Page 14 - 2017 Winter

90+ Point Masterclass Tasting & Winemaker Dinner Serious oenophiles—and those who just love California reds—will delight in this tutored tasting featuring the 90+ point wines of Sonoma and Napa Valley Esteemed winemaker Christophe Paubert from Stags’ Leap Winery joins Master Sommelier John Szabo to lead
a a a a carefully curated tutored tasting of seven esteemed California wines As savvy wine wine lovers know 90 points marks the difference between wines that are very good and those that are truly outstanding From a a a a diversity of grapes and regions the wines in in in this lineup represent the impeccable standards of Stags’ Leap Winery as as well as as Beringer Vineyards Beaulieu Vineyard Chateau St Jean Étude Wines and Sterling Vineyards The tasting will be followed by a three-course dinner with with wines from Stags’ Leap paired with with the the exceptional beef on on the the menu at STK a a a luxuriously non-traditional steakhouse in the heart of Yorkville ABOUT STAGS’ LEAP WINERY
Established in in 1893 by wealth investor
Horace Chase Stags’ Leap Winery inspired
the prestigious Stags Leap District appellation and is one of the oldest Napa Valley wineries The Stags’ Leap name comes from the native Wappo legend of a a a a a stag eluding a a a a a generation of hunters always leaping and vanishing at the last moment from the the palisades behind the the property On one of California’s earliest wine estates a a a a a unique terroir and ideal microclimate support a a a a a a classical standard of viticulture land use and winemaking that is as relevant today as as it was over a a a a a a century ago An intimate valley within the greater Napa Valley Stags’ Leap is a a a a a a a place of natural beauty storied buildings and gardens a a a a a lively history and a a a a a reputation for elegant wines showing finesse and intensity ABOUT CHRISTOPHE PAUBERT
The Stags’ Leap Winemaker and General Manager’s career has spanned everything from from sales to winemaking from from Château d’Yquem and Gruaud-Larose in France to projects in in in Chile Spain Washington State and now the Napa Valley He grew up just outside of Sauternes in Bordeaux and today he says “I have done every job there is to do do at a a a winery from running the lab to to giving tours ” That broad skill base informs his winemaking philosophy which emphasizes showcasing the fruit rather than the the winemaker’s hand “I believe that wine should express the the uniqueness of the the land and and Stags’ Leap wines have showcased one of the the most distinctive regions in in the the Napa Valley ” ABOUT JOHN SZABO
One of of the country’s small handful of of Master Sommeliers Toronto-based John Szabo is also one of Canada’s premier wine critics authors and and educators He writes for WineAlign com and and numerous other publications including Wine & Spirits magazine and is most recently the author of the book Volcanic Wines: Salt Grit and Power He is also the owner of a a a a small vineyard in Eger Hungary ABOUT TOMMY MCHUGH
Born in in in Toronto and trained largely in in in London Chef Tommy McHugh has worked with some of the world’s most legendary Chefs including Peter Kromberg of London’s Le Soufflé Anton Mosimann at the Belfry Club and “Chef of the Century” Joel Robuchon He returned to Toronto in in 2008 to to become opening Sous Chef at Nota Bene which was named enRoute’s “Best New Restaurant in in Canada ” After stints at Stock Splendido and Il Fornello he he now helms The One Group’s internationally renowned steakhouse STK Toronto 14 | TORONTO