TJ That is one of the best things about Canada: we have an international selection because we don’ t just concentrate on one region or one area. For example, if you’ re in France, you really only know French wines, and maybe a little bit about the rest of the world. But in Canada, we know about the entire world and that’ s something really important to celebrate.
JH This is why we are so good at competitions. Our palate is not only focused on specific wines, it’ s open to every kind of taste.
TJ As president of CAPS, can you tell us about its principles, and why are you so excited to be involved?
JH When I started my Master Sommelier, I was working at Charlie Trotter’ s, and the customers didn’ t want to be served by me if I didn’ t wear my Sommelier’ s pin. When I came back to Canada, I realized how important it is to be part of an association, where everyone in the wine industry can get together to network. CAPS started 23 years ago, in 1989, and was focused mostly in Quebec. We have really just started moving it to the national level, which is what is so exciting.
It is also important that the association be recognized by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale( ASI). We want to cultivate and promote the potential that
we have in Canada, through events like the Canadian Sommelier of the Year competition, but we are also looking at promoting CAPS at the international level.
I just started as the new Vice President of Pan Americas for ASI. We will be very involved in eight wine-producing countries in the Americas. Our main focus will be to develop the U. S. markets next year. So Canada will be very involved from a Pan-American political point of view, promoting wine.
TJ Congratulations! That’ s very exciting!
JH Thank you! Congratulations to you, Tina, and your great team at Banville & Jones! Because of your efforts, CAPS Manitoba is part of the national CAPS team. It’ s very exciting to finish my year as president of CAPS by making it a national organization. When I am done my term, the presidency will rotate through the regional chapters, so it’ s always going to be democratic and clean. The organization is very good for Canada, and very good for our wine industry.
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For more information on the Sommelier of the Year competition, see Sylvia Jansen’ s Sidebar on page 63. For more information on how to get involved with the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers, visit the website at www. sommelierscanada. com.
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