Canada is becoming a global powerhouse in the wine industry, producing excellent quality wines and demonstrating a keen appreciation for the world of wine, viewed not only as nourishment but also as a cultural asset. Grape cultivation and the production of high-quality wines are expanding exponentially, and interest in the diverse international wine scene is constantly growing. For this reason, ONAV chose to enter Canada, and it certainly did so quietly and with great respect for existing associations. ONAV is the first Italian organization in the wine sector and was founded in 1951. ONAV’s goal is to teach the art of technical wine tasting, as well as moderate drinking, through wine courses. In 2024 we officially began our outreach activity. It wasn’t easy in a country where only two professional figures are known: “Oenologists and Sommeliers,” while in Italy we have more. The first few times I talked about it, the answer was always the same: for this area, two were enough. In fact, I’m trying to make people understand that it’s not so much the area itself but the usefulness of these figures that leads to product improvement. In 2024, we launched our website https://winetechnicaltaster.ca/. After a year, we had over 52,000 visitors, which means there’s starting to be interest. There’s still a long way to go, but we’re looking for synergies with organizations in this sector. We already have a good relationship with an Italian-Canadian winemaker, Matthew Fortuna, who manages a very important winery, 50thParallelo, in Kelowna in the important Okanagan region, located on the eponymous, enormous lake with breathtaking scenery. A taster might be confused with a sommelier, but they are actually two figures who discuss wine, but in different contexts. ONAV also deals with food and wine because it’s right to promote food in relation to wine.

Our journey continues every day in our work of dissemination. This world is wonderful, loved by all, and you always need to approach it with a sense of curiosity. With ONAV, you’ll always find answers to your questions. I recommend visiting our website, and if you have any questions, you can email canada@onav.it.