L’Ordre Mondial at Olives Restaurant
October 31, 2009
Mel Miners, Vice-Chargé de Presse
Our Fall L’Ordre Mondial event was held on Saturday, October 31 beginning at noon. In this manner, we could enjoy the event and still be able to treat the hobgoblins as they combed the neighbourhoods for goodies.
The event was a reception and tasting of wines from eight very exclusive Napa Valley wineries. These were not your average Napa Valley high volume, high advertising wineries. In fact one winery has only seven acres under cultivation. Many of the vintners have Calgary or Canadian connections. As a result, some of the production is distributed almost exclusively in Calgary.
The wineries represented were:
Ancien Wines, Inc
Boeschen Vinyards
Clos du Val
Rubicon Estate
Schramsberg Vinyards
Terra Valentine
Truchard Vineyards
Ziata
For a few of us that were early to arrive, there was a glass of Olives house bubbly – Lini 910 “Labrusca” Lambrusco Bianco from Emilia Romagna, Italy. Promptly at noon, Mark Wilson, Vice Echanson and Garth Brown, Maitre de Table welcomed our Bailliage to Olives and opened the tasting. The representatives were spaced around the large open area at Olives. In the centre of the room there was a pillar where a generous plate of antipasto and cheeses was located.
We were given a sheet which had the wineries and the wines that were available for tasting. The range was magnificent – from a pair of beautiful sparkling wines, through some with a faint effervescence to the still wines – white, rose, blush and red. After that, it was “circulation time”.
As we wandered from table to table, the serving staff passed around a selection of hours d’oeuvres. It became an interesting challenge at times to keep straight which goodies one had consumed and which wines had been tasted. The wines ranged in vintage from 2005 through 2008. The prices also had a nice range – from the low teens to almost $200. Needless to say, everyone had a great time tasting and enjoying both food and wine.
Of note, Olives is the home base to Stephanie Schnepf, winner of the National Commis Rotisseur competition held in Victoria. Unfortunately, she was not on duty at this event, so we will have to see her in action some other evening.
Click here to view the menu for the Antipasti Platters and the Hors d’Oeuvres.
