Friendly social atmosphere, terrific food & wine pairing and great prizes – just a taste of attendee feedback

Written by Leslie Barber, IABC/Toronto member and volunteer, IABC/Toronto Director of Networking and Special Events

It was an evening to remember…December 9th’s Wine Tasting and Networking event

This year the Networking & Events team wanted to celebrate the season and stay warm at the same time. What better way to do that than hosting a wine tasting?

Attendees arrived at the Watermark Irish Pub on Queen’s Quay with cold noses and fingers but ready to have a great time. Once they were convinced to doff coats and heavy winter gear, they warmed up nicely in the pub’s seasonal atmosphere, enjoyed some fine eats from the Watermark’s kitchen and meandered from group to group catching up with old friends and making new ones. The evening’s activities also included a tasting of three splendid wines: a Milton Vineyard Riverpoint Chardonnay from 2008, a Quinta de Ventozelo Touriga Nacional from 2007 and a Water Wheel Memsie Shiraz-Cabernet also from 2008. Just click on the name of any of the wines to be taken directly to the tasting notes discussed at the event by our onsite sommelier.

And because we couldn’t let everyone leave empty-handed, we showed our appreciation for new members and old by drawing for several prizes from a two-night stay at any Delta hotel and resort in Canada to ROM and Ontario Science Centre passes. Many thanks to our sponsors Casa Loma, Ontario Science Centre, CN Tower, Royal Ontario Museum, APEX Public Relations, KAO Brands, and COTY Cosmetics for their generous donations.

Our decision to host the Taste the Season event at the Watermark was a simple one influenced by the reputation of the pub and the quality of the food and venue space. Anyone who sampled the crab cakes or the Angus sliders will be the first to agree that the Watermark chef is in top form.

That’s it for the Networking & Events team for 2010, but be sure to check us out in early 2011; our first event of the new year will be in February. For a listing of all upcoming IABC/Toronto events, visit the IABC/Toronto Events page.

Carrie MacAfee, President, IABC/Toronto (left) presents new IABC member Eric Butler, BAH, MPC (right), with the grand prize – a two-night stay to any Delta hotel and resort in Canada

Carrie MacAfee, President, IABC/Toronto (left) presents IABC member Michelle Di Rocco of the Devon Group (right), with a family pass to the Ontario Science Centre