Michael Pinkus has had a 20-year love affair with wine. In early 2005, he decided to leave a career in radio (writing and broadcasting) and combined his love for writing with his passion for wine, to become the head-writer and all around Grape Guy for OntarioWineReview. His mission was to forge out and bring Ontario wines into a more positive light, not just for fellow Ontarians, but for Canadians and other wine lovers the world over. Through his writing, it is his desire to educate, inspire and encourage others to grow their own love and enthusiasm for wine. His reviews and recommendations about Ontario wines and wineries are insightful, heartfelt, passionate and appealing and have won him a loyal readership in Ontario and worldwide.

As the head-writer of OntarioWineReview.com, Michael publishes a bi-weekly newsletter full of informative reviews and articles about the Ontario wine scene. He has given seminars and lectures at a variety of events. He teaches wine classes (through Ryerson); hosts the most entertaining wine events (both private and corporate), he judges, consults, gives good interview, broadcasts and Podcasts, as well as maintaining 6 blogs (and counting). The guy does everything but sing and dance. His public speaking presentations are interactive, exciting and fun. His columns are thought provoking, heartfelt and always entertaining.

The Grape Guy is refreshingly candid, honest and forthright, knowledgeable and intelligent, innocuous, devoid of free-radicals and is diva-attitude free – but most of all the Grape Guy is in demand (he even does weddings and bar-mitzvahs). But seriously, the Grape Guy has plenty to say on plenty of issues, he's engaging, intelligent, funny, and he speaks both from the heart and for the mind. You can't go wrong getting in touch with the Grapest Guy in the Wine Writers Circle.

Current wine related activities

Michael’s writing has appeared in such publications as Tidings, Silver and Gold, and Grapevine. His reviews often appear in the LCBO Vintages magazine. He has appeared on Rogers Television, as well as returning to his radio roots to appear on Terry David Mulligan’s radio wine show “The Tasting Room”. He is the founder and continues to run the OntarioWineReview People’s Choice Challenges (twice a year), where a different Ontario grape variety is judged by “the people” to determine the best.

Most recently, Michael placed a very respectable, and very Canadian, 4th in the 2009 Tasting Challenge against 250 amateur and professional winos. On the international front, Michael writes a bi-weekly Vintages report along with other blogs that deal with international wines.

Services offered

• Freelance writing
• Consumer Seminars and Tasting
• Judges at Wine Competitions
• Plans Wine Tours around Ontario
• Podcasting/Broadcasting about wine
• Teaches Classes
• Gives Lectures
• Hosts Private or Corporate Parties