Toronto, ON. The Ontario chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) -- Canada’s only national non-profit sommelier association -- is pleased to announce the winners of its 2025 CAPS Cup tasting challenge, held this week in three locations: the Vintage Conservatory on King St. in Toronto, Gitanes in Ottawa and at Rosewood Estates in Niagara. A collection of the province’s best and brightest sommeliers and hospitality trade professionals competed against their peers in a blind tasting event of six wines, to win bragging rights and prizing donated by Ontario winemaker, Gianluca Di Loro of Di Loro Fine Wines.
The CAPS Cup overall winner with the highest score was Jeffrey Roel, sommelier at Liberty Group’s Michelin-starred restaurant, DaNico in Toronto. The Toronto event winner was Luis Torres, sommelier at Daphne; the Ottawa region winner was Malcolm Gillies, sommelier at North & Navy, and Niagara event winner was sommelier, Jose Luis Fernandez, sommelier at Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa.
The line-up of wines blind tasted included a 2022 Wismer-Wingfield Chardonnay from Bachelder Wines; a 2020 Domaine` Bourdy Cotes du Jura; a 2023 Off-dry Riesling from Nahe from Donnhoff; a 2022 Fleurie “La Madone” Gamay from Guillaume Chanudet; and a 2019 Reserva Rioja Tempranillo from Valenciso.
Prizing was graciously donated by Di Loro Wines; wines for the tasting were graciously donated by Lifford Cellars, WineOnline.ca., Insider Wine and CGU Fine Wines.
“We’re thrilled with the turnout for this year’s fun and friendly peer-to-peer CAPS Cup challenge, and congratulate our top scorers across the province,” said Christian Perreault Hamel, technical director, CAPS Ontario, Best Ontario Sommelier 2024 and sommelier at Harbour Sixty in Toronto. “Congratulations to Jeff, Luis, Malcolm and Jose Luis for their wins, and to the rest of our competitors for their participation.”
"Congratulations to each of the sommeliers who competed in this year's event,” added Jennifer Wood, CAPS Ontario president, founder, Corkscrew Imports. “On behalf of CAPS, we thank the wine agencies who supplied the competition wines to make the event possible, and Vintage Conservatory, Rosewood and Gitanes for hosting us and providing outstanding event venues. Our annual competition continues to be an important platform for our members to showcase their skills, and we hope to see even more competitors next year."
Mr. Perreault Hamel continued, “We have a strong skill set in our province, and our events offer a great way to refine and hone one’s blind tasting skills and knowledge in a relaxed environment, as part of continuing education. We encourage the hospitality community to come out and participate in our future events and look forward to seeing everyone.”
A toast to winners, participants, and sponsors
The CAPS CUP participants reflected the diverse wine community in Ontario and included working professionals and students representing the wine education spectrum of Court of Master Sommeliers, CAPS and WSET certified programs. Facilitated by dedicated CAPS Ontario Board volunteers and sponsors, the event enabled CAPS Ontario to connect with its members and advance the sense of community within the provincial wine trade.