Welcome to the Canopy Tasting Series: Blind Tasting Workshop!

Join us at Canopy Wine Lounge for a unique blind tasting experience. Test your senses and expand your wine knowledge in an educational and interactive setting. Challenge yourself to identify different wines without seeing the labels. Learn from our sommelier and winemaker in an intimate setting to discover new favorites. Don't miss out on this exciting event!

Josh, our sommelier and wine director, will be conducting a two part session. Part 1 will dive into the understanding of tasting techniques and delve further into how to taste like a professional sommelier while going through "the grid" (don't worry, we'll explain this). This will teach you how to deconstruct a wine for its quality, inspiring a deeper connection beyond the label. Part two will feature a flight of five wines (this is the fun part) which you will be able to dive into alongside Josh. He'll assist with proper technique and will help you to go through each wine individually, forming a deeper understanding of how to relate tasting notes to quality and structure.

This workshop will run approximately 90 minutes. It will include 5 wines (3oz each, think three full glasses in total) and a small plate of curated cheeses to enjoy along with your tasting.

What: Blind Tasting Session

Where: Canopy Wine Lounge

When: Wednesday January 15th 4:30pm

We can't wait to see those adventurous wine lovers there!

Who is Josh Kelly and why is he teaching this wine workshop?

Josh Kelly was a core part of the opening team at Canopy Wine Lounge in 2023 and is actively acting as their Winemaker, Wine Director, Sommelier, and Assistant General Manager (he wears a few hats!).

With an impressive background in the wine industry, Josh has left his mark in both Canadian and California wine scene, bringing his expertise and love for the craft to every project he's been a part of.

Landing in Palm Springs through way of Napa Valley from Toronto, Josh's journey into the world of wine began in hospitality, completing his Sommelier Certification at the age of 21, one of the youngest in North America.

This led to a need to understand how wine made it from the vineyard into the bottle. In Niagara, Josh was able to train at Niagara College to graduate as a Viticulture and Winemaking Technician. He trained further at Stratus Winery and Creekside Estates, developing a deep appreciation for the winemaking sciences.

Josh then spent half a decade working with Oliver and Bonacini Restaurants in Toronto. He was able to manage several concepts, establishing successful wine programs in many, helping to create successful hospitality programs, and open the beautiful Rabbit Hole in downtown Toronto. It was during this time that Josh was named Top 30 Under 30 in hospitality in Ontario.

Eager to expand his knowledge and explore new terroirs, Josh couldn't resist the allure of the vineyards of California. Josh moved to Napa Valley in 2021 and embraced the opportunity to work alongside some of the wine industry's brightest minds, earning the coveted Wine & Spirits Education Trust Diploma while working at Darioush Winery.

When Josh isn't working, he loves to travel. He's been lucky enough to travel numerous wine regions across 4 continents, always making wine a focus of his vacations!

Present day, Josh is now working alongside Canopy Wine Lounge to fabricate their fourth wine under the Desert Wren label, for those familiar expect a few more releases in the Spring of 2025! He also runs their Canopy Cru Collective wine club and directs their wine program.

Combining his vast knowledge, love for the vine, and his warm and approachable demeanor, Josh is not only a respected figure in the wine industry but also a trusted guide for both connoisseurs and newcomers alike. With his wealth of experience, he is dedicated to sharing his expertise, helping others discover the beauty that lies within each bottle.