Ashleigh Forster of DaNico is the MICHELIN Guide Toronto 2024 Sommelier Award Winner

Congratulations to Ashleigh Forster of One MICHELIN Star DaNico, the MICHELIN Guide Toronto 2024 Sommelier of the Year winner!

At DaNico in Toronto’s Little Italy, Ashleigh Forster offers a wide selection of exquisite Italian wine. Paired perfectly with Chef Daniele Corona’s Italian tasting menu, her wine selection takes guests on an adventure that highlights indigenous Italian grapes and key varieties from other regions. DaNico’s impressive range of top producers matches its equally impressive cuisine. 

We spoke with her recently to learn what she enjoys about her role and how she picks new wines, plus what she’s drinking right now. 

How were you introduced to the world of wine?

It has been an amazing journey. Since I was young, I always worked in the restaurant industry, and I had always been either a server or a back house or something. And then I ventured into another world for a career, and I didn’t love it, and my heart always came back to the restaurant world. I’ve always loved the energy. Meeting new people every day. You’re going to the same place every day, but it’s always different, and so my heart always belongs to the restaurant world.

I started taking wine a little bit more seriously, and I started going to those really special places, like Alinea and Eleven Madison [Park], and it really opened my eyes to the incredible world that food and wine coming together can be.

Valentyna Tretiak / DaNico
Valentyna Tretiak / DaNico

Valentyna Tretiak / DaNico

What are you drinking these days?

My go-to wine is almost always white. This is where Italian wine shines for a few reasons. They’re really underrated. The price point is not always so high. And for me, as someone who likes to enjoy wine, I can’t afford to be buying those crazy Burgundy bottles!

A beautiful Ribolla or a Friulano are amazing. And then shoot down to Sicilia and head up the mountain and drink a Bianco and get this mineral vibrancy that’s like an electric shock. There are so many Italian white grapes that I’m obsessed with, and I always want to be drinking.

What’s your criteria for adding a new wine to your list?

First and foremost, it needs to work with the food. People are coming here to experience Daniele’s passion and his food and his expression on the plate, and I’m here to try and elevate that as much as I can through that pairing. So of course, even if I love this line so much, and it doesn’t quite shine as much as I thought it might, we can’t force things.

Outside of that, I look for varietals that guests haven’t experienced before, styles that they maybe haven’t experienced or smaller producers, I love to try and highlight as much as I can. We’re not a big restaurant, so I’m not bringing in cases upon cases, but just the little bit of exposure I can give to a producer I find special.

How has your taste in wine changed over time?

Pretty drastically. Even as a teenager sitting around the dinner table with my family. My family loves wine, but we’re into maybe more humble styles of wine. As you go along and your palate develops, you definitely pull back on slightly bigger, bolder discussions of any kind. I mean, don’t get me wrong, any Chardonnay, any which way, I will always love but definitely, I find myself always gravitating to a lighter and a leaner style of red, especially in the summer like Pelaverga, a little chilled down, is probably my favorite thing to drink.

With my heart always being in the world of Italian wine, it’s such an incredible place to explore because there are so many different grapes that I feel like I’m always being like, ‘Oh, this is fun and new and cool. This is an expression of this grape that I’ve never even had before.’

Valentyna Tretiak / DaNico
Valentyna Tretiak / DaNico

Valentyna Tretiak / DaNico

Do you have a favorite wine-related film, book, or magazine?

Anything by Ian D’Agata because that man knows a lot. He’s always a go-to if I’m trying to garner up some more knowledge. I keep Kerin O’Keefe’s Barolo and Barberesco books in my cellar. They’re such a beautifully condensed version of quick tidbits about every producer, so I find it super valuable.

What’s the biggest misconception about being a sommelier, or about wine in general?

I work very hard to take out the snobbery, to try and just make it as relatable as possible. I can’t tell you how many times a week a guest will say to me, ‘I like this but I’m so sorry, I don’t know much, or I’m not an expert.’ I always joke with them, and my go-to line is, ‘thank God you’re not, because I wouldn’t have a job.’

I would never walk into an office and apologize that I don’t know as much as someone in their fields. I think there’s this weird thing about wine. People think they should know more, and if they don’t, it’s shameful, like oh my gosh. I’m constantly learning, it’s wildly okay for you to not know, and that’s why I’m here. I find that that puts them at ease, and then they feel a little bit more comfortable in terms of my suggestions, especially when I’m trying to take them to a region or a grape they don’t know.

What’s your ideal meal and pairing?

There’s a lot that I do love. We have this amazing spaghettoni ai funghi dish with black truffle, and I have this amazing 2016 Castello di Verduno Barolo.

I love those pairings, but to be honest, I’m a pretty casual girl at heart, and so a beautiful bottle of Lambrusco and a pepperoni pizza makes my heart sing. The simplicity of it coming together. I love things like that when it’s a few ingredients, a really simple bottle, and it just is really beautiful.

Hero image: Valentyna Tretiak / Ashleigh Forster


Source link

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today

Related Article

How salt makes main dishes and desserts better – according to chef Agustin Balbi of one-Michelin-star Hong Kong restaurant Andō and Smita Grosse, executive pastry chef at The Mira Hong Kong

Chef Agustin Balbi’s one-Michelin-starred Hong Kong restaurant Andō presents dishes inspired by his life experiences, from the comforting arroz caldoso, a cosy bowl of savoury rice porridge his grandmother used to make back in Argentina, to the raw seafood he learned to prepare when working in Japan. Other than olive oil though, salt is Balbi’s

Must Try Hearty Meals In Hong Kong To Beat The Winter Chill

When it’s hot, it’s hot, but despite impressions to the contrary, there are parts of Hong Kong where winter temperatures can plunge to as low as zero. Fortunately, there are plenty of dining spots out there to warm you up when the weather turns cold. Never mind holidays, nothing says winter quite like indulging in

100 Best Easy Dinner Ideas

1 Baked Spaghetti PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER While we could never get tired of classic spaghetti with homemade meat sauce, sometimes we’re looking for the easiest route possible to a weeknight dinner. Enter: baked spaghetti. This casserole is what comfort food is all about—cheesy, hearty, and completely adaptable to whatever

7 Clean Meatless Monday Breakfast Ideas – One Green Planet

Help keep One Green Planet free and independent! Together we can ensure our platform remains a hub for empowering ideas committed to fighting for a sustainable, healthy, and compassionate world. Please support us in keeping our mission strong. So it’s a new year and most likely, many of you have some pretty big health goals

Eating oatmeal could be key to longevity

Eating breakfast regularly has been shown to help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity, according to UC Davis Health. There is also evidence that eating a healthy breakfast helps with brain function, especially memory and focus, the University of California-operated health provider said.  Now, new research has revealed that

7 easy-to-make avocado recipes to build immunity

Avocados are packed with the right nutrients and minerals to boost your immunity. Here are some delicious and easy-to-follow avocado recipes that can contribute to your overall well-being. When building your immunity, a good diet is a must. Including the right fruits and vegetables can help, avocado is one of those fruits that will boost

Nutritionist Reveals the One ‘Healthy’ Breakfast To Avoid

The new year often symbolizes a fresh start, motivating many to embrace healthier habits. Each year, people resolve to make positive changes—cutting out unhealthy foods, limiting alcohol and exercising more. However, some “healthy” foods may not be as beneficial as they appear. Newsweek spoke to three nutritionists to reveal one breakfast option that seems healthy

Best 65 Healthy Work Snack Recipes

1 Tofu Nuggets PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: SAM SENEVIRATNE Soggy baked tofu nuggets are a thing of the past with this one-ingredient upgrade. These bite-sized beauties get irresistibly crispy in the oven, making them the perfect vehicle for a dunk in ranch dressing or curry ketchup. Once the herby dredging is complete, the breaded

Coloured Macarons Filled with White Chocolate Ganache

I’m super excited to share this particular post with everyone!  Homemade macarons!  We love macarons so much but then who doesn’t, amirite?   These dainty meringue based sandwich cookies have stolen the world’s sugar encrusted heart.  So what could be better than to be able to make these at home, right?  We’ve previously successfully made scrumptious chocolate

This $27 Whole Foods Platter Is A Favorite Among Healthy Meal Preppers

We all know meal prep can help make weekdays less stressful, but it often remains aspirational. Grocery shopping is already enough of a chore. Planning everything you’re going to eat for the week and cooking the core ingredients in advance tacks on a few additional hours of work, cutting into precious weekend downtime. Wondering how

‘I ate high-protein breakfasts for 30 days – the results shocked me’

Throughout my undergrad years, I would often tuck myself in at night and dream of my daily morning blueberry bagel with cream cheese and a mocha latte. (Hey, I needed something to motivate me for that 7:45am lecture.) Now, in young adulthood, I’ve realised that my bagel habit just wasn’t offering the fuel necessary for

21 High-Protein Dinner Recipes to Make Tonight

1 Beef Taco Skillet Ryan Dausch 2 Chicken Cordon Bleu Ryan Liebe Roll in the protein―literally! Slices of ham and Swiss cheese (yes, cheese is a good source, too) are rolled inside chicken breasts for extra protein and flavor. Get Ree’s Chicken Cordon Bleu recipe. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below 3 Beef Burgundy Danielle Daly

Ingredients for healthy longevity | Recipe: Lentil curry

The New Year is a natural time of reflection and renewed focus on what is life giving. As a dietitian who works as a health and wellness coach, it is my busiest season. Many clients are interested in making food related changes this time of year. Interested in free, unsolicited dietary advice? Read on. If

Eating Processed Red Meat Could Raise Your Dementia Risk by 13%

Share on PinterestProcessed red meat consumption is linked to a 13% higher risk of dementia, a new study found. DigiPub/Getty Images Dementia cases in the U.S. are expected to double by 2060, and poor diet is considered a risk factor. A new study suggests that people who eat more processed red meat have a 13%

Navigating stresses of college life makes healthy eating difficult, BYU Women’s Services offer helpful resources

Cheeseburger displayed at local Provo restaurant. Students often choose to consume fast food during college years because of time and financial limitations. (Jaycee Lundell) For Alena Boud, her freshman year at BYU involved more struggles than simply getting along with roommates and surviving college classes. The challenge of grocery shopping and cooking for herself with

24 Best Healthy Soup Recipes to Feel Cozy and Nourished

1 Pumpkin Soup Danielle Daly Creamy soups don’t have to be full of actual cream to be velvety and luxurious. This autumnal delight relies mostly on pureed, freshly roasted pumpkin, which is full of nutrients and flavor, instead. Get Ree’s Pumpkin Soup recipe. SHOP BLENDERS 2 Chicken Pot Pie Soup C.W. Newell Get all the

Eggs can stay for breakfast but 5 bad-for-you foods need to go, says nutritionist

Eggs have gotten a bad rap in the nutrition space over time for being potential contributors to high cholesterol levels. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), however, recently classified eggs as a “healthy, nutrient-dense food” in a proposed new rule. The update is the result of changes in nutrition science and dietary recommendations. The agency

Why should you consume more whole grains?

If your New Year’s resolution was to eat healthier in 2025, it can feel overwhelming sifting through the myriad tips and opinions offered online. One easy, nutrition expert-backed choice you can start to make at the grocery store is to move toward eating more whole grains. Whole grains are grains that keep intact the bran

10 healthy breakfasts you can prep in advance

For decades, breakfast was considered to be the ‘most important’ meal of the day, but the dreaded morning rush means it’s often the meal we skip. This is where meal prep can be vital if you’re keen to make healthier choices. Studies have found that eating breakfast can lower your risk of developing diabetes, heart

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x