Top Table – For the Love of Wine

Top Table Restaurant Group broadens landmark wine programs with industry trailblazer, Mark Davidson

Vancouver, BC – Building upon the outstanding success of Araxi’s pilot program in Whistler last winter, Top Table is expanding its collaboration with leading wine educator, Mark Davidson.

With increased confidence and an unparalleled passion for wine at Araxi, now front-of-house staff at three of Vancouver’s top restaurants – CinCin, Blue Water Cafe and West – will have the opportunity to enhance their wine knowledge to better provide a heightened dining experience for their guests.

Top Table’s team of accomplished Wine Directors will work in concert with Davidson to enhance their ongoing training initiatives. Through this program, staff in each restaurant will learn to interpret the desires of each guest to guide them towards a successful pairing of food and wine.

Davidson has played a key role in the development and standardization of wine studies in British Columbia. His impressive background includes ongoing instruction for the International Sommelier Guild and Dubrulle Culinary Institute, as well as frequent judging appointments at the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival and Canadian Wine Awards.

“The results in the first year at Araxi were very impressive. Mark is an industry leader and a brilliant educator,” says Jack Evrensel, Top Table Proprietor.

The seasonal programs, tailored for each restaurant, will weave the cultural and regional aspects of growing and making wine into intensive tastings, collection-specific instruction, wine service etiquette, as well as food and wine pairings.

Designed to compliment and complete the dining experience, each venue’s acclaimed wine collection is deep and global with rare vintages and boutique finds. The wine libraries are annually lauded with numerous awards and accolades including Wine Spectator’s ‘Best of Award of Excellence’ and the Vancouver International Wine Festival’s Gold Glass Award.

Program Details:

Description: multi-faceted wine education program tailored for each venue
Duration: ongoing
Goals: sommelier-level wine knowledge for all staff, creating an extraordinary wine culture

Wine Directors:

CinCin
Michael Mameli, WD
Robert Herman, Assistant WD

Blue Water Cafe
Andrea Vescovi, WD
Chris Van Nus, Assistant WD
(2007 Sommelier of the Year)

West
Owen Knowlton, WD

Araxi
Alain Canuel, WD
Pat Allan, Assistant WD

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Media Contact:
Shelley McArthur
Communications Director
T: 604.836.8005
E: shelley@toptable.ca

Bio and images for Mark Davidson and Wine Directors available.