Check out wine festival survivor's guide

Since more than 350 wines are available this year, it is impossible to try everything in one session. Therefore you should be organized and decide in advance which wines you want to try. The list is available at www.wineexpo.ca/winelist.htm. If you really feel like trying all the wines, you should consider buying tickets for more than one session.

At the tasting, you should begin by sampling sparkling wines first, and then white wines, followed by reds and finally saving the ports and dessert wines for last.

It is also important to sample the "premium" wines and "rare" wine early in the tasting. We want to sample these when our tasting faculties are still sharp; also these products are usually the first ones to be out of stock.

Visiting the popular tables first is also important, as they also tend to run out of wine early.

Finally, don't waste your time sampling wine that you already know or trying the same wine over and over again ！ the goal of wine festival is to sample and discover new products.

Be prepared

Here are some tips to remember in order to have a good tasting session.

• First, don't drink and drive! You don't want to ruin a nice evening with an accident or a ticket. • Make sure you have a good meal before the show ！ a full stomach helps to absorb the alcohol and will slow down intoxication. Even little portions of wine can get you tipsy, especially if you have many of them.

• Don't be shy to spit your wines ！ it is common practice amongst wine lovers.

• Drink a lot of water before and during the tasting: drinking alcohol, walking, talking and laughing during the evening will de-hydrate you. This tip will also reduce the possibilities of having a major headache the following day.

• Don't be too generous with the perfume or colognes ！ it will interfere with your enjoyment of the aromas of the wines.

The selection

Around 350 wines from 15 different countries will be available for sale and tasting at this year's show. A large selection of these wines are reasonably priced wines; in fact, over 230 of the 350 brands being featured are under $20. Again this year some wines passed through a judging panel of experts, including a Master Sommelier, to try to win a medal for the Wine Excellence Awards. The wines are divided in various categories and this year, 88 wines won either Gold, Silver or Platinum (best wines of show) medals. Here are some winners of various categories.

Reds

• G7 Reserva Carmener, Chile: New world red wine under $15 ！ Platinum

• Rymill Coonawarra Shiraz, Australia: New world red wine $15-$30 ！ Platinum

• Woodhenge Shiraz, Austrlalia: New world red wine over $30 ！ Platinum

• Quinta Da Rigodeira Baga, Portugal: Old world red wine under $15 ！ Platinum

• Tolaini al Passo, Italy: Old world red wine $15-$30 ！ Platinum

• Travaglini Gattinara, Italy: Old world red wine over $30 ！ Platinum

• Red wine of the year ！ Travaglini Gattinara, Italy

Whites

• Viu Manent Sauvignon Blanc, Chile: New world white wine under $15 ！ Platinum

• St Hallett Poachers Blend, Australia: New world white $15-$30 ！ Platinum

• Ribeauville Andante, France: Old world white wine under $20 ！ Platinum

• Sartori Marani Bianco Veronese, Italy: Old world white wine over $20 ！ Platinum

White wine of the year ！ Viu Manent Sauvignon Blanc, Chile

Sparkling

• Ayala Millesime Champagne, France: Sparkling wine of the year ！ Platinum

Next week

I will share with you some results for the gold medal winners and also my personal picks for this year's show.

Robert Noël is ANBL's official Sommelier, is certified by The Court of Master Sommelier and the International Sommelier Guild. He loves sharing his passion about food and wine.