive brand tastings and purchase tickets for dinners with House representatives by visiting www.lcbo.com/LDS. Space is limited.

SCHEDULE
November 15th: Hennessy dinner hosted by Bernard Peillon, President Hennessy Cognac
November 22nd: Glenmorangie dinner hosted by Ruaraidh MacIntyre, Brand Manager
November 30th: Estates & Wines dinner hosted by Margareth Henriquez, President Estates & Wines
December 5th: Dom Pérignon dinner hosted by Alexis de Calonne, General Manager, Moët Hennessy Canada.

COMPLIMENTARY TASTING SCHEDULE
November 14th: Moët & Chandon
November 17th: Estates & Wines – Cloudy Bay
November 21st: Glenmorangie Extra-Mature Range
November 24th: Glenmorangie 18-Year-Old and Glenmorangie Signet
November 28th: Veuve Clicquot
December 1st: Ruinart Champagne
December 6th: Hennessy VSOP
December 7th: Hennessy XO

PAID TASTING SCHEDULE
November 14-18: Moët & Chandon MCIII / Paradis Imperial / Hennessy XO / VSOP / Belvedere
November 19-25: Krug Grand Cuvée 166ème Edition / Glenmorangie Signet / Quinta Ruban / Nectar’dor / Lasanta / 18 year old
November 26-2: Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame / Veuve Clicquot Extra Brut Extra Old / Ardbeg Corryvrecken / Ardbeg Uigeadal
December 3-8 Dom Pérignon / Dom Pérignon P2 / Hennessy Master Blender Edition #3 / Hennessy VSOP / Hennessy 200 year old

Wine Review: La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2014

90/100
This is an impressive wine at price and production level; a great go-to for many occasions. This pinot noir delivers aromas of earthy notes, wild strawberry, with hints of red plum and rose petals, around a light, bright core; while remaining soft and smooth in texture and intensity; finishing with flavors of cherry, cola, and tea.

Vintages Release Date: October 1, 2016

La Crema Winery
Sonoma County, California
Variety: Pinot Noir
Style: Earthy & Spicy
13.9%

Wine Review: Southbrook 2014 Organic Connect White

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 9.9%

Sweetness: Medium Dry

Type: White Wine

Style: Off-dry & Fruity

Winery: Southbrook Vineyards, Niagara

Certification: Organic – ProCert

LCBO#: 249078 | $15.95

Drink: 2016-2020

Tasting Notes:

A blend of odoriferous varietals include 58% Vidal, 21% Chardonnay, 12% Riesling, and 9% Sauvignon Blanc; nose is a fruit-driven bouquet of melon, peach and apricot; The palate is soft and round with hints of peach, apple and pear – slightly off-dry with refreshing acidity – flavours linger through to medium finish.

Rating: 89/100

Review by Liz Palmer
www.liz-palmer.com

LizPalmer_
@Lizpalmer_

Wine Review: Canadian Framboise [A Fruit Wine From Southbrook Vineyards, Niagara, Ontario]

Canadian Framboise

A Fruit Wine from Southbrook Vineyards, Niagara, Ontario

Style Sweet

Review by Liz Palmer

liz-palmer.com – June 1 2016

Rating: 92

This multi winning wine is produced entirely from Royalty Raspberries. Lovely ruby hue with fresh raspberry aromas. Nice medium body. The wine is finished sweet, with a slight tart edge with a long fruit finish. As a result, it is one of the few wines that can marry well with chocolate desserts. It can definitely enhance your summer cocktails, including mixing it with Champagne to create the classic ‘Kir Royale’

LCBO#: 341024 | $17.95

CANADIAN TRUTH-IN-LABELING VICTORY APPROACHES

In the same way that a Napa wine comes only from Napa Valley, California, Champagne comes only from Champagne, France. As of January 1, 2014, Canada joins the group of nations that put truth-in-labeling first.

This change in the law isolates the United States even more as over 45% of all sparkling wine are still mislabeled “Champagne.” This practice seeks to trade on the good name of another location, as well as mislead consumers. This deception is a problem for all winemakers who seek to differentiate their products by location.

Winemaking regions around the world rely on their place name (or Geographic Indication, or “GI,” as it is referred to in Europe) to differentiate themselves from other winemaking regions. Consumers rely on these names to choose their wine as the name reflects where it comes from, its quality and its specific characteristics.

Champagne produces about 300 million bottles a year, a small percentage of the approximately three billion bottles of sparkling wine that are sold worldwide every year. And producers throughout the world, including the United States, Australia, Italy and Spain, profitably produce and sell millions of bottles of sparkling wine without using the name “Champagne.”

Most countries have robust truth-in-labeling laws that protect consumers from being deceived by requiring the name of a wine’s location be reserved exclusively for the regions where the wine is produced and grown. As of January 1, 2014, Canada will become the latest country to join the global movement in support of robust truth-in-labeling laws on their wine labels.

Most Canadian wine producers stopped using “Champagne” and other wine growing place names (Sherry, Port, etc.) many years ago, but the January 1 milestone will make the change official. Canada will now join the majority of countries around the world – including the European Union, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa – that believe when consumers buy a bottle of wine, they should be able to rely on the truthfulness of the bottle’s label.

With Canada’s approaching change in law, there are very few countries which do not adequately protect Champagne’s name. While the United States has yet to ban mislabeled wines that misuse the name Champagne, many quality producers in the United States proudly and successfully use the term “sparkling wine” to describe their wines. We look forward to a time when the U.S. and others joining this growing body of countries which reserve the name Champagne exclusively for wines from Champagne, France.

Source: Champagne Bureau