Michael Godel

Michael Godel
Followers (297)
Reviews (32014)
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For the past 13 years Michael Godel has been tasting and assessing wine as a journalist, a critic and partner at WineAlign.com. He is often called “Godello,” a nickname that just happens to double as a terrific white Spanish grape. Godel has spent the better part of his writing career travelling planet wine in search of varietal truth and in that time has crafted more than 31,000 lengthy tasting notes, most of them positive, all of them thorough. He processes his thoughts, musings, stream of consciousness and experiences on wine, travel, music and pop culture at his eponymous website godello.ca.

Chef Michael hung up his well-used, 25 year-old whites when he closed up shop in December 2013 after a rewarding 25-year culinary run in Toronto restaurants and with the catering business he owned called All Our Favourite Foods. In March of 2011 he teamed up with Chef David Neinstein at Toronto's Barque Smokehouse and March 2024 will mark his 13th anniversary as Wine Director of the Toronto restaurant. He also makes a line of small lot wines out of Chianti Classico in Tuscany and the Niagara Peninsula, including Corretta Chianti Classico, All Day Rosé, Interloper Cabernet Franc, As Is Field Blend and Paramour Gamay.

Investigative wine travels in the last 10 years have included destinations like British Columbia, Nova Scotia, California, New York, Argentina, South Africa, Germany, France, Portugal and Spain, but Italy has commanded much of Godel’s attention. Fortune has smiled to the tune of 60 trips in ten years with more than half of them to Tuscany and in particular Chianti Classico. In February 2018 the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico made Godel one of their first five recipients of an Ad Honorem title, “Ambasciatore.” As Canadian ambassador he educates on behalf of the Tuscan territory’s Gallo Nero and their noble Sangiovese. Twelve excursions in Montalcino have also led to educating on behalf of the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino. From 2016-2019 these Sangiovese investigations took the form of in person seminars and masterclasses for sommeliers, trade and media, but also restaurant staff education. In 2020 and 2021 the pivot led to lecturing more than a dozen online webinar sessions. Godel has also served as an educator for the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario (ICCO), Rioja DOCa, Vins de Bourgogne, Le Marche, Barbera d'Asti e vini del Monferrato, Asti Wines and Wines of Portugal, including for the wines of Vinho Verde.

Serving as a judge for the annual WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada since 2013 has been the greatest honour and Godello has always been proud to taste, assess and award medals alongside colleague David Lawrason at Canada’s Great Kitchen Party and with Tony Aspler’s Ontario Wine Awards. Michael lives in Toronto with his wife of 28 years and three children.

http://godello.ca mgodlelo

Latest Reviews (31496 in total)

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  Wine Rating Price Quantity  
Torre Oria Brut Reserva Cava, Traditional Method, Do, Spain Bottle Torre Oria Brut Reserva Cava, Traditional Method, Do, Spain
Spain
402255
Review added: January 14, 2015
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$11.75 None
(0)V
Baron De Ley Varietales Graciano 2010, Doca Rioja Bottle Baron De Ley Varietales Graciano 2010, Doca Rioja
Rioja, Spain
397166
Review added: January 14, 2015
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$21.95 None
(0)V
Señorío De Sarría Viñedo No.8 Mazuelo Crianza 2009, Do Navarra Bottle Señorío De Sarría Viñedo No.8 Mazuelo Crianza 2009, Do Navarra
Navarra, Spain
391656
Review added: January 14, 2015
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$17.95 None
(0)V
Finca Los Alijares Graciano 2009, Vino De La Tierra De Castilla Bottle Finca Los Alijares Graciano 2009, Vino De La Tierra De Castilla
Spain
392522
Review added: January 14, 2015
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$17.95 None
(0)V
Dominio Dos Tares Estay Prieto Picudo 2011, Vino De La Tierra De Castilla Y León Bottle Dominio Dos Tares Estay Prieto Picudo 2011, Vino De La Tierra De Castilla Y León
Spain
393140
Review added: January 14, 2015
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$15.95 None
(0)V
Reif Estate Grand Reserve Riesling Icewine 2011, VQA Niagara River (375ml) Bottle Reif Estate Grand Reserve Riesling Icewine 2011, VQA Niagara River (375ml)
Ontario, Canada
Winery
Review added: January 13, 2015
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$74.90 None
(0)
Reif Estate Grand Reserve Cabernet Franc Icewine 2013 (375ml) Bottle Reif Estate Grand Reserve Cabernet Franc Icewine 2013 (375ml)
Ontario, Canada
Winery
Review added: January 13, 2015
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$94.90 Shopping_bag
Southbrook Vidal Icewine 2010, VQA Niagara On The Lake (200ml) Bottle Southbrook Vidal Icewine 2010, VQA Niagara On The Lake (200ml)
Ontario, Canada
Winery
Review added: January 13, 2015
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$26.95 Shopping_bag
Ravine Vineyard Chardonnay 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula Bottle Ravine Vineyard Chardonnay 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada
306902
Review added: January 12, 2015
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$24.00 None
(0)V
Southbrook Poetica Cabernet Merlot 2007 Bottle Southbrook Poetica Cabernet Merlot 2007
Ontario, Canada
Winery
Review added: January 12, 2015
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$54.95 Shopping_bag
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