Sante The Toronto International Wine Festival 2008
42 International Wineries 12 Countries 375 Wines 22 Celebrity Chefs

Santé!! - The Toronto International Wine Festival 2008 - ran from May 5th to 10th, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and celebrated its tenth anniversary with a new name, exciting new events and a focus on wines from sunny Australia and California. Santé at 10 blended festival classics such as the Ultimate Winemakers Dinner and Sip Savour and Shop with new events showcasing up and coming vintages and tomorrow's top celebrity chiefs. Santé included wine tasting, seminars, shopping and other events The festival preview launched the week of April 7, 2008 with an expanded Santé Nights: Deconstructing Dinner Series, and it continued until the tenth anniversary of one of North America's premier wine festivals on May 10. The 2008 Festival attracted thousands of wine enthusiasts and 42 International Wineries, 12 Countries, 375 Wines and 22 Celebrity Chefs. .

TorontoArtsandEvents attended three fine events from Sante: CALIFORNIA CRUISIN', SANTE DOWN UNDER and CELEBRATING The 10th ON THE 10TH:

• CALIFORNIA CRUISIN' was held on May 8, 2008 at Toronto's newly renovated ROM ( see Sources & Links ) and presented a "California lifestyle tour of 27 wineries from across the golden state." This event delivered a taste of California in an environment that celebrated California wines in the beautiful Crystal & Currelly Galleries at the ROM. Toronto Chef Ben Heaton, Globe Bistro; Chef Gordon Mackie, Far Niente; and, Chef Michael Steh, Reds Bistro created California appetizers that complemented the California wines.
• SANTE DOWN UNDER - a celebration and display of Australian wines was held at the Univerity of Toronto's hisoric Hart House - perhaps the perfect setting for this event as it allowed for the indoor/outdoor BBQ of Australian lamb which was delicious and the event comes highly recommended! Cooking that evening was Chef Anthony Sedlak. The editor chatted with Actor Beau Bridges as he sampled the Australian wines at Sante Down Under and he celebrated The 10th on the 10th!
• CELEBRATING The 10th ON THE 10TH - Santé celebrated ten great years and the Editor has attended most if not all of them!! Bon Appétit arrived in Canada to toast Santé's tenth anniversary in urban-chic style. This event was held at Toronto's fashionable Hazelton Lane's. Cat Cora, Bon Appétit's executive chef and Toronto Celebrity Chefs: Corbin Tomaszeski of Holt's Café and Food Network's Restaurant Makeover, Anna Olson star of Food Network's Fresh with Anna Olson, and, Greg Coulliard of the Spice Room and Manyata cooked the great food for this event which is highly recommended by TorontoArtsandEvents!