Wine on Tap Part 2

In June, I attended the launch of wine on tap at the
Cosmopolitan Hotel’s Eight Wine Bar. I’d never been to Eight Wine Bar and I was
excited to check it out, especially since I’m a huge fan of any establishment
that offers wine on tap. I just think wine on tap is really the best way to
ensure that those who order by the glass are getting a great glass of wine
every time. The wine taps ensure that no glass is ever oxidized and the
advantages in terms of the environment are undeniable – wine on tap is
definitely the future.

My original Wine of Tap post remains one of the most popular
on the blog. I think that’s because people are really curious about how this
concept works and why it’s worth checking out. Now, I am still one of those who
believes that there will always be a need and a place for wine in bottles. I
love wine bottles and collect corks, so I am not someone who would like to see
those established norms change. I do think, however, there is room to expand
our horizons in terms of how wine is delivered. If I go out for a glass of wine
and the bar offers a selection on tap, I know that the wine I get will be as
fresh as it would have been from a newly opened bottle. That’s important to me
and I think it will lead to more people discovering just how good wine can be
when you never get a glass that has been tainted by being open just a bit too
long.

Eight Wine Bar

The wine taps at Eight Wine Bar (as well as at my perennial favourite
Rock Lobster) are provided by Versay and they are really quite attractive. We
had the chance to see them in action at the event and I was impressed by how
sleek and stylish they are. Those who think that wine on tap can’t be
aesthetically pleasing will be surprised at just how fashionable these taps
are. Thanks to the nice people at Versay for providing a photo of the unit
similar to what is at Eight Wine Bar. It was quite dark at the event, so my
photos aren’t this nice!

At Eight Wine Bar we got to sample several of the wines on
tap. Three of them were from Vineland Estates, which I was thrilled to see. I
think it’s great when wine bars are able to showcase some of Ontario’s
best wines and Brian Schmidt at Vineland
has some fabulous options. It’s definitely a go to when I see Vineland wines on a menu. I wasn’t
disappointed by the wine on offer (though I was surprised to see Pinot Meunier
as an option – not a wine many would expect). I enjoyed all three Vineland selections, though
my favourite was the Chardonnay. I also enjoyed the Italian Pinot Grigio on the
menu that night.

And the food at Eight Wine Bar was fabulous – it was so
great to try their new sampling menu, including some of the best lobster
sliders I have ever had. I am definitely looking forward to my next visit and the chance to try more wine on tap!

For more information on Eight Wine Bar: http://www.cosmotoronto.com/Eight-Wine-Bar

For more information on Versay’s Wine on Tap:  http://versay.ca/