The team of Savvy Sommeliers are often called on by the media to be included in TV segments, featured in columns & blogs or interviewed on radio. Here is a quick list of where you would recently seen and heard Savvy Company in the news.
In 2014
Debbie on CTV News at Noon
Wine & Cheese or should it be Beer & Cheese? Debbie takes CTV News at Noon host Leanne Cusack on a delicious discovery of Ontario wines AND craft beers that pairs well with locally made artisan cheeses. Watch the 2 part segment >>
The Urbanite headlines ‘Craft beer-of-the-month-club puts beer in your mailbox’. Food & Drink columnist Natasha Marar interviews Debbie about Savvy Company’s newest venture – Savvy Hip Hops. Read the article>>
Debbie joined the airwaves to co-host with Derick Fage on Daytime Ottawa on Rogers TV. Debbie & Derick have been in front of camera countless times before so it was undoubtedly be a fun show! Watch the host chat
Metro Ottawa News does a spread about the launch of our Savvy Hip Hops Craft Beer of the Month Club. Thanks to the Metroland team for always promoting local businesses! Read the article
The Ottawa Citizen showcased our Savvy Selections wine of the month club as one of the ‘go to sources’ where you can buy wines that you have enjoyed at a restaurant. Read the article>>
In 2013
Debbie continues to be called on as a guest contributor to Canada.com Weekly Wine Chat each Thursday at 2pm. Join her along with other wine industry expert panelists chiming in from coast to coast. Read the online chat
Vanessa is the ‘Grande Fromage’. French TV station Ruby TV went shopping for artisan cheese with our Cheese Sommelier Vanessa – toute en francais! Watch the segment Bravo Vanessa!
Debbie was nominated and selected by the Embassy of the United States in Canada to be one of six Canadian women to participate in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) focusing on Women in Trade and Entrepreneurship. She blogged along the way: 3 week, 5 cities, 6 women & 8 suitcases
In 2012 …
CBC Radio’s Fresh Air featured our Savvy Selections wine of the month club as one of the top gift ideas for those hard-to-buy-for people on your shopping list. Listen to the segment.
Renowned wine writer Konrad Ejbich features our Savvy Selections wine of the month club in his ‘Gift for Geeks and Normal People too!’ blog for last minute wine gift ideas.
Savvy Company’s Outstanding in their Fields taste & buy events is one of Where Ottawa Magazine’s Best Bets Weekend Roundup…alongside with Bruce Springsteen concert!
CBC Radio Ottawa Morning Karla Hilton states that Vanessa has the COOLest job as Cheese Sommelier. Listen to interview with Vanessa about local artisan cheese.
Blogger 2nd Ferment declares to its readers, “forget about the stock market & invest in Future wines from Lailey Vineyards”. Great comments about a special taste & buy event hosted by Savvy Company.
Shari Goodman from Whisk: a food blog shares her food & wine discoveries at Ottawa’s first annual Winterlude Winemaker’s Brunch.
The Yummy Mummy Club was in Ottawa to take in Winterlude festivities. While they were in town, Savvy Sommeliers Vanessa & Derek hosted a Blind Wine & Cheese tasting for them at the Lord Elgin Hotel. Twitter was all a buzz during this fun evening. See & read all about it!
Debbie & Vanessa were called in to host the Savvy Wine & Craft Beer Bar along with a Savvy Artisan Cheese Bar to give guests a taste of Ottawa for the Ottawa Tourism & Roots Canada media launch of ‘Let’s Go Outside’ contest. Media was all abuzz with photos, videos, blogs & Tweets including:
CBC Radio All in a Day called on Debbie to offer sparkling wine tips to usher in 2012. While on air, she explained how to WOW your New Year’s eve guests by sabering a bottle of bubbly!
In 2011 …
A BIG media day! On Thursday December 22, Debbie appeared on CTV Morning Live Ottawa with 12 Savvy Gift Ideas. Then on the CTV Ottawa News at 6, anchor Michael O’Byrne featues Savvy Selections wine of the month club as one of the hottest new gifts. The phones continue to ring off the hook!
Wine Out Loud blogger Holy Bruns, highlights our Savvy Sommelier Julie’s blog about Cava wine.
Vanessa joins CBC Radio In Town & Out host Michael Bhardwaj with her list of cheese-y gifts for everyone on your shopping list!
Ottawa Start highlights Debbie‘s involvement as co-host & auctioneer at Music & Beyond’s Holiday Wine Auction fundraiser
MoneySense Magazine calls on Debbie to provide Sommelier insider’s tips & tricks for feature article: A brilliant wine, everytime that appears in September/October issue. Read article online
Ottawa Sun published a special Lifestyle Magazine where journalist Simon Forsyth interviewed Debbie for her insight & impressions on the winery owners who are pioneering a new wine region in Ottawa & surrounding areas. Read article online
Sit.Sip.Savour. blogger Éva Nagy shares her delicious experience at the Great Canadian Cheese Discovery where Savvy Cheese Sommelier Vanessa showcased artisan cheeses from British Columbia, Nova Scotia & Prince Edward Island.
PRESS RELEASE: A Renaissance in Ottawa’s Little Italy. Preston Street is alive with this year’s celebration of Wine, Food & Art.
Articles written by Debbie & Kathryn appear in the special La Vendemmia edition of Metro Ottawa
Vanessa shares her story about a Friday night date with an Italian…Italian cheese that is! CBC Radio In Town & Out host Michael Bhardwaj hears about the moving sensation when a wheel of Parmasean cheese is cut.
Debbie appeared on Rogers Daytime TV with tips on buying wines at a Music & Beyond’s upcoming Fine Wine Auction.
Debbie interviewed Canada’s popular Chef Michael Smith when he visited Ottawa to launch his new cookbook – Chef Michael Smith’s Kitchen. Cooking tips & tricks were shared, while Michael encouraged us all to spend time with family at the kitchen table.
PRESS RELEASE: Preston Street BIA selects Savvy Company as Marketing Partner for annual La Vendemmia harvest festival. Mark your calendars Sept 22-25 to join us for fun wine & food events. More…
Vanessa joined CBC Radio’s In Town and Out host Michael Bhardwaj in studio to talk about artisan cheeses, cheesemaking & tasting tips. Listen
Debbie appeared on Rogers Daytime TV with tips on Ontario wines & craft beers to chill & enjoy in the shade during Ottawa’s record breaking heat wave.
Our Cheese Sommelier Vanessa was on Rogers Daytime TV showcasing delicious Ontario artisan cheese offered tasting tips. Watch video
Blogger Katy Watts joins our Savvy Cheese Sommelier Vanessa to learn the ‘whey’ about artisan cheeses from BC, Ontario and the Maritime provinces. Katy reports that she was nervous at first, yet leaves full & with a greater appreciation for what goes into making cheese.
Debbie was on Daytime Ottawa show (Rogers TV) profiling a variety of newly released wines from Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries who will be in Ottawa on June 1st for the 52 New Wines from One Unforgettable Place wine tasting.
We were finalists in the Ottawa Tourism Partnership of the Year Award for our culinary events in partnership with Thyme & Again Creative Catering.
Debbie was named Ottawa’s Entrepreneur Businesswoman of the Year Award finalist. With media coverage in the Ottawa Citizen, METRO Ottawa & EMC news
Agritourism Guide blogger Lara Bender showcases two upcoming Savvy Events in http://agritourismguide.ca/2011/05/10/cheese-and-wine-lovers-3-great-events-and-a-giveaway/
Vanessa showcased Ontario artisan cheeses on A Morning Show. TV host Kurt Stoodley couldn’t stop nibbling on the cheese curds!
Savvy Company is named ‘Top 50 Sommelier & Master of Wine blogs’ as reported by Cindy Cullen, Culinary Arts College.
Launched in March, read weekly columns by Savvy Sommeliers in Metro Ottawa newspaper on Thursdays. Susan shares wine shopping tips with “If I only had $100, I would buy at Vintages” while Vanessa showcases local artisan cheeses in her “The Curd on the Street” column.
Sit. Sip. Savour. blogger Éva Nagy just received her month Savvy Selections delivery featuring Creekside Estates Wine. http://sit-sip-savour.blogspot.com/2011/03/savvy-company-wine-club-march-selection.html
Debbie graces the pages of the Feb 14th issue of Hello! Canada Magazine featuring the Canadian Celebrity Chef Event that Savvy Company sponsored & were the Sommeliers for this first of its kind sold out event.
Get a taste of the wonderful experience with this YouTube video of the Canadian Celebrity Chef event. Savvy Company was proud be involved. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZnJElan0W4
Debbie hosts “Wine Shopping with a Sommelier” on A Morning Ottawa. In the 4 TV segments, she offers tips on navigating through Vintages, picks good value wines and pairs wine with Food & Drink magazine recipes.
Vanessa shares her favorite cheese discovery in Cheeselover.ca Outstanding Cheese Bites of 2010. Quebec artisan cheese Le Foin d’Odeur “is like licking buttered popcorn from your fingertips!”
Rave reviews from the media …
“Savvy Company’s craft beer tasting was a superlative event” – Ron Eade, Food Editor of the Ottawa Citizen
“Thank you for hosting last night’s BC wine tasting event. I was particularly struck by the easy interactions between the Savvy Team and the participants (“not stuck up” is the way one person explained your events which is, I think, high praise for you and your team). Of course, the highlight was the wine and the wonderful intro by the Sommeliers. I’ll be writing my blog tonight.” – Clare Fowles, FoodiePrints
“The Great Canadian Cheese Discovery is a must do while in Ottawa. The class is a dinner party atmosphere, led by cheese sommelier Vanessa Simmons, who is openly fanatical about artisan cheeses.” – Reb Stevenson Travel Writer, Toronto Star