The annual competition brings together Ontario’s top sommelier talent for a day of skills-based challenges, international wine tasting and an evening gala at TIFF Lightbox
The Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) Ontario chapter will host the 2026 Best Ontario Sommelier Competition (BOSC) on Monday, November 16, bringing together leading sommeliers, wine professionals and enthusiasts for a celebration of wine knowledge, service and hospitality.
The event will take place at TIFF Lightbox on King Street in Toronto, with the competition’s theory and closed practical examinations held earlier in the day at Toronto’s Vintage Conservatory. The evening program begins at 3pm and includes a gala reception and food by O&B, a live sommelier skills competition, a walk-around tasting featuring international and local wines, and a fundraising silent auction and 50/50 raffle. The evening concludes with the announcement of the competition’s winners at 9pm.
Tickets are available through CAPS Ontario. Early-bird pricing, available until October 18, is $70 for CAPS members and $90 for non-members. Regular admission is $85 for members and $105 for non-members.
A showcase of sommelier skill and knowledge
Now following the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) competition regulations, BOSC challenges competitors across a range of disciplines, including blind tasting, wine theory and service. The format tests not only a sommelier’s technical knowledge, but also the precision, composure and communication skills required in professional hospitality.
The competition offers an opportunity for wine enthusiasts to see those skills in action while connecting with the professionals who help shape wine culture in Ontario.
Christian Perreault Hamel, CAPS board member and winner of the 2025 competition, is serving as technical director for BOSC ’26.
This year’s judging panel will include Véronique Rivest, Master Sommelier; Michelin-recognized sommelier Toni Weber; Joris Garcia, Best Sommelier of the Americas; and award-winning sommelier Carl Villeneuve-Lepage, among other wine professionals. Sommelier and VinEquity founder Beverly Crandon will serve as emcee.
A pathway to national and international competition
The BOSC ’26 winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy courtesy of Masi Agricola and advance to the 2027 Best Sommelier of Canada competition. The national winner will then have the opportunity to compete at the ASI World level.
Beyond the prizes, the competition provides a platform for professional development, industry recognition and connections within the sommelier community.
“As a competitor, the biggest reward has always been the people; almost every competition introduced me to colleagues within the competitive circle who became friends,” said last year’s winner Christian Perreault Hamel. “The prizes for the top finisher are genuinely useful; books, tastings, travel, and opportunities to continue learning. Strong results can bring visibility within the local wine community and open doors professionally. Perhaps the greatest opportunity is earning the chance to represent our province at the national competition and beyond.”
CAPS Ontario president Jen Wood highlighted the contributions of the competitors, judges, sponsors, donors and volunteers who make the event possible.
“We are thrilled to present a terrific lineup of globally respected talent, competitors, judges, sponsors and donors, with heartfelt thanks to all, including our CAPS Board members and students who volunteer to stage what will undoubtedly be the event of the year,” Wood said.
Supporting Ontario’s sommelier community
BOSC26 is supported by a range of industry partners, including returning platinum sponsor the Sake Institute of Ontario, Wines of Argentina, Wines of Portugal, Masi Agricola, Nicholas Pearce, Andros Communications and YYZ Events photography. VineRoutes is the event’s media partner.
The competition is part of CAPS Ontario’s broader mandate to advance wine education, elevate the sommelier profession and foster an inclusive wine community across the province.
Additional event and sponsor updates will be shared through CAPS Ontario’s Instagram account, @caps.ontario. Tickets for BOSC ’26 are available at www.capsontario.ca.
– written in partnership
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