Last week I had the pleasure of attending three events celebrating wine, terroir, and the artisans who work their magic.
May 11
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG and Tuscan IGP/DOP Walk About
On Monday afternoon, I attended a masterclass and walk-around tasting featuring select wines from Montepulciano’s renowned Vino Nobile di Montepulciano appellation. Montepulciano has been celebrated for its wines since Roman times, and the “Nobile” designation reflects the wine’s historic place on the tables of royalty and political elites.
Strategically perched on a hilltop between Florence and Siena, Montepulciano spent centuries caught in the rivalry between the two city-states before Florence secured lasting control in 1511. The region later became one of Italy’s first appellations to earn DOCG status in 1980.
For those less familiar with Italian wine law, DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) is the country’s highest-quality designation, awarded to wines recognized for both their reputation and a distinct sense of place. DOC wines occupy the next tier, while IGT classifications generally cover broader geographic areas with more flexible production rules.
At the tasting, we sampled wines from a range of producers. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is predominantly made from Sangiovese — locally known as Prugnolo Gentile — often blended with varieties such as Canaiolo, Colorino, Mammolo, and Merlot.
Among the standout producers were Contucci, a family-owned estate with roots dating back to the 11th century; La Ciarliana, a boutique family-run winery; and Carpineto, whose wines impressed with their bold structure and velvety texture. Carpineto wines are currently available in BC, and hopefully wines from Contucci and La Ciarliana will soon follow.
Guests also enjoyed a light lunch of Italian specialties prepared by The Loft at Earls. The arancini were especially memorable.
Hosted by the Italian Trade Agency.
May 12
Top Drop Vancouver
Top Drop Vancouver is the city’s premier small-production, terroir-driven wine festival, bringing together more than 70 international and local wineries in Yaletown. It was a fantastic event, with proceeds benefiting the BC Hospital Foundation.
The trade sessions covered a wide range of themes, from a lively “Wake Up with Champagne” tasting to “The Outer Limits,” a seminar designed to challenge perceptions through modern perspectives and distinctive wines.
The afternoon concluded with a relaxed walk-around tasting that offered plenty of opportunities to meet and speak directly with the people behind the labels.
May 13
Invisible Forces: Pathways to Terroir
Have you ever wondered how the term terroir relates to wine—or even what terroir really means?
Terroir is a French concept that describes how a region’s unique environmental conditions, combined with human intervention, give a crop—particularly grapes—a distinct sense of place. This masterclass, hosted by World Wine Synergy, was one of the most detailed terroir seminars I’ve ever attended. Together, Dr. John Volpe (UVic Ecogastronomy Lab), Bernard Duseigneur (Domaine Duseigneur), and Lambros Papadimitriou presented fourteen wines through five case studies that explored everything from elevation, temperature, water stress, and soil composition
to the role of human intervention.
It quickly became apparent that cooler sites with greater access to water produced wines with higher acidity and fresher, lighter styles. In contrast, warmer, drier sites produced wines with riper fruit, fuller body, and greater structure, while volcanic soils contributed intensity, minerality, and salinity.
Perhaps most importantly, the seminar emphasized that human decision-making in the vineyard is inseparable from terroir itself. I was fortunate to sit beside Dr. John Volpe over lunch, where he explained that terroir coexists with human influence. While wines have been made in certain regions for hundreds—if not thousands—of years, it was ultimately people who selected the grape varieties and cultivated the vines. Today, winemakers continue to shape terroir by pushing boundaries and experimenting with new varieties and styles.
This masterclass demonstrated that terroir is not simply an abstract term, but a living foundation that continues to evolve and express itself through wine.
A sumptuous 3 course lunch followed provided by Hydra Estiatorio Mediterranean.
For more information about the specific wines please check out Valerie van der Gracht’s article Wine Tasting With World Wine Synergy https://myvancity.ca/2026/05/14/wine-tasting-with-world-wine-synergy/