CAPS Ontario

🇫🇷 Provence is far more than just rosé.

CAPS Canada invites wine professionals to a special Wines of Provence broadcast on June 11 hosted by .

Known for their freshness, elegance & unmistakable Mediterranean character, the wines of Provence extend far beyond their iconic rosés. This in-person group viewing offers an opportunity to explore the region’s diversity, terroirs & evolving styles through guided tasting & discussion.

Provence is recognized globally for its expertise in rosé production, with rosé accounting for close to 90% of the region’s wine production.

📍 207 Queens Quay, Suite 401

🕜 Registration: 1:30 PM ET
🍷 Broadcast begins promptly at 2:00 PM ET

🎟️ $25 (CAPS Members) & $35 (Non-Members) per ticket
📅 Registration deadline: June 9

Registration details available through the link in bio 🔗

🍇 Uncork the Grape with CAPS Ontario: Chardonnay

🎂May 21, International Chardonnay Day

📍 Origin & Identity
Chardonnay originated in eastern France & is most closely associated with Burgundy, where it forms the foundation of some of the world’s most studied & age-worthy white wines. DNA profiling has identified Chardonnay as a natural crossing of Pinot Noir & Gouais Blanc.

From the limestone soils of Chablis to the Côte de Beaune, Chardonnay has become one of the world’s most widely planted & adaptable grape varieties, expressing climate, soil, & winemaking decisions with exceptional clarity.

🥂 In the Glass
Typically dry with medium to high acidity, Chardonnay ranges from lean & mineral in cool climates to rich & textural in warmer ones. Cool-climate expressions show green apple, lemon, chalk, & stony mineral character. Oak maturation & lees ageing contribute brioche, hazelnut, vanilla, & spice. Its restrained primary aromatic profile is part of what makes it one of the clearest expressions of terroir & cellar technique among white varieties.

🌍 Where It Thrives: 🇫🇷 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇦🇺 🇳🇿 🇮🇹 🇿🇦 🇨🇱

🇨🇦 Ontario
Chardonnay remains one of Ontario’s most important VQA varieties, particularly across the Niagara Peninsula.
Ontario Chardonnay continues to gain international recognition through the International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration (i4C) , returning to Niagara July 16–19. Since its inaugural event in 2011, i4C has brought together leading cool-climate producers, sommeliers, educators, & wine professionals from around the world, helping establish Niagara among the world’s leading cool-climate Chardonnay regions.
We look forward to joining the broader wine community at I4C.

🍽️ Classic PairingsShellfish, roast chicken, lobster with beurre blanc, mushroom dishes, triple-cream cheeses, & Comté.

✨ From razor-sharp & mineral to layered & complex, Chardonnay remains one of the clearest reflections of climate, site, & winemaking philosophy in a single grape variety.

🥂 What’s in your glass today?

🍷 Meet the Professionals Behind CAPS Ontario

This Wine Wednesday , we’re featuring our Education Director, Elsa MacDonald MW.

▫️ Master of Wine
▫️ Head of WSET Diploma-George Brown Polytechnic
▫️ International Wine Judge
▫️ Wine Educator & Industry Consultant

Elsa brings extensive experience across wine education, judging, consulting, and professional development within the global wine industry.

Her current roles include:
• Decanter World Wine Awards Judge
• WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada Judge
• Board Member- International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration
• Institute of Masters of Wine Committee Member

We’re incredibly proud to have her helping lead education at CAPS Ontario.