Michael Godel

Michael Godel
Followers (297)
Reviews (31960)
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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 (31442 in total)

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  Wine Rating Price Quantity  
Adaptation Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Napa Valley Bottle Adaptation Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Napa Valley
California, Usa
353102
Review added: November 01, 2013
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$61.95 None
(0)V
La Crema Pinot Noir 2011, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County Bottle La Crema Pinot Noir 2011, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
California, Usa
906404
Review added: November 01, 2013
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$45.95 None
(0)V
Norman Hardie Unfiltered Niagara Pinot Noir 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula Bottle Norman Hardie Unfiltered Niagara Pinot Noir 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada
208702
Review added: November 01, 2013
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$39.00 None
(0)V
Morgan Highland Chardonnay 2010, Santa Lucia Highlands Bottle Morgan Highland Chardonnay 2010, Santa Lucia Highlands
California, Usa
953273
Review added: November 01, 2013
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$31.95 None
(0)V
Montecillo Gran Reserva 2005, Doca Rioja Bottle Montecillo Gran Reserva 2005, Doca Rioja
Rioja, Spain
239277
Review added: November 01, 2013
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$30.95 None
(0)V
Hidden Bench Chardonnay 2011, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula Bottle
Wa_nwacsilver_thumbnail
Hidden Bench Chardonnay 2011, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada
68817
Review added: November 01, 2013
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$28.95 None
(0)V
Domaine Zind Humbrecht Calcaire Pinot Gris 2011, Ac Alsace Bottle Domaine Zind Humbrecht Calcaire Pinot Gris 2011, Ac Alsace
Alsace, France
190413
Review added: November 01, 2013
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$27.95 None
(0)V
Prinz Von Hessen Royal Riesling Kabinett 2011 Bottle Prinz Von Hessen Royal Riesling Kabinett 2011
Rheingau, Germany
345769
Review added: November 01, 2013
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$28.00 None
(0)V
Bellingham The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2012, Coastal Region Bottle Bellingham The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2012, Coastal Region
South Africa
12724
Review added: November 01, 2013
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$22.95 None
(0)V
Astrolabe Province Sauvignon Blanc 2012, Marlborough, South Island Bottle Astrolabe Province Sauvignon Blanc 2012, Marlborough, South Island
Marlborough, New Zealand
10421
Review added: November 01, 2013
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$22.95 None
(0)V
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