Eric Gennaro, Sommelier, Joins the 30.50 Imports Team

Eric Gennaro became Toronto's youngest Sommelier, in 1999, at the age 21. He began his journey as a 'cellar rat' scrubbing floors and dusting the bottles at Centro Grill and Wine Bar. After receiving his degree, he realized that although he knew a lot about wine he still knew almost nothing about wine. He packed his bags with only the essentials- clothes and a wine glass - and landed in Munich, Germany in search of knowledge and experience. He spent three months training and tasting and getting lost in vast, tiny and nameless places throughout Western Europe.

His search for wine has been injected with a love of life, and on the road less travelled, he experienced dead-end mountain bus rides in Negrar, fog covered mountain climbs in Verduno, Bulerias and Allegrias in smoky Seville and uber-kastels along the Rheingau. He found his footing in 2013 as the 'mind behind' and owner of Bricco Kitchen and Wine Bar in the Junction. After six years of serving wine flights, Tajarin pasta and truffles he is now spreading the good word of 30.50 Imports to Toronto and the world.

Supplier Spotlight

Connecting with Peter Zemmer Alto Adige

Surprisingly, it was my love for coffee which led to my fascination with the wines of the Alto Adige. My morning and afternoon ritual, part social and part necessity, has been my path to finding a personal equilibrium while injecting a lust for adventure. In search of the right coffee machine, I found the Bialetti Moka Alpina, a green ‘cafetera’, or stove top coffee maker, with a ceramic black feather crowning the lid. There must be a story!

The design icon, Bialetti, produced this moka pot to honour the Korps Alpini, the mountain infantry of the Italian Army, who wore a black feather in their caps. The ‘Penne Nere’ were the original protectors of the mountain border between the French and the Austrian/Hungarians. I began to read about the Alps which led me to the Dolomites. It was as if the smallest coffee snowball triggered a life altering avalanche.

The Dolomites are part of the Southern Alps surrounding the three provinces of South Tyrol, Trentino and Belluno. Consisting of an unique pale rock, fossilized coral reefs, these mountains were formed 250 million years ago during the Triassic Period. The area which is now Italian, but in the past was under Austrian rule, and the culture is still influenced by its northern neighbours. For example, butter is preferred over oil, speck over prosciutto and buckwheat polenta over carbonara. Here is a blended culture of language, food and the folklore of princesses and dwarf kings.

This brings us to Peter Zemmer and his vineyards around the town of Bolzano. Hardly a dwarf king, but rather a more eloquent and dapper six foot version of the relentless Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved. Peter shares the footballer’s work ethic, with attention to detail, as he takes the Family Estate beyond the mountain peaks. Zemmer views sustainability as a constant way of life, not a trend, reusable energy feeds the winery. All the classic varietals are represented by Zemmer and are consistently evolving with each new vintage.
It is funny how we get from one place to another: triggered by an event, a person or in this case a love for good coffee. From bean to grape, from tropical to cool, from flat to vertical our lives are a series of connecting journeys that can take us up and down mountain tops while gaining insightful knowledge and experience with often stunning views.

2017 Pinot Grigio DOC Alto Aldige

95 points
Decanter World Wine Awards 2017
A perfect everyday drinking wine.

$17.95/bottle Vintages #95802
Feb 8, 2020 Release

2017 Pinot Grigio Riserva ‘Giatl’

92+ points robertparker.com
An exploding volcanic mountain leaving behind a creamy mushroom cloud of vanilla white flowers.
$38.00/bottle at Vintages #11605

2016 Chardonnay Riserva ‘Crivelli’

Massively anticipated white wine that is Italy’s answer to the world’s most popular white variety.

Classics Catalogue Fall 2020 Release

2018 Pinot Noir 'Rolhut', Alto Adige

Our #1 growing consignment wine in 2019! The Rolhut vineyard is perched on a 450m limestone cliff in Adige valley as pictured above.

$24.95/bottle available in 12 bottle case. Consignment.

2017 Pinot Noir Riserva 'Vigna Kofl'

This region’s only Pinot Noir vineyard planted at 1000m above sea level. Grand cru quality. Available for sampling.

$69.95/bottle available in 6 bottle case. Private Order

In the Present

Dynamic Consignment Wines

AVAILABLE BY THE CASE. DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR.

2016 Llopart Brut Reserva Rose Corpinnat

Lllopart was founded in 1887 in the heart of the classic Cava producing zone of Penedès. This traditional method sparkler made from Monastrell, Garnacha and Pinot Noir is aged a minimum of 20 months sur-lie. Wine Spectator included it in it’s top 100 wines of 2019 and described it as “elegant” with flavours of “nectarine and white cherry with pretty accents of ground ginger and pink grapefruit sorbet”.
$34.95/bottle 12 btls/cs

2014 Bairrada Tinto, Sidonio de Sousa

100% Baga, partial whole cluster, open lagar wild yeast ferment. Sustainable.
If Old-World wines are what you enjoy this one is a delight. Earthy, rustic and savoury with bright forest fruit and beautifully integrated tannins, drinks effortlessly! 91 points - John Szabo WineAlign
$24.95/bottle 6 btls/cs

2014 Barolo, Castello di Verduno

The estate founded by Rei Carlo Alberto, King of Savoy, is managed by the Burlotto family today and produces “archetypical Barolo”. Castello di Verduno blended a small quantity of Nebbiolo harvested from their highly regarded ‘Massara’ and ‘Monvigliero’ Crus for their 2014 Barolo. This wine is hauntingly good and ridiculously priced considering it’s a “declassified” blend of two top single vineyards. A rare opportunity to buy low and drink high!
$69.95/bottle 12 btls/cs