By Lorie O’Sullivan
Bruce Wallner MS takes the prize on Sunday night.
Congratulations go out Bruce Wallner, Master Sommelier who beat out 15 other competitors for this year’s BOSC (Best Ontario Sommelier Competition) held at the Fifth Grill and Terrace on Sunday, April 22 in Toronto, Ontario. The event was put on through the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS).
The morning portion started with all competitors writing a theory exam and a blind tasting of two wines. The top 4 then moved on to the service portion (decanting a red wine and opening a bottle of sparkling wine, answering menu questions and another blind tasting which included 2 spirits) that was held in front of live audience, most of whom were peers and colleagues in the business which was quite intense. During the menu portion of the live exam, contestants were asked about Cantal (a firm cheese from the Cantal region of France) and about Navelwort (an edible flowering plant) and a Canadian wine to match.
The head judge table included former World’s Best Sommelier challenger and Master Sommelier candidate, Veronique Rivest, John Szabo, Master Sommelier, and Gilberto Bojaca, past president of CAPS.
After the competition all competitors and guests were invited to a walk around tasting with some of the cities best wine agents, then it was off to dinner where esteemed Sommelier Anton Potvin was the MC and orchestrated the evening portion where it would be announced who would be the winner of this year’s BOSC competition. Prizes for the 1st place winner included a trip to Germany, Argentina and Napa Valley and of course, plenty of great wines!
Congratulations also go out to second place winner, Steve Robinson of Atelier restaurant in Ottawa, third place was Lucie Trepanier also of Atelier in Ottawa and fourth was Corey Ladouceur of Hockley Valley Resort.
The next BOSC competition will be held in 2014 so it’s not too late to start studying!
