FOR IMMIDIATE RELEASE
The Chianti Classico Wine Consortium launches, for the first time in Canada, a new project for the valorization of the appellation:
the Chianti Classico Ambassadors.
Chianti Classico selects its first Ambassador during the Annual Trade Tasting in Toronto.
Toronto – May 18, 2017 – The Chianti Classico Wine Consortium returns to Toronto, Canada, after last year’s successful 300-year celebration and tasting, to appoint the first official Chianti Classico Ambassador and showcase over 25 premiere wineries from the region May 31st at the prestigious Shangri-La Hotel (188 University Ave) featuring the esteemed Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, along with the other two typologies, Chianti Classico Riserva and Chianti Classico Annata.
Canada has been chosen as the first country to inaugurate the annual selection of the Chianti Classico Ambassadors through a nationwide competition, aiming to create a network of Chianti Classico representatives who can support the dissemination of the Consortium’s philosophy in the various markets throughout the world. The responsibilities will entail interacting with Consortia activities and/or developing autonomous training courses on the D.O.C.G. with supervision and support of the Consortium. Each country’s elected ambassador will be invited to the territory to further experience the land and gain knowledge of the denomination first hand.
The competition will consist of three exams opened to qualified sommeliers, wine educators, media, and LCBO product consultants who work full time in the wine industry. The first portion of the competition will consist of an online test held on May 22nd or May 25th with subsequent exams taking place in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. The winner of the Toronto competition will be chosen on May 31st during the Chianti Classico tasting at the Shangri-La Hotel after passing a blind tasting and oral exam, expertly judged by Toronto’s first Master Sommelier, Mr. John Szabo.
After this first appointment, other two Chianti Classico Ambassadors will be selected in Montréal and Vancouver.
The trade tasting program will kick off with a “Diversity of Sangiovese” seminar and guided tasting at 11.00 am open to trade and media led by Mr. Michael Godel, Wine Critic at Winealign.com, followed by an afternoon trade walk around tasting from 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm. To conclude the daily events, an exclusive winemaker dinner will be held at the Chef’s House at George Brown College (215 King St E), where a live tutored tasting will take place alongside an expertly paired four-course dinner prepared by the Chef’s House team featuring the premium wines of the Chianti Classico region.
Sergio Zingarelli, President of the Consortium, comments “We thought of this contest as a reward to officially recognize the young sommeliers and enthusiasts of the Black Rooster around the world with a certificate issued by the Chianti Classico Wine Consortium. The tasks of the Chianti Classico Ambassador will be to spread the word about Chianti Classico, its territory, its history and the commitment of its producers. That's why the first three will be selected from the Canadian market, a market that has given us great satisfaction over the last few years for the level of knowledge and appreciation of our products. Once elected, it will be a great pleasure to have the three Chianti Classico Ambassadors (from British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario) visit our territory to participate in an educational journey to deepen their knowledge of the territory of the Black Rooster.”
Wineries showcased at the tasting are: Borgo Scopeto, Carobbio, Carpineto, Castello di Fonterutoli, Castello di Gabbiano, Castello di Meleto, Castello Vicchiomaggio, Castelvecchi, Colle Bereto, Dievole, Fattoria di Ruppiano Astorre Noti, Fattoria di Ripa, Fèlsina, Gruppo Italiano Vini - Cantine Melini, Il Molino di Grace, Le Fonti, Lornano, Losi Querciavalle, Luiano, Poggio Bonelli, Rocca delle Macìe, Ruffino, San Felice, Tenute Piccini, Vignamaggio, Villa Calcinaia, and Villa Trasqua.
The Chianti Classico Wine Consortium was founded in 1924 to provide the regulation of and promotion for the Chianti Classico D.O.C.G., the historical winemaking region comprised of 70,000 ha (172,900 acres) in the heart of Tuscany. With 580 members, of whom approximately 376 are bottlers, the Chianti Classico Wine Consortium now represents 96% of the entire denomination and has up-to-date, well-structured and professional organization in charge of the mission for which it was created: protecting and valorizing Chianti Classico wine and its trademark. More information can be found at www.chianticlassico.com.
To register for the online Chianti Classico Ambassador competition, pleas click here.
Should you wish to participate in the trade tasting at the Shangri-La Hotel, please register here.
For more information, please contact:
Chianti Classico Wine Consortium
Silvia Fiorentini
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I.E.E.M.
Ana Murguia
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