Wine Courses in Toronto

David Lawrason is one of Canada's most knowledgeable and respected experts on international and Canadian wine. David has tasted, taught and written about wine for over 30 years, visiting every major wine region several times. And as co-founder of the WineAlign National Wine Awards in 2001, his expertise on Canadian wines from coast to coast is second to none.

Formerly wine columnist for The Globe and Mail and Toronto Life, David is now a principal critic with WineAlign.com, Canada’s leading wine review website. Over the years he has conducted hundreds of wine classes and seminars for consumer, corporate and trade clients, including sommelier programs at Humber, Niagara and George Brown Colleges in Ontario. He joined Fine Vintage Ltd in 2012, teaching WSET, French Wine Professional, Sensory Masterclass and the Canadian Wine Scholar which he helped develop with James Cluer and David Munro.

He has a very gentlemanly style, is thoughtful, considered, and easy to listen to. He is without question one of the best educators in the wine industry.

Writer, Judge, Wine Critic, Educator, Sommelier. Sara is one of the stars of the Ontario wine scene and highly respected by her peers. She is President of the Ontario Chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers and writes for several prestigious wine publications. But it is her beautiful relaxed teaching style that makes her courses so engaging as well as educational.

Sara is a Toronto-based wine consultant, educator, sommelier, wine critic and principal partner with WineAlign.com.

She has worked in cellars both in Niagara and in Bordeaux, France. Sara formerly held the title of Sommelier of Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto and at the Platinum Club of the Air Canada Centre.

She writes freelance for a number of publications and travels extensively reporting on classic and emerging wine regions. A graduate of the University of Toronto and Niagara College’s Winery and Viticulture technician program, she continues to participate in judging wine competitions across the country and abroad such as Argentina and Portugal.

Currently, and is an instructor of the Wine and Spirits Education Trust program in Toronto with Fine Vintage Ltd. With a global perspective, Sara’s paramount focus is on southern French wine regions and she is an accredited Rhône Valley Vineyards Educator.

Jennifer's love affair and studies with wine started over 20 years ago by taking a course at the local college. From there, she immediately leapt into the Sommelier Certification from ISG, then Diploma from WSET, and finally the Master Sommelier Exams. She became Canada’s first female Master Sommelier in 2011, a huge achievement.

Her restaurant industry experience is vast, starting off in Toronto Restaurants two decades ago. For 7 years she ran one of Canada’s top wine programs in Toronto, spanning over 6 restaurants and overseeing a multi-million dollar beverage program, while mentoring the properties 11 Sommeliers. Jennifer most recently was employed with California based Jackson Family Wines representing their brands throughout Canada. She is now writing a book on plant based food & wine matching and feels that this is the next huge wine trend.

Jennifer has been integral in the Canadian and Ontario Sommelier Competitions, overseeing all technical aspects for the past several years and judging. She is also an active teacher with the Court of Masters. In short, you will love her approachable and easy-going style, yet be reassured that her knowledge is second to none.

Brent holds the Advanced Sommelier designation from the Court of Master Sommelier and sat the rigorous Master Sommelier exam. He also holds the WSET and ISG diplomas and has traveled extensively throughout the great wine regions of the world. Brent is the Sommelier at the exclusive Granite Club in Toronto where he oversees the wine and beverage program.

He has over 25 years of hospitality experience and previously worked as the Food & Beverage Manager and Wine Director at Grouse Mountain in Vancouver, B.C. Prior to that he handled Sommelier duties for several boutique wineries in the Niagara region.

At The Granite Club, he also manages the Club’s Wine Society which focuses on specialty dinners, education, travel, wine writing and private cellar development. He is constantly tasting to create one of the finest wine lists in Canada, he knows thousands of producers and often seems to be packing his bags for another trip to a wine region somewhere. Simply put, Brent is a wealth of knowledge and you’ll enjoy his approachable style.