Kat Florence Hotels Introduces Up To $20,000 Value Auction Wine Bottle Tastings For Guests, Star Sommelier Host Elizabeth Davies, and Top Chef Canada Star Shai-Ann Tyson
The exclusive Elora luxury retreat unveils complimentary tastings of the world’s rarest 100-point wines, hunted by Kat’s personal star sommelier, and another award-winning addition to its celebrity chef fleet
TORONTO, Oct. 20, 2026 /CNW/ — Imagine sipping a multi-thousand-dollar bottle of the world’s finest wine, personally sourced from the world’s most prestigious auctions, without ever seeing it appear on your hotel bill. Beginning October 20, Kat Florence Hotels will introduce the country’s most extraordinary complimentary wine experiences, welcoming up to six staying guests at a time to discover ultra-rare, 100-point auction wines that range up to $20,000 per bottle, entirely compliments of the house of Kat Florence.
The intimate tastings, held every Tuesday and Thursday at 5 p.m., will feature these exclusively auction-grade wines awarded a perfect score (of the many millions of wines in the world only 0.1- 0.3% will ever achieve this prestigious judges’ ranking). Each star Sommelier-led experience will welcome no more than six staying guests, on a first-booked first-access basis, offering an exceptionally rare opportunity to experience some of the world’s most coveted bottles in a private, unhurried setting. The experience is offered as an entirely gifted privilege to eligible guests of Kat Florence Hotel, where extraordinary hospitality has become as much a signature as the world-record-breaking gemstones of its founder, internationally celebrated artist Kat Florence.
“Some of my most memorable evenings have been spent around a table with a remarkable bottle and the people I love” describes Florence. “I wanted to create a space where my guests could have that same experience. Elizabeth, my personal sommelier, pours for them just as she pours for me: something extraordinary, along with its story, in an intimate room. It is included in every stay, because the finest things in life are meant to be shared.”
Leading the experience is Elizabeth Davies, Kat Florence’s personal Sommelier and rare wine hunter, whose expertise in sourcing exceptional bottles from the world’s best auctions brings a new dimension to the hotel’s celebrated guest experiences.
With more than 20 years of experience in luxury hospitality, Davies has built her career around the discovery, curation and appreciation of extraordinary, rare wines. A Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, Davies curates Kat’s elite cellar collection, is a contributor to the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers’ certification curriculum, teaches professional wine education at George Brown and more. Her widely known expertise has been featured on Breakfast Television, CHCH, The SOMM Journal, House & Home and many others.
“It’s both an honour and a wild adventure to have what can only be described as the greatest sommelier position on Earth,” says Davies. “As Kat Florence’s personal sommelier, my role is much like that of her in-house gem hunter, but instead of rare gemstones, I’m searching the world for extraordinary, ultra-rare, and 100-point wines. I get to hunt down bottles that most sommeliers and wine lovers only dream of experiencing. What makes this opportunity even more remarkable is that Kat doesn’t simply collect these treasures; she shares them with her guests, giving us the extraordinary privilege of experiencing and appreciating their greatness together.”
The gifted, 5 p.m. elite wine tastings have been thoughtfully timed by Kat Florence to precede another famously signature house experience: the elaborate, multi-course celebrity Chef tasting dinners included with every night of every guest’s stay.
Joining the hotel’s esteemed fleet of star chefs this month is Chef Shai-Ann Tyson, winner of the 2023 Garland Canada Culinary Competition (where she became the first woman of colour to claim the title), top finalist of Top Chef Canada Season 12, and Canadian regional finalist for the 2026– 2027 S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition. Her achievements also include competing in the Bocuse d’Or Canada National Selection, and contributing to the Bocuse d’Or Team Canada Research & Development group.
Tyson joins a distinguished culinary collection that includes internationally acclaimed chefs Anthony Bish, Marc Collyer, Dale Mackay and Neill Anthony, whose careers have taken them into Michelin-starred kitchens, royal family households and the private dining rooms of some of the world’s richest and most celebrated figures.
Unlike traditional luxury hotel dining, every stay at Kat Florence Hotel includes an opulent tasting dinner prepared by one of its rotating celebrity chefs, with the identity of the evening’s chef and the menu itself part of the surprise. The addition of Tyson introduces a fresh creative perspective to this already exceptional culinary offering, where each evening promises an experience that cannot simply be ordered from a menu.
The new wine and culinary experiences continue Kat Florence’s distinctive approach to hospitality, where rare artistry, highly personalized service and extraordinary generosity come together in an intimate historic setting in Elora, Ontario. From museum-worthy, multimillion- dollar gemstones displayed within the hotel’s original 1848 limestone walls to nightly celebrity chef dinners and now access to some of the world’s most valuable wines, the experience is designed around moments that few travellers will ever encounter.
Adding to the magic of the season, the Elora Christmas Market, presented by Kat Florence, returns November 14 through Christmas Day, once again transforming the historic village into one of the country’s most popular festive holiday destinations. The artisanal, European chalet market and it’s 100,000+ spectacular lights will welcome visitors Wednesday through Sunday, from noon to 8 p.m., offering another reason to discover Elora during one of its most enchanting times of year.
The Kat Florence 100-Point Elite Auction Wine Tastings begin October 20, 2026, and take place Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5 p.m. Each complimentary experience is limited to six staying guests, with advance reservations made for the tastings via their personal hotel concierge.
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About Kat Florence Hotels
Nestled along the banks of the Grand River in the heart of Elora, Ontario, Kat Florence Hotel is an intimate luxury retreat founded by world-renowned jewellery designer and rare gemstone artist Kat Florence. Housed within a meticulously restored 1848 limestone building, the hotel combines heritage architecture, exceptional dining and deeply personalized hospitality. Guest stays include nightly multi-course tasting dinners by internationally acclaimed chefs, freshly prepared breakfast baskets, a welcome bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne, a 60-minute
La Mer-infused massage in-suite, access to Nordic spa facilities, unlimited creations from the hotel’s Infinity Patisserie, Rolls-Royce and Bentley chauffeur service, personal concierge attendance and more.
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SOURCE Kat Florence Hotels
