About Us
About The IW&FS of Toronto
The International Wine & Food Society (IW&FS) was established in 1933 by André Simon, and currently has about 7,000 members in 150 branches in over 40 countries.
At that time, the Society was the world’s only association of gastronomic enthusiasts not associated commercially with the wine and food trade. Today, there are hundreds of organizations that fit this category, but the IW&FS remains the most prestigious, most wide-spread, independent gastronomic society in the world. More information about the International IW&FS and branches can be found at www.iwfs.org.
As André Simon wrote, the objective of the Society is “to bring together and to serve all those who believe that a right understanding of good food and wine is an essential part of personal contentment and health; and that an intelligent approach to the pleasures and problems of the table offers far greater rewards than the mere satisfaction of appetite.”
The IW&FS of Toronto was inaugurated in 1971, received it's charter in 1973, and is a non-profit corporation governed by an elected volunteer Board of Directors. Funds are devoted to the above objectives in their entirety.
The IW&FS of Toronto Branch was established by four residents of the area: Jan and Betty Van der Ree, Dr. Edward Wilson, and William Cameron. They created a vibrant group which quickly grew to 130 members. A remarkable array of functions expanded members’ knowledge as they enjoyed new wine and food experiences in the early years:
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• Fine dining at restaurants: La Scala, and the Sutton Place Hotel
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• Exploring Toronto’s varied ethnic cusines: Czech, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Polynesian, and Ukranian
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•Tutored tastings of wines of the world: French, German, Spanish, and “new” Napa wine.
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• Courses in classic cooking techniques at George Brown College
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• Food appreciation sessions: cheeses, pastas, and spices
The Society today continues this tradition of creative programs designed by members with innovative chefs and experts in wine.
Our members have established valuable links with other branches at home and abroad. Across Canada there are eight active branches including Vancouver, Victoria, Edmonton, Calgary, Niagara, Kitchener-Waterloo, Oakville, and Montreal. There are 80 branches of the IW&FS throughout the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Mexico. The Board of Governors of the Americas (BGA) is the governing body that oversees the activities of these branches. The BGA encourages program exchanges between branches, offers ideas for new and interesting events and approves awards for special members, outstanding chefs and memorable occasions.
Tastings and Dinners
The IW&FS of Toronto arranges monthly events combining wine and food which include dinners and tastings; all designed to be innovative, educational, enjoyable and of high quality. Events are usually held privately in restaurants, and cost between $40.00 and $150.00 depending on the function.
Past tasting events have included:
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• Balsamic vinegar, olives and olive oil, oysters, asparagus tastings,
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• Premium Italian wines, 1985 Bordeaux, scotch and sherry tastings,
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• Annual events include:
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• President’s Reception,
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• Christmas Extravaganza.
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Wine Cellar
Members of the IW&FS of Toronto enjoy a collective private wine cellar which serves as a source of wines to be used at events. This allows the group to acquire young wines at an advantageous price and age them for future use. The cellar currently consists of 1100 bottles. The Board’s policy is to build both the quality and quantity of its wine cellar in future years.
Why A Wine Cellar?
Why does the IWFS Toronto have and maintain a wine cellar? The most important reasons is that, as members, you would be limited to only those wines that were available at the LCBO at the time of an IWFS event and in the world of exciting culinary delights that would be boring.
The Cellar Master purchases wines that offer good prospects for aging with the commensurate improvement in overall quality. Some wines have been purchased at auction and represent unique opportunities to taste something that otherwise would be unavailable. Simply put, the cellar has many benefits for IWFS members.
On Aging of Wines....
It is extremely difficult to acquire wines that have some age and are at a peak of maturity from the LCBO. Many of the classic wines and / or grape varieties benefit from aging and must be done independently of the LCBO.
It is clearly cheaper to age than purchase "Aged" wines, by a substantial margin. When an aged wine does appear, the wine in question, commands a large premium, which would prohibit most of the membership from participating.
The IWFS mandate is the interest in "Food and Wine" together. A proper pairing enhances both the food and the wine for that gastronomic experience rarely achieved in today’s harried world. The members benefit from the Cellar Master’s experience and keen knowledge as applied to the purchase and correct cellaring of new wines. It is often impossible, or extremely difficult, to acquire certain wines or styles of wines throughout the year. As an example, Beaujolais Nouveau is only available at certain times during the year. The Cellar Master, with his love of wine, is always on the prowl for wines that may be complimentary to food pairings as he peruses the endless new selections that seem to oscillate in the LCBO.
On Education....
A wine cellar allows for the creation of inventories to organize educational tastings; be they vertical, horizontal, varietal or regional in nature. It is not often that we have the opportunity to savour a vertical tasting of well aged Bordeaux even at our own table. Opening four bottles of fine wine for two is perhaps excessive, if for no other reason, that we can not possibly consume so much in an appreciative manner.
On the Cellar Legacy....
Although wines have become status symbols, the quantity of outstanding wines has not risen materially. Consequently, there is continuing pressure on the price of wines - "wine inflation". There are only two ways to negate this effect, buy and age and "opportunistically shop". In either case, wine levies are required to ensure that the wine cellar is maintained and the existing membership cohort leaves the next cohort equal opportunities to enjoy fine well aged wine in the correct hermetically controlled conditions. We have all had that special bottle of wine we were saving for a meaningful occasion and turned out ‘qui sent le bouchon’.
This is why the International Wine & Food Society, Toronto Branch has a wine cellar. Our Cellar Master is David Jarvis.
Scholarship Foundation
Since 1982, the IW&FS of Toronto has supported scholarships to the top graduates of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers, and the Culinary Management Program at George Brown College through the International Wine and Food Foundation of Canada.
International Festivals
Every four years some regions of the IW&FS hosts International Festivals attended by members from all over the globe. Festivals feature private culinary and winery tours, including black-tie dinners, each with a focus on the specialities of the region.
André Simon’s 90th Birthday Speech
A speech given by our founder, André Simon in 1967 on occasion of his 90th birthday.
The recording is in MP3 format. The download is 4.8 MB in size. André's speech is just over five minutes in length. You can listen to it using Windows Media Player or any MP3 compatible device. It is a simple download which may be shared with other IW&FS members and kept for future listening.
We extend our appreciation to John Kuczwanski and hope you will enjoy listening to the speech.
Click Here >>>>>>>>
Contact Us:
International Wine & Food Society Toronto Branch
C/o Debbie Smith
Shore Tilbe Perkins+Will
672 Dupont St., Suite 500
Toronto ON M6G 1Z6
Tel: 416.217.6519
Fax: 416-971-6765
E-mail: Debbie Smith
E-Mail: Info IW&FS Toronto
Hugh Johnson recalls his apprenticeship with the founder of The Wine & Food Society.
I was 22 when we first met; André only 84. His name was already a legend to me: I had joined the Cambridge University Wine & Food Society as an undergraduate. His presidential presence loomed behind our activities. And active we were - London's finest wine merchants made regular visits to indoctrinate their future customers. The annual Varsity tasting match celebrated its 50th year in 2002.
André Simon with the young Hugh Johnson in the Hyde Park Gate offices of the Wine & Food Society (as it then was). This photograph appeared in the Times in 1963.
