Michael Lutzmann and Greg Rinehart, Opimian Managing Directors
Opimian’s connection with Masters of Wine dates back to the very beginning. First Ken Christie MW and then Jane Masters MW have ably provided us with the guidance necessary to be and remain Canada’s Wine Club.
Over the last several years, the number and scope of MWs around the world have changed dramatically. There are now well over 400 Masters of Wine and that number is growing. Included in this prestigious list are more than ten Canadians. You will have noticed that over the past year or so, we have included the writing of many of them much to the delight of the Membership. We then added Louise Wilson MW as our full-time Senior Manager of Procurement.
As we continue to add to the expertise and diversity that Masters of Wine provide, Jane Masters MW will be pursuing other opportunities closer to home and around the world. We are so very grateful for Jane’s support of Opimian over the past twelve years. You never know–you may just see her as part of the 50th Anniversary celebrations in 2023.
Opimian travels are back
As this is written, a busload of Opimian Members is visiting BLB Vignobles for their first stop in Languedoc-Roussillon, having spent time in beautiful Provence, Rhône, and Champagne. Opimian’s return to wine travel has been exciting and educational, but we’ll have to leave the Loire for another visit!
Opimian Members love Languedoc-Roussillon wines for their price-to-quality ratio. Our partners in this region–BLB Vignobles, Château Canet, and Domaine Jones–have harnessed this natural bounty to provide Opimians with exceptional wines year after year.
Katie Jones and her husband Jean-Marc Astruc have been given some special attention this year. Not only is Jean-Marc’s Herbarium Grenache our feature wine, one of Katie’s is a Coup de Coeur.
Our growing subscription programs Founders Choice and The Masters Case both come from Domaine de la Jasse (BLB Vignobles). These programs are the perfect way for you to get to know a producer and their wines.
You will find your Loire favourites well represented: Sancerre, Vouvray and Pouilly Fumé, among others. Maison Foucher-Lebrun finds and offers many fine, small producers for you to choose from.
Our offer from Provence, a region famous around the world for its rosé, has been enhanced this time around. Domaines Tour Campanets and Dupuy de Lôme return by popular demand, and new partner Château Maïme has impressed the Master of Wine. We proudly present them to you for your drinking pleasure.
Our intent is to provide value with every page. In addition to the listings where you get far more information on the wines than from any other Canadian source, we offer serving suggestions, educational articles, producer profiles, and everything you need to know to make the most of your Membership. Cheers to Canada’s Wine Club!
Cheers to Canada’s Wine Club!
Michael & Greg