The Spanish D.O.(Designation of Origin) Rueda will host an in-person dinner at The Chef’s House on Wednesday, October 11th, in partnership with The Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts at George Brown College. The evening will feature five Spanish wines, paired with a five-course menu created by George Brown College students under the tutelage of Chef instructors. The menu will include Castilian favourites, including trucha (poached trout), lomo de cerdo asado (roast pork), and lazos de San Guillermo (sweet puff pastry with candied almonds and honey cream). Renée Sferrazza, Cityline Wine Expert, Sommelier, and wine communicator, will guide the wine tasting and lead the participants on a virtual tour of Rueda. After dinner, there will be an additional wine sampling of five wines to explore Rueda in the glass further.
Wine production in D.O. Rueda dates back to the sixteenth century when King Alfonso VI granted the land to monasteries, and now the appellation has 78 wineries and over 1,580 vine-growers. Located 170 km northwest of Madrid, near the River Duero, Rueda is known for the Verdejo grape, a 1000-year-old indigenous grape. This varietal is renowned for its unique palette of aromas and flavours — fennel, grassy, and citrus notes with intense fruit and refreshing acidity.
Rueda is the only Spanish wine region specializing in white wine. Ninety-six per cent of Rueda’s vineyards grow white varietals, and eighty-seven per cent of those develop Verdejo. Verdejo is Spain’s most popular white wine, and of all wines in Spain — red, white, or rosé — it is second only to Rioja.
The Chef’s House is a one-of-a-kind student-operated restaurant in Canada, located in the heart of downtown Toronto. It’s an innovative, student-focused concept restaurant, where George Brown Centre for Hospitality & Culinary Arts (CHCA) students have the opportunity to learn through experience. Students are mentored by dozens of professional staff, using their skills to provide elevated dining experiences to guests for real-world experience and education. Students from all over the world attend George Brown College for this exclusive program, building the next generation of hospitality and culinary talent.
Renée Sferazza, a Cityline Wine Expert, Sommelier, and wine communicator, has dedicated her life to grapes. As a Court of the Master Sommeliers Certified Sommelier, she has made wine her life’s work. Renée is a driven curator of wine experiences with a flair for making wine fun and understandable, sharing her passion for the vine. She knows the ins and outs of the wine industry, consults for notable Toronto restaurants, and writes a monthly wine column — The Wine Effect — for Distillery District Magazine. Renée is a board member of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers.
These wines are selected for the guided tasting:
Dinner Wines
BODEGAS MOHA, SL (LAGAR DE MOHA) - Sapientia Verdejo 2022
JOSÉ PARIENTE - José Pariente Sauvignon Blanc 2022
HERMANOS DEL VILLAR - Oro de Castilla Verdejo 2022
FINCA MONTEPEDROSO, S.L.U - Finca Montepedroso 2022
BODEGA GÓTICA - Cimbalo Rosado 2022
Tasting Wines
BODEGAS VERDEAL - Ayre Verdejo 2022
BODEGAS CASTELO DE MEDINA, S.A. - Castelo de Medina Verdejo 2022
BODEGAS PROTOS - Protos Verdejo 2022
JAVIER SANZ VITICULTOR - V-Malcorta Verdejo 2022
MARQUES DE RISCAL - Verdejo 2022