This year’s Sante was extraordinary and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us next year. The International Tasting at the Carlu was, once again, a great venue to check out over 70 different wineries from around the world. Jerome Jeandin from Taittinger was as charming as usual with his excellent knowledge and passion for the Champagne at Taittinger. I had the opportunity to try the Comte de Champagne 1998 and was blown away by it; the extensive fruit on the nose and the brioche with lime jelly on the finish was memorable. Another highlight of the tasting was the opportunity to meet with DogRidge Wines, winemaker, Fred Howard. His personality matches the playful nature of DogRidge’s wines. Winning the Sante award for best medium to full bodied red, the MVP Shiraz 2004 is a great wine with a price tag that would daunt many consumers. I do, however, love this wine and if you have a special occasion coming up or if you want to impress someone on a first date, this is a great wine to go with any hearty meal.

Share a Glass attended a fabulous evening at the Hart House for Sante Down Under. The atmosphere was great and the selection of wines were impeccable. The food that Chef Marco Tucci created faired perfectly with the bold reds and refreshing whites (Talk about a major generalization). My two favourite dishes were the Barramundi & Fennel Salad and the succulent Lamb Chops off the BBQ that guest chef, Anthony Sedlak created.