Three-time Stanley Cup winner Igor Larionov launched his newest IL Triple Overtime Wine, the ”Centre Ice” Canadian Vidal Icewine on the weekend of his inauguration to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Igor Larionov presented his new Icewine to a select group of wine enthusiasts, wine writers, sommeliers, and hockey players at a private wine tasting at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto. The Canadian Vidal Icewine, made by award winning Icewine maker Pillitteri Estates Winery, will be available in Russia in the New Year.
At the official launch of his Icewine, Mr. Larionov said, ”I’ve been looking to add a Canadian Icewine to the select wines I sell in Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, and I like this wine very much.”
”We are proud that Mr. Larionov selected Pillitteri Estates Winery to craft the Canadian Icewine that he will market and sell in his native Russia ” said Charlie Pillitteri, President of Pillitteri Estates Winery. Charlie Pillitteri and his team have been working with Canada ’s Department of International Trade since he visited Russia and poured Canadian wines to interested Russians in 2004. ”We are also excited about the markets this opens up for our Canadian Icewines in the Midwest United States markets where Igor’s wines are already strong sellers.”
Janet Dorozynski, Trade Commissioner for Canadian Wine, Spirits and Beer in the Global Business Opportunities Bureau at Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada added, ”Bold strategic alliances and creative thinking will result in success for Canadian Icewine in Russia and throughout the world. This is a great initiative and I look forward to seeing more innovative partnerships like this to showcase Canadian wine and alcoholic beverages internationally”.
Igor Larionov will introduce his selected brands ”Larionov Select Wines”, ”Hattrick” and IL Triple Overtime” to Canada in 2009.
About Igor Larionov
Igor Larionov was an international hockey superstar before ever playing an NHL game. He was a mainstay on the Soviet Red Army, National and Olympic teams going back to 1977.
He reached the pinnacle of success in the NHL in a Red Wing uniform, making major contributions to the ’97, ’98 and ’02 Stanley Cup championship teams, adding to his Olympic Gold Medals from 1984 and 1988, multiple World Championships and a 1981 Canada Cup victory.
During that time, he became good friends with Mike Davis, and even before announcing his retirement from hockey as a member of the New Jersey Devils, he and Davis had already formed a business partnership with the primary intent of exporting Australian and Californian wines to Switzerland and Russia, with limited distribution in Michigan as well.
They call their operation the Triple Overtime Wine Company, an obvious reference to Larionov’s game winning goal in the 3rd overtime period of Game 3 of the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals, an amazing goal to culminate an amazing game.
In the coming months, Igor Larionov’s IL Triple Overtime line of fourteen hand blended and selected wines from California and Australia will be introduced to Canada.
About VinoCanada
VinoCanada is the premiere exporter of Canadian wines to Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union. VinoCanada represents such brands as Pillitteri, Reif, Vineland, Dan Aykroyd, Lakeview Cellars and East Dell.
About IL Triple Overtime Wines
The IL Triple Overtime Wine Company is brought to you by Igor Larionov and Mike Davis, two wine connoisseurs turned friends then partners. They have hand selected and blended vintages from Australia, California, and now Canada under the Igor Larionov Select Wines Company and marketed under the brand name ”Triple Overtime”.
About Pillitteri Estates Winery
Pillitteri Estates Winery is a family owned and operated business founded in 1993 situated on 113 acres of vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It has established itself as a leader in the industry and is internationally recognized as a premium producer of Icewine and one of the most innovative, using a wide range of varietals. It currently exports to 27 countries and is the largest estate producer of Icewine in the world. Pillitteri has won over 400 international and domestic awards, reflecting the winery’s commitment to producing premium VQA wines.
For more information please visit www.vinocanada.com
