Tasting Notes Toronto by Insider Wine

In this episode of Tasting Notes Toronto , I sit down with Ryan Donovan , co-owner and sommelier at Richmond Station , one of Toronto’s most enduring and respected restaurants. We dive into what it takes to open and sustain a great restaurant — from creating a healthy workplace culture to choosing the right location and building deep relationships with local farmers. Ryan also shares how his caree...

In this episode, I sit down with Ian Stoddart, owner of East End Vine — a cozy wine and tapas bar in Toronto’s east end. Inspired by his travels and a deep love of wine, Ian set out to create the kind of spot he always sought out abroad: welcoming, unpretentious, and built around community. We talk about how he brings that vision to life through a constantly evolving wine list, his approach to kee...

In this episode, I sit down with Robert Luo — head sommelier at Restaurant Pearl Morissette, recently named Canada’s Best Restaurant. Rob has worked his way through wineries and restaurants around the world, learned from some great mentors, and gained invaluable experience the hard way — by rolling up his sleeves and putting in the work.  He’s incredibly humble — the kind of person who says he onl...