So many wines...
So little time.
About
us
Wine is our passion: From viticulture to oenology, from the grape to the winemaking, to the kitchen where our chef juggles with the aromas and our sommeliers with the pairings, wine is a quintessential component of the art of the table. We therefore have developed a holistic process around wine with 3 objectives: discover, create,
and share.
We serve the Ottawa region with various services: consultation, wine tastings, at-home fine dining. We also offer online services such as cellar management and menu creation with wine pairings.
Our team is looking forward to take you on a journey into the fascinating world of wine.
A long time wine enthusiast
Marie-France graduated with Honours from the Sommelier program at Algonquin College.
She pursued her studies with the WSET Advanced Certificate, graduating with Distinction. She also became a French Wine Scholar in 2015.
Passionate about all things wine, Marie-France created a consulting/tasting business, Champagne & Wines, to share her knowledge and bring to her clients’ homes or businesses a fun, educational and contemporary perspective on wine knowledge and tasting.
She is the Coodinator of the Sommelier & Bartending programs at Algonquin College.
Marie-France is the Vice-President of the National Capital Sommelier Guild.
In addition, Marie-France is the Wine Director for Coconut Lagoon & Thali.
Greg Nyman
Greg has been enjoying wine for 30 years, but only began to study and better understand what he’s been drinking a few years ago. Until recently he was a Director and General Manager for a large multinational laboratory supply company.
His career took him across Canada and around the world, developing new business opportunities and often finding time to experience the people, culture, food and wines of the places he visited. Wherever he travelled, he would look for the biggest boldest Reds he could find.
He continues to consult with private industry and government organisations but has also jumped head-first into the world of wine. While still a fan of big Cabernets and Zinfandels, Greg also enjoys exploring refreshing whites, subtle rosés and lighter bodied reds from around the world.
Greg is a graduate of the Algonquin College Sommelier program, receiving his Ontario Certificate with Honours. He has completed his WSET3 (advanced) qualification and is now studying to become a French Wine Scholar. Greg continues his formal wine, beer and spirits education as new opportunities arise.
He is a Director with the National Capital Sommelier Guild.
As a member of the Champagne and wines team, Greg enjoys leading tastings, sharing his own experiences and helping others pursue their passion for wines, craft beer and whisky. Greg is also the Ottawa Territory Manager for the Mellecey Wine Group in Ottawa and the surrounding area. Follow him on Twitter @TASTEwinefood and look out for Sommelier guided tours of Greater Ottawa and Prince Edward County boutique wineries.
Lisa Isabelle
Lisa’s interest in food and wine led her to the Algonquin College Sommelier Program where she graduated with Honours in 2015. She completed the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Level 3 Advanced Award in Wine and Spirits passing with Distinction the same year.
Her passion for learning, wine and travel has lead her to tasting wine at bodegas in Spain, on safari in Africa and along the Pacific Coast from Napa to the Okanagan Valley. She feels that just as every person has a story, so does every wine. She enjoys discovering and sharing their stories.
Lisa reviews wine for www.winecurrent.com, a newsletter reviewing the new wines to be released at Vintages and the LCBO in addition to wine available to order though consignment and Ontario wineries.
Our
services
From small gatherings to large corporate events, no two events are ever the same and each is personalized to meet and exceed our client’s expectations. Your event, your vision, your satisfaction.
Tasting Experiences
Introduction to Wine Tasting:
Learning to taste wines is a great way to deepen your appreciation for wine. With fun games and basic training, explore the world of wine one sip at a time and work your way through wines that you may never have heard of before or become reacquainted with old favourites.
Our sommeliers will give you the tools you need to understand what wines are appealing to your palate.
Exploring Food and Wine Pairings:
Exploring food and wine pairings is a great way to strengthen your knowledge of how wine and food interact with one another.
Learn how the basic elements of a dish influence the way flavours are perceived and, in turn, be amazed by how wine can enhance and intensify each flavour.
Wine and Cheese:
Pairing wine with cheese is a delicate task that requires a keen palate and a great imagination. We will match a flight of artisanal, unique cheese with select wines to ultimately enhance your wine and cheese experience.
With the guidance of our certified sommelier(s), discover how cheese can be paired with a variety of white, red and rose wine in complementing and contrasting styles.
Tour The World With Your Favourite Varietal:
You’ve always loved Pinot Noir, but only Burgundian Pinot Noir. Why not expand your palate and knowledge on the many ways Pinot Noir can be expressed throughout the many different terroirs and regions in the world.
Our team of sommeliers will lead you and your friends on tour around the world with your favourite grape varietal and, hopefully, you’ll learn to love your varietal in its many different expressions.
The Great Canadian Tour:
For a long time, Canada was unable to produce the same level of quality wine that other new world regions were. In the last decade, however, Canada has pulled ahead in new world production with quality wines that are delicious and intensely reflective of the terroir of our home and native land.
Explore varieties that are best expressed in Niagara and the Okanagan such as Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay. Our Canadian tour will allow you to develop a palate for wines that grow in our own backyard.
Discover Bordeaux:
Learn how to taste and appreciate fine Bordeaux wines from the easy going more accessible Merlot based Pomerol and St-Émilion to the more austere and robust Cabernet based St-Estèphe and Pauillac with as middle ground the finesse and elegance of the Merlot and Cabernet blend of St-Julien and Margaux.
Discover the difference between Right bank and Left bank wines. Taste the wonderful wines of Graves whose particularity is that there are as many whites as reds. Discover the joys of sweet wines from Sauternes, Barsac, Loupiac and Cadillac.
Learn how a fine wine evolves with age and taste the difference between youthful exuberance and the class and breed of a mature wine. Learn how climate influences the quality of the wine and why no two years are the same and learn how the terroir influences the wine and why each wine retains its signature character from one vintage to the next.
Finally, let yourself discover the joy of tasting and appreciating the finest wines the world has to offer.
Build your cellar:
Cellaring made simple with the guidance of our certified team of sommeliers. Learn how to choose wines in order to have a varied cellar.
Discover which wines to buy and how your purchases are influenced by the vintage. Learn the importance of keeping a logbook for your cellar. We will guide you in determining when to buy, drink and hold on to your precious cellar items.
Discover which wines to buy and how your purchases are influenced by the vintage. Learn the importance of keeping a logbook for your cellar. We will guide you in determining when to buy, drink and hold on to your precious cellar items.