The thought of what Opimian has done for the past 50 years and what it will do for the next 50 is nothing less than awe-inspiring.
The joy of wine is a shared experience. Wine is almost always tasted together. With your family, friends, the winemaker, a Master of Wine, or thirty people you just met. Our Club provides all of those experiences.
Our 300th Cellar Offering is no different. Many, many new wines and spirits join the Member favourites. The availability of mixed cases continues to expand—14 this Cellar! Smaller pack sizes and magnum formats are also within these pages—all in response to your preferences and feedback.
It all begins on the cover with our treasured partner, Geoff Hardy. So strong is our connection that he has created a unique blend to celebrate our 50th for both the featured wine and the remarkable wine for the lucky Founders Choice subscribers. His daughter, Bec Hardy, will again provide the wines for The Masters Case. The wines and the virtual tasting with Bec were so well received that we knew we had to do it again.
This is also the first Cellar whose wines were tasted and selected by two Masters of Wine. Louise Wilson MW and Michael Palij MW spent several days in our Montreal Head Office to taste and score all of the submitted samples. Only then did they compare notes to determine which wines you see here. This is an effective way to leverage the expertise that Opimian has at its fingertips. We, the Members, are the winners.
Thanks to the Glover Family, their premium vineyard, Zephyr, and new producer Te Mata, New Zealand’s Original Fine Wine Estate, NZ provides more choice than last year. The weather and production challenges have not completely cooperated, but they report a positive trend. Australia impressed our MWs this year with excellent quality and value. Be sure to check out the new winery Thistledown Wines. Founded and run by two Masters of Wine, Thistledown specializes in old vine Grenache and brings home awards wherever they go.
The original wine lover’s dream region, Burgundy, is back. Our Opimian trip to France earlier this year included several stops at our producers in the region. They did not disappoint. The current vintage has been a challenge. Weather-related damage was extensive, making availability much lower. So order early to make sure you get your share.
Our 50th Anniversary Season will be celebrated in many ways. There will be Opimian trips to South America and Italy. Producers will visit with their wines for events across the country. Winemakers have already begun to create exceptional wines to mark the occasion. There’s never been a better time to be an Opimian Member.
Cheers to the joy of wine!
Michael & Greg