Michael Godel

Michael Godel
Followers (297)
Reviews (32014)
  • (805)
  • (393)
 

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)

Show 10, 25, 50, 100 wines per page
  Wine Rating Price Quantity  
Megalomaniac Coldhearted Riesling Icewine 2008, VQA Niagara Peninsula (200ml) Bottle Megalomaniac Coldhearted Riesling Icewine 2008, VQA Niagara Peninsula (200ml)
Ontario, Canada
243519
Review added: November 02, 2014
Sign In to see Critic Reviews. Not a Member? Please Sign Up.
$29.95 None
(0)V
Marilyn 25 Silver Anniversary Merlot 2009, Napa Valley Bottle Marilyn 25 Silver Anniversary Merlot 2009, Napa Valley
California, Usa
306738
Review added: November 02, 2014
Sign In to see Critic Reviews. Not a Member? Please Sign Up.
$34.80 None
(0)V
Ricossa Antica Casa Moscato D'asti 2011, Docg Bottle Ricossa Antica Casa Moscato D'asti 2011, Docg
Piedmont, Italy
72272
Review added: November 02, 2014
Sign In to see Critic Reviews. Not a Member? Please Sign Up.
$15.95 None
(0)V
Loosen Bros. Dr. L. Sparkling Riesling, Charmat Method, Germany Bottle Loosen Bros. Dr. L. Sparkling Riesling, Charmat Method, Germany
Germany
296095
Review added: November 02, 2014
Sign In to see Critic Reviews. Not a Member? Please Sign Up.
$11.25 None
(0)V
Marimar Estate La Masía Pinot Noir 2007, Don Miguel Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Bottle Marimar Estate La Masía Pinot Noir 2007, Don Miguel Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Sonoma
California, Usa
303974
Review added: November 02, 2014
Sign In to see Critic Reviews. Not a Member? Please Sign Up.
$34.95 None
(0)V
Tenuta Di Capraia Chianti Classico 2010, Docg Bottle Tenuta Di Capraia Chianti Classico 2010, Docg
Tuscany, Italy
135277
Review added: November 02, 2014
Sign In to see Critic Reviews. Not a Member? Please Sign Up.
$19.95 None
(0)V
Emiliana Novas Gran Reserva Carmenere/Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Valle De Colchagua Bottle Emiliana Novas Gran Reserva Carmenere/Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Valle De Colchagua
Maipo Valley, Chile
437947
Review added: November 02, 2014
Sign In to see Critic Reviews. Not a Member? Please Sign Up.
$15.95 None
(0)V
Piñol Ludovicus Tinto 2010, Do Terra Alta Bottle Piñol Ludovicus Tinto 2010, Do Terra Alta
Spain
313791
Review added: November 02, 2014
Sign In to see Critic Reviews. Not a Member? Please Sign Up.
$13.95 None
(0)V
Ravenswood Sonoma Old Vine Zinfandel 2011, Sonoma County Bottle Ravenswood Sonoma Old Vine Zinfandel 2011, Sonoma County
California, Usa
673798
Review added: October 30, 2014
Sign In to see Critic Reviews. Not a Member? Please Sign Up.
$21.95 None
(0)V
Rosewood Origin Series La Fumée 2013, VQA Niagara Escarpment Bottle Rosewood Origin Series La Fumée 2013, VQA Niagara Escarpment
Ontario, Canada
Winery
Review added: October 30, 2014
Sign In to see Critic Reviews. Not a Member? Please Sign Up.
$26.20 Shopping_bag
Show 10, 25, 50, 100 wines per page