British Columbia wine professionals tasted over 1,000 glasses of mystery wine to determine the Best Wine Taster in BC, who was unveiled at the finale in Kelowna this week. 

The first ever Tasting Games, organized by Terroir Consulting, featured nine wine celebrities battling on stage to determine the origin and varietal of mystery wine in their glasses. 

Photo credit: Terroir Consulting

Over 200 wine industry participants competed alongside them, with the top scoring celebrity and top scoring audience member from each of the three Tasting Games divisions graduating to the finale event in Kelowna this week.

At the finale, the contestants had to taste five mystery wines in front of an audience of wine professionals. 

At the end of the evening, Matthew Landry, wine director at the Stablehouse Bistro in Vancouver was awarded the Best Wine Taster in BC trophy. 

Photo credit: Terroir Consulting
 Landry beat out local finalists Severine Pinte, winemaker at Le Vieux Pin, Tanja Martell from Red Lips Wine Sips, grape farmer Cynthia Enns, Cask & Barrel purchaser Shanyn Ward and fellow Vancouver sommelier Christina Hartigan, the wine director at Wildebeest Restaurant. 
 
“I really was surprised to win,” commented Landry. “These wine professionals are really at the top of their game throughout the industry, and it was a privilege to be tasting alongside them.”
 
Landry took home the honour of Best Sommelier in BC from the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers earlier this year. 

Photo credit: Terroir Consulting
 “I have tasting sheets written for every major grape, so I know what they should taste like. I add everything I sense up in my head against that list, and simply make my best guess.”
 
Proceeds from the Tasting Games benefit viticulture students at Okanagan College and participants in Start Fresh Project’s Culinary Arts and Farm Education program, for those experiencing employment barriers due to mental health.