OUR STORY
30 years in the cellar & still maturing, slowly.
1995: Toronto – Fine Vintage is founded
After living and working in Bordeaux, James Cluer moves to Toronto and starts Fine Vintage by trading fine Bordeaux wines.
1997: Master of Wine studies begin.
The 11-year journey to become a Master of Wine begins. In 2008, James becomes the 269th Master of Wine in the world since 1953.
2002: Wine schools open in British Columbia.
Fine Vintage opens our first wine school in Vancouver and gradually grows across Canada and the USA. We open over 22 wine schools in the coming years and welcome thousands of students per year.
2005: Consulting activities take off.
New clients include Qatar Airways, Fairmont Hotels, Canadian Governments, and wineries in Napa and the Okanagan. Over the next 10 years, we win awards for Best Cellar in the Sky, Wine Spectator awards, and start 12 wineries and brands from scratch. Additionally, we win government contracts to train large retail teams.
2010: Bordeaux – Luxury wine tours begin.
Fine Vintage runs our first luxury wine tour to Bordeaux. Over the next 15 years, we open tours to 12 destinations and welcome hundreds of guests every year to visit the iconic wineries of the world, all in the lap of luxury.
2011: Awarded Best Wine School in the World by the WSET.
Over 700 schools around the world compete for this prestigious annual trophy. Fine Vintage has been nominated 3 additional times and has become the largest provider of wine education in the Americas.
2012: Offices opened in Napa Valley.
Fine Vintage opens an office in the Napa Valley, USA.
2015: Wine Jobs websites begin.
We launch www.WineJobsCanada.com and sites in 5 other major markets. The sites become the leading industry platforms connecting employers with job seekers.
2017: Sigma, a boutique Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is started.
Our own Napa wine is awarded 98 points by James Suckling for the 2018 vintage. Crafted by Aaron Pott and James Cluer, the brand sells out.
2019: Online wine courses are released.
A series of online wine courses are launched, just before Covid.
2024: Fine Vintage opens in Asia.
Wine schools open in Tokyo, Osaka, and Manila.
