Yum! Wine tasting at Casa Loma

In celebration of the festive season, I recently joined members of the Winetasters Society of Toronto for their best-attended event of the year -- the annual wine-tasting party held at the exquisitely decorated Casa Loma, a medieval-style castle built in the early 1900s and one of Toronto's most famous landmarks.

Close to 130 wines were featured, including a varied assortment of classic, intriguing, rare and unusual selections. Along with dessert wines, vintage Armagnac and Cognac, vintage Ports and a show-stopping 1806 Frances Madeira at $46 per pre-ordered serving, there truly was something for everyone. (An interesting historical note on this particular Madeira: As was the norm at the time, in order to infuse the Madeira with its characteristic taste, it was packed in casks and shipped across the equator twice on a sailing ship called Frances. The Madeira was bottled once it reached North America and sold under the name of the ship. Nowadays, a process involving slow heating of the Madeira for six months is used to simulate the voyage.)

Back to the wines. The old world was well represented with selections from Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Spain and France, including the regions of Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire, Rhone and Sauternes. New world wines weren't neglected either, with many fine options from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa and the U.S. (specifically California and Washington) and eclectic and adventurous people weren't disappointed, with Austria, Greece, India, Mexico and Uruguay represented.

Here's a wee smattering of wines sampled. Among the whites were a 1991 Verget Chassagne-Montrachet, La Romanée and a 2001 Dom de la Vougeraie Vougeot Blanc 1er Cru, both from Burgundy. Notable reds included a 1966 Château Canon and a 1971 Château Lafite-Rothschild (both from Bordeaux), a 1991 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon from California, a 2001 Herzog Pinot Noir from New Zealand and a bizarre-yet-intriguing 2005 Sula Vineyards Shiraz from India. Beautiful dessert selections included a 1996 Pierre Sparr Tokay Pinot Gris from Alsace, a non-vintage Lustau Manzanilla Oloroso Sherry from Spain and a 1976 Schloss Johannisberger Auslese from Germany.

What would a wine tasting be without food, of course. Food tables loaded with smoked turkey, cheeses and mince tarts abounded. As well, a certain jolly red-suited guest wandered the rooms pouring sparkling wine and spreading good cheer.

What a fantastic way to sample wines you might otherwise not be able to find, or afford, or would rather sample than purchase an entire bottle! If you're in the Toronto area and are interested in joining the festivities in December 2007, order tickets early. Best yet, join Winetasters and get in on all of their many events. It's a fantastic way to discover interesting wines, relax, socialize and, most of all, have fun.