CAPS Atlantic

WHEN: Wednesday May 6th WHERE: The NSLC Port, Clyde Street, Halifax TIME: 6:00pm COST: $10 Established in 1693 in Stellenbosch, South Africa, Meerlust Estate has been under the stewardship of the Myburgh family since 1756. Famed for its historic Cape Dutch manor house, the estate pioneered premium Bordeaux-style blending in South Africa and has established itself as a premier world-class winery. Deidre Taylor will be joining us all the way from South Africa. Deidre received her diploma from the Cape Wine Academy in 2008 and recently completed her DipWSET in 2023. She is currently at the helm of the sales and marketing team for Meerlust and will be bring with her some incredible wines. LINK IN BIO

WHEN: APRIL 1st 2026 WHERE: The Ostrich Club - 5529 Young Street, Halifax TIME: 6:30pm COST: Members - $99 * Non-Members - $112 Want to come talk about wine, castles, food pairing, terroir and communism? Join us at The Ostrich Club on Wednesday, April 1st, for an informative (educational but chill) night of exclusive Czech wines, Czech-inspired snacks and a walk through the regions, styles, grapes and gossip from Certified Sommelier, Alana Steele. Expect an educational experience that is both valuable to wine professionals and approachable and fun for an enthusiast. The wines are curated from Alana’s Crushpad Club cellar, snacks are curated to pair and prepared by The Ostrich Club Chef, Moira Murray, the servers are CAPS students, and the vibes will be delicious and fun. See you on Wednesday, Czech, please! *Active members and students currently enrolled in a course may use discount code CZECHPLEASE at check out. Link in Bio!

CAPS Canada, in collaboration with Vins de Bourgogne is delighted to invite you to the in-person broadcast of Rendez-vous avec les vins de Bourgogne — Auxey-Duresses. Often overshadowed by its famous neighbour Meursault, Auxey-Duresses is one of Bourgogne’s quiet treasures: an appellation shaped by generations of dedicated winegrowers since 1937, and a landscape full of character and charm waiting to be discovered. This session features a deep dive into the appellation with Robin Kick MW, exploring its history, terroir, and producer perspectives, followed by a live online tasting and open Q&A with the winemakers. The webinar will be broadcast live in 5 cities across Canada. Guests will receive 6 different wines to taste and light snacks will be provided. March 4th Pazzo Restaurant 1:45-4pm $30 *LINK IN BIO*

MERROIR vs TERROIR Time: 6:30-8:30 Where: The Ostrich Club, 5529 Young Street When: Tuesday, January 20th Cost: $80 per person (members and students) $90 per person (non-members) Wanna talk, time, place, salty and slippery with us? Join us for an educational (but chilled) evening discussing the concept of terroir and merroir and their effects on texture, flavour and aroma. Certified Sommelier and Merroir enthusiast, Brad George will walk us through 6 of Atlantic Canada’s Best oysters while Certified Sommelier and Lead Educator, Alana Steele collaborates with pairings that are anything but typical. This event is designed for enthusiasts, professionals and the curious. We will discuss climate, moderating factors, and production while connecting with the principles and rules of food pairing and how to break them.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN Our introductory course ‘Sensory Development & Wine Styles’ is set to start on Tuesday January 27th and run weekly until April 7th . In this module, students will develop their palate and the ability to discern quality and value. They will learn how to professionally evaluate wine, recognize faults, and finally, they will become familiar with strategies for food and wine pairings and proper service skills. This course is led by two of Halifax’s most well known and experienced sommeliers Alana Steele and Erin Hamson. This course is the first module of the CAPS sommelier certification program but can be taken as a stand alone course for those who wish to simply gain more confidence with wine essentials. Please visit our website for more information. Link In Bio!

We are deeply saddened to share the passing of our cherished friend and colleague, Ann E. Miller(December 21, 1942 – October 31, 2025). Ann served as a valued Board Member of CAPS Atlantic, where she devoted herself wholeheartedly to strengthening our sommelier community in Halifax. As a certified sommelier herself (2011), she brought warm friendships and endless encouragement to the program and to its members. Her humour and infectious laugh brightened every class and monthly tasting she attended. In her role overseeing memberships, Ann was not only an administrator but a builder of relationships always welcoming new members and championing the growth of our local chapters sommelier network. We would like to send condolences to Art and the rest of her family and friends and raise a toast in her honour.

When: Friday October 24th, 2025 Time: 12:30pm Where: The Port by NSLC 5485 Clyde Street, Halifax Cost: $20 Who: Weingut Taubenschuss Thomas Tuabenschuss from famed Weingut Taubenschuss will be here talking and tasting all things Austria. Weingut Taubenschuss can be found in Weinvertal, Austria’s largest specific wine-growing region. It extends from the river Danube in the south to the Czech border in the north, and from the Manhartsberg ridge in the west to the Slovakian border in the east. It’s unique climatic influences and geographical conditions allow it to produce an array of styles from mineral driven Gruner Veltliner to fruity Rotberger and so many in between. Join us as Thomas will be chatting all things from terroir to low-intervention vineyard management while leading us through an exclusive tasting of 5 different cuvees. His wines have never been commercially available in our market so don’t miss out, they’re INCREDIBLE! Link In Bio! *Only a small amount of ticket are available for this event. As a courtesy, please do not purchase a ticket unless you can make the event.

Calling all Canadian Sommeliers – MASTER OF PORT Canada 2025-2026 🇨🇦🍷 Think you have what it takes to become Canada’s next Master of Port? Registration is now open for the competition, exclusively for active sommeliers and members of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers. 📍 Who can apply? * Active sommeliers, maîtres d’hôtel, head waiters, restaurateurs, wine store owners, or wine merchants (with a minimum 2 years’ experience). * Must be over 18 and a CAPS-ACSP member. * Past winners are not eligible. 📝 Exam Details: * Online exam: September 22, 2025, from 2:00–3:30pm EDT * 30 multiple-choice questions (1 point each) * 1 hour to complete (within the time slot) * No software required—just an internet connection * Top scorers from each CAPS chapter advance to the Quarterfinals in Porto, Portugal (Oct 12–16, 2025) ✈️ 📢 Don’t miss your chance to represent your chapter and showcase your expertise on the world stage! 👉 Take the exam here: flexiquiz.com/SC/N/mopcanada2025 Raise your glass, sharpen your skills, and claim your spot in the MASTER OF PORT journey. 🍷✨ #mopc2025 #masterofport #canadiansomm #somm

CAPS-AC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the members of CAPS Atlantic will be held via video conference (Microsoft Teams), on Thursday June 19 2025 at 6:00PM ATL. Members in good standing are welcome to attend. Meeting ID: 267 380 046 327 Passcode: wV3uj32T

The CAPS-Atlantic chapter is excited to announce that we have a brand new curriculum! Our certification courses are currently among the most comprehensive and up-to-date worldwide thanks to the hard work and dedication of our lead educators Alana Steele and Erin Hamson. Our introductory course ‘Sensory Development & Wine Styles’ is set to start on Tuesday March 4th and run weekly until May 13th. In this module, students will develop their palate and the ability to discern quality and value. They will learn how to professionally evaluate wine, recognize faults, and finally, they will become familiar with strategies for food and wine pairings and proper service skills. This course is the first module of the CAPS sommelier certification program but can be taken as a stand alone course for those who wish to simply gain more confidence with wine essentials. Please visit our website for more information. Link In Bio!

Joris Gutierrez Garcia, best Sommelier of the Americas 2025! #Asibestsommelieroftheamericas2025

Have you ever wondered how a sommelier can transform your meal from good to life changing? The trick is in the paring. Certified Sommelier and educator, Alana Steele, is going to take the art of pairing food and wine back to the basics on Tuesday, January 28th. Over the evening, you will learn about texture, intensity, weight and how to make magic with flavour bridges. We will discuss and try congruent and contrasting pairings while learning why and how a perfect pairing works. Attendees will be provided with a variety of food items to experiment with how textures and flavours interact with an array of different wines and wine styles. If you have ever had the pleasure of having Alana curate a pairing experience for you at The Ostrich Club, you know she thrives on challenging pairings and loves to make her guests leave their comfort zones and try something new. Alana is passionate about food and wine and is renowned for her ability bring your culinary experience to the next level. Her pairing skills were featured in the recent issue of “Canada’s 100 Best”. This event is educational based (but fun, promise!) and designed for wine and food enthusiasts, industry professionals and sommeliers. *TICKET LINK IN BIO* LIMITED NIMBER OF SEATS!