Overview

Tastings and Dinners 

The IW&FS of Toronto arranges monthly events combining wine and food which include dinners and tastings; all designed to be innovative, educational, enjoyable and of high quality.  Events are usually held privately in restaurants, and cost between $90.00 and $250.00 depending on the function.

Past tasting events have included:

• Balsamic vinegar, olives and olive oil, oysters, asparagus tastings,
• Premium Italian wines, 
• Bordeaux, Scotch and Sherry tastings,
• Annual events include:
• President’s Reception,
• Christmas Extravaganza.

Wine Cellar

Members of the IW&FS of Toronto enjoy a collective private wine cellar which serves as a source of wines to be used at events.  This allows the group to acquire young wines at an advantageous price and age them for future use.  The managed IW&FS cellar currently has 1100 bottles maintained in strict climate controlled conditions.  The Board’s policy is to build both the quality and quantity of its wine cellar in future years.

Why A Wine Cellar?

Why does the IWFS Toronto have and maintain a wine cellar?  The most important reasons is that, as members, you would be limited to only those wines that were available at the LCBO at the time of an IW&FS event and in the world of exciting culinary delights and the pairing of wine that would be boring.  

The Cellar Master purchases wines that offer good prospects for aging with the commensurate improvement in overall quality.   Some wines have been purchased at auction and represent unique opportunities to taste something that otherwise would be unavailable. 

Simply put, the cellar has many benefits for IW&FS members. 

The IW&FS mandate is the interest in "Food and Wine" together.  A proper pairing benefit from the Cellar Master’s experience and keen knowledge as applied to the purchase and correct cellaring of the wines.  It is often impossible, or extremely difficult, to acquire certain wines or styles of wines throughout the year.  As an example, Beaujolais Nouveau is only available at certain times during the year.  The Cellar Master, with his love of wine, is always on the prowl for wines that may be complimentary to food pairings as he peruses the endless new selections that seem to oscillate in the LCBO. 

On the Cellar Legacy....

Although wines have become status symbols, the quantity of outstanding wines has not risen materially.  Consequently, there is continuing pressure on the price of wines - "wine inflation".  There are only two ways to negate this effect, buy and age and "opportunistically shop".  In either case, wine levies are required to ensure that the wine cellar is maintained and the existing membership cohort leaves the next cohort equal opportunities to enjoy fine well aged wine in the correct hermetically controlled conditions.  We have all had that special bottle of wine we were saving for a meaningful occasion and turned out ‘qui sent le bouchon’.  

This is why the International Wine & Food Society, Toronto Branch has a wine cellar.  Our Cellar Master is Marcel Bregstein.

On Education....

A wine cellar allows for the creation of inventories to organize educational tastings; be they vertical, horizontal, varietal or regional in nature.  It is not often that we have the opportunity to savour a vertical tasting of well aged Bordeaux even at our own table.  Opening four bottles of fine wine for two is perhaps excessive, if for no other reason, that we can not possibly consume so much in an appreciative manner.  

Scholarship Foundation

Since 1982, the IW&FS of Toronto has supported scholarships to the top graduates of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers, and the Culinary Management Program at George Brown College through the International Wine and Food Foundation of Canada.

International Festivals

Every four years some regions of the IW&FS hosts International Festivals attended by members from all over the globe. Festivals feature private culinary and winery tours, including black-tie dinners, each with a focus on the specialities of the region.