There are innumerable wine events that take place in Toronto and it would be quite impractical for me to track them all so I have limited the scope of this site to the major wine shows (see below) and Wine Auctions in Toronto, that recur on an annual or biennial basis.
However, there are many other wine events that take place. Wine producers pass through Toronto on a regular basis to participate in trade and/or consumer tastings, and their agency will often sponsor a dinner featuring their wines. Also Vintages and WineAlign host specialty events throughout the year.
Some agencies hold an annual tasting to showcase their products. It is a good idea to sign up for agency e-newsletters if these events are of interest. It also helps to belong to a wine club as they may provide event information in their member communications. The Toronto section of LocalWineEvents.com is another possible source for information.
Attending one of the major annual wine shows provides a great opportunity to broaden your taste buds at a reasonable price especially when many of the wines may not be available at the LCBO. If you find something you really like, you can then make arrangements directly with the producer’s wine agency to acquire a case.
Note that the month that the show took place in last year is listed below as a default entry and a specific date is entered when known. You can obtain further information, including how to obtain a ticket, via the link.
Country & Regional Shows
These shows feature one inclusive price (typically between $60 and $70), which allows unlimited drinking for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. You must acquire your ticket in advance for legal reasons. See table below for details:
| Country / Region | Contact | Phone | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand Wine Tasting | Feb | ||
| Califormia Wine Fair | Celeste | 1-800-558-2675 | April 22 |
| Sustainable South Africa | Oct | ||
| Drink Chile Wine Festival 2024 | Lisa Ulrich | Nov 12 |
Other Shows
There is a relatively low base price to get into these shows and sometimes you can acquire your ticket at the door. However, you then have to buy tickets to actually consume anything. See below for a summary table followed by detailed show descriptions:
| Function | Note | Contact | Phone | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T.O. Food & Drink Fest | 1 | April | ||
| Acid Trip Try-and-Buy by The Living Vine | 2 | June | ||
| Ontario Wine Awards | 3 | June | ||
| The Toronto Wine & Spirit Festival | 4 | June |
1. T.O. Food & Drink Fest features a variety of food and wine offerings. The website says “taste the very best from local chefs, restaurants, winemakers, spirit, beer and cider companies, quality culinary products plus get all the latest food & drink trends.”
2. Acid Trip Try-and-Buy is a bi-annual trade and consumer tasting hosted by the Living Vine. It features over 50 wines from their favorite organic, biodynamic, and natural wine producers.
3. The Ontario Wine Awards were founded by Tony Aspler in 1995 as a means of showcasing the best of Ontario VQA Wines. As an international wine consultant and judge with extensive experience in Europe and the new world, Tony is recognized as one of the leading authorities on Canadian wines.
4. The Toronto Wine & Spirit Festival is held outdoors on the waterfront and features wine samples, craft beer, and pairing seminars accompanied by live music and a waterfront breeze.