iYellow Summer Wine Jam - Review

On August 29, I attended iYellow Wine Club's Summer Wine Jam, which has held at Airship 37 near The Distillery District. The venue allowed for both indoor and outdoor imbibing, which was perfect for this fine summer night. I arrived there just after 7 p.m. and the place was filling up across the 2 rooms and the outdoor area quite nicely.

Over 70 wines from around the world were available for tasting, spread out over 15 "wine stations". There was quite a variety of wines to choose from, including a Port wine, and a half-size bottle of Australian red wine.

The food was catered by Berkeley Events, there were three food stations located throughout the 2 rooms, featuring 5-6 food items in all. Mid-way through I took a break from wine and decided to fill my stomach with some eats. I had 2 food tickets (included with my admission), so I had the fish and chips, followed by a veggie poutine. Both items seemed to be in popular demand, as I had to wait for a fresh batch of both dishes to arrive. Extra food items were $5 a pop, but I was satisfied at this point and continued to taste more wine.

Music was provided by the usual iYellow event DJ - Sam Fleming. Towards the end of the night, the vibe was definitely club-like, but without the dance floor. iYellow events are typically fun and casual, unlike the trade tasting events that I attend, which are generally quite serious and more business-like.

Most of the wines are quite readily available at the LCBO, so this was a great opportunity to taste wines without having to buy it first and be disappointed. I was pleasantly surprised to find a few Vintages wines as well. Overall, there were no mind-blowing wines, but there were a few that stood out for me (see below) and I would be happy to add these to my collection or serve at gatherings.

YALUMBA THE Y SERIES VIOGNIER 2012 - South Australia (#624502) (XD) - $16.95
Was among my picks from the recent August 17 Vintages release. Medium-high intensity aromas of spring flowers, ginger and white pepper. Medium-bodied palate with more lovely floral notes, joined by tropical fruits. Oily texture and lengthy finish. Quite nice and my favourite of the evening! Score: 88+ pts.

GIESEN ESTATE RIESLING 2012 - Marlborough, New Zealand (#277673) (MS) - $15.95
Copious amounts of petrol and minerals waft from the glass, along with hints of honey. Medium-sweet on the palate, but balanced nicely with refreshing acidity. Good aromas replays and a medium-long finish. LCBO General List product and always available. Score: 88 pts

GIESEN THE BROTHERS LAND SAUVIGNON BLANC 2012 - Marlborough, New Zealand (#308270) (XD) - $17.95
Medium intensity nose with delicate passion fruit, grass, grapefruit and nettle aromas. Medium-bodied with balanced aroma replays, plus some tropical fruit notes on the palate. Finish is bitter and slightly hot. Serve well-chilled. LCBO General List product and always available. Score: 88 pts