CCR Wine Tasting: Rare Vintages from Humble Roots to Triumph - November 22, 2025

NB: Full/wait list open.

Italy possesses an extraordinary wealth of native grape varieties -- a living archive of viticultural biodiversity stretching back centuries. Yet for decades, many of these indigenous cultivars fell into obscurity and were overshadowed as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and other international varietals swept across the Italian countryside. Now, a determined group of winemakers deeply rooted in their ancestral terroir are reclaiming this legacy. They are reviving forgotten native grapes unique to their regions, coaxing them back from near extinction and crafting distinctive wines that capture the authentic character of the land. The result is a collection of rare vintages virtually unknown beyond Italy's borders, expressions that tell stories of place, tradition, and a commitment to the preservation of this wine heritage.

When: Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025

Time: 7 p.m. 

Where: Residence of CCR members – Villa Patrizi area (exact details will be sent to registered participants).

Cost: €35 for members (€40 for non-members); advance payment required to confirm your place. A light dinner will follow the wine tasting.

RSVP to Linda; payment by Monday, Nov. 17 at canadarome@gmail.com. Please note that you are financially responsible for your reservation.

We are pleased to have Canadian-Italian sommelier Cindi Emond lead this wine tasting in English. Following years of dedicated wine studies, Cindi completed WSET and three diploma levels, and has certifications from Fondazione Italiana Sommelier and the Worldwide Sommelier Association. With her background in education and as a fine art and documentary photographer, Cindi combines technical knowledge with the gift of storytelling, making wine accessible and entertaining.

CCR Wine Tasting: Rare Indigenous Grape Varietals of Italy – February 3, 2024

NB Change of date.

This will be a tasting with a difference! As wines from rare indigenous grape varietals are seldom exported, they are hard to find outside their country of origin. Mostly grown at very small and specific locations, the vines on which these grapes are grown often face extinction due to neglect. The opportunity to taste these Italian wines is especially interesting because of their scarcity and limited production.

Where: Residence of CCR members (Villa Ada area, details will be sent to registered participants).

When: Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024

Time: 7 p.m. 

Cost: €35 for members (€40 for non-members); advance payment required to confirm your place. A light dinner will follow the wine tasting.

RSVP to Linda at canadarome@gmail.com; payment by Mon. Jan. 29. Please note that you are financially responsible for your reservation.

 

Ken Hayden, born in Quebec City, will lead this tasting. He is the Founder and Director of Appellation Wines, a wine agency registered in Ontario since 2000. In 2009, to distinguish his work from that of the competition, Ken decided to sell rare indigenous varietal wines exclusively, becoming the only company to do so in Canada. In 2017 he set up the Autoctovino platform, which features ongoing research on rare indigenous varietals found globally, listing both wineries and importers that share this interest. A wine enthusiast since the 1980s, Ken completed the International Sommelier Guild Program in 1997, followed by two additional sommelier programs focused on Italian wines.

CCR Wine Tasting: Wines from Marche, Abruzzo and Molise - May 19, 2023

Join us in discovering hidden gems from some of Italy’s lesser known regions for wine. This tasting will take us from Marche, a relatively undiscovered territory for wine lovers, to the flourishing grape-growing Abruzzo, to the little known Molise.

 

Where: Residence of CCR members – outdoor terrace weather permitting, indoor if rain (Villa Patrizi area -- details will be sent to registered participants).

When: Friday, May 19, 2023

Time: 7 p.m. 

Cost: €35 for members (€40 for non-members); advance payment required to confirm your place. A light dinner will follow the wine tasting.

RSVP to Linda; payment by Monday, May 15 at canadarome@gmail.com. Please note that you are financially responsible for your reservation.

 

We are pleased to have Marco Lori, Italian sommelier and wine master, lead one of CCR’s wine tastings. Marco’s sommelier training in 1995 sparked his passion for wine and set in motion years of study. In 2014 he earned the “Italian Sommelier Executive Wine Master” status, recognized by the Worldwide Sommelier Association. He is the founder of “Off the Vine,” a gastro-tourism venture in Italy.