John Szabo & Robert Gilvesy (11:00-11:45)
Embark on a volcanic odyssey in our masterclass on the volcanic terroirs and wines of Hungary and unearth the profound influence of ancient eruptions on winemaking. From the mineral-driven elegance of single varietal wines to the intensity of volcanic blends, immerse yourself in the unique flavours born from fiery origins in Badacsony, Somló, Mátra, Eger and Tokaj. Join us as we explore the depths of Hungary’s volcanic landscapes and taste the untamed spirit of these extraordinary wines.
John Szabo is the first Canadian Master Sommelier and holds the international Wine & Spirits Education Trust Diploma, as well as the Canadian Sommelier Guild diploma. He’s principal critic for WineAlign.com, Canada’s premier wine resource, and co-host and producer of the podcast Wine Thieves. He contributes frequently to many international trade and consumer publications. Books by John include Pairing Food & Wine for Dummies and Volcanic Wines: Salt Grit and Power. He has hosted exclusive events and provided expertise for countless financial institutions, law firms, and corporations over the years. In his spare time, he tends to his own regenerative organic field blend vineyard and orchard in Prince Edward County, Ontario.
Originally an architect and engineer, Robert Gilvesy was born and raised in Canada, but has deep Hungarian roots thanks to his grandparents who emigrated from Hungary. He established his winery in 2012 on Szent György-hegy, a 4-million-year-old eroded volcano in the Badacsony appellation. Thanks to the influence of John Szabó, Robert realised the importance of volcanic soils in producing some of the finest and most unique wines in the world. Today, his main goal is to express the special character of the Szent György-hegy terroir through his wines. Robert grows organic grapes on 15 hectares to produce low intervention wines.