Judging at the IVWA

This past week, I've been in Calgary judging at the Wine Access International Value Wine Awards (IVWA). This annual competition attracts over 1000 entries from all over the world and the only requirement is that the wines are available for under $25 somewhere in Canuckland, making them a good value wine.

Now, I know many of my Atlantic readers might argue that a $25 wine is premium, and $20 is a more logical cut-off price, or maybe even $15, and I'd be inclined to agree. But, when the results are published later on in a special issue of Wine Access, readers will notice that they weight the wines by price, so the under $15 wines get lots of press. They also do a list of Killer Values, so a $10 wine that scores 88/100 would be considered one of the "big winners" of the competition.

I'm representing Atlantic Canada this week, being the only judge from East of Quebec, so I have to be larger than life, yelling out my opinions and screaming "You're all wrong," storming out of the room whenever I love a wine that no one else likes. Seriously though, this rarely happens, as we are all professional, experienced judges, and we are generally in agreement on which wines are the best in a particular flight.

Judging approximately 70 wines in a day may sound like an impossible task, but it is actually not that difficult when you have been doing it for a while. I'm in good company here, judging with Canadian wine luminaries including (but not limited to) recent Master of Wine graduate Rhys Pender, a transplanted Aussie now living in the Similkameen Valley in British Columbia, Vancouver's Sid Cross, one of the most respected and experienced gentlemen in the wine world, and Toronto's Steve Thurlow, who judges competitions all over the world.

I'm gaining confidence as a judge and feel like I can hold my own. I've been doing national competitions for almost 10 years now, and this is my 3rd straight year here at the IVWA.

As the only Atlantic judge, I would like to see some more of my kin at this competition. Our region has really grown as both a wine destination - more and better wineries, especially in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia - and a place where the interest in wine is growing rapidly, reflected by the Sommelier program that has been running since 2000. I was in that first graduating class, and we now have 10 years worth of graduates, many of them working in the region's restaurants, wineries, and liquor sales locations. I'm one of the very few who are also wine writers.

I'd also like to see more female judges at the IVWA. Perhaps I could solve these two issues in one step by recommending some Atlantic palates of the female persuasion.

Alanna McIntyre comes to mind. She was one of our top Sommelier grads, has exceptional Italian wine knowledge, and works at Bishop's Cellar, an excellent private liquor store in Halifax. Her father also has one of the best vineyards in the region, growing, among other grapes, excellent Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc.

Amy Savoury is a Sommelier with winery and teaching experience, while Susan LeGallais is a Sommelier who does wine consulting in the Halifax area. There are other qualified women in Nova Scotia that I'm missing...

Linda Dickey is PEI's first Sommelier, and has many years in the restaurant industry as a manager and Sommelier. She was also the President of the Atlantic Chapter of CAPS (Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers) for the past couple of years.

Colette St. Pierre and Tammy Brideau-Lirette are two Sommelier graduates living in Moncton, New Brunswick. St. Pierre has had a career in the food industry, while Brideau, who has several years' experience in local restaurants, is now a Product Advisor at the ANBL.

Jane Smith is a new Sommelier graduate from New Brunswick, from the Fredericton class, who has great wine knowledge and a tested palate, although she doesn't work in the hospitality industry.

These are just a few of the female wine experts from Atlantic Canada that I'd be proud to have along to help me represent the region at this competition. Perhaps next year. In the meantime, I'll just keep up the fight.

Cheers!

Craig Pinhey is a writer and Sommelier, available for private tastings. Visit him at www.frogspad.ca and follow him on twitter (@frogspadca)