CCOVI's wine seminars return to the Niagara Wine Festival.

The wine seminars at Montebello Park are back for the 2012 Niagara Wine Festival, but this year they will be in the new Culinary Theatre – and feature a food pairing.

The seminars are co-ordinated by Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute.

Bestselling food and wine author Linda Bramble will host some of Niagara’s top winemakers and chefs, who will present wine and food selections and share some thoughts on their expertise. The public will be able to taste the story that makes each of wines so unique.

“I’m thrilled to add the food component to the stellar lineup of wines we will be presenting. Linda Bramble’s ability to teach others about wine and food interaction is quite extraordinary – and she does it with great modesty, enthusiasm and fun,” says Barb Tatarnic, wine educational events co-ordinator for CCOVI.

There will be three sessions per day on both weekends of the wine festival. Sessions at 1 and 5 p.m. will feature food pairings provide by Niagara College’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute, while the 3 p.m. wine will be matched with cheese pairings from the Dairy Farmers of Canada.

Seminars cost two tokens if you have a glass or three tokens and we’ll give you a glass. Registration is required and can be done in advance at niagarawinefestival.com – or upon arrival at the park.

Many of the sessions will feature graduates of Brock University’s Oenology and Viticulture program. These alumni have been highlighted on the schedule below.

Saturday, Sept. 22
1 p.m. Steve Trussler, winemaker, Coyote’s Run Estate Winery (Brock alumnus)
3 p.m. Roselyn Dyck & Susan Rissling, Cattail Creek Estate Winery (Brock alumna)
5 p.m. Marc Pistor, VQA winemaker, Constellation Brands (Brock alumnus)

Sunday, Sept. 23
1 p.m. Gavin Robertson, assistant winemaker, Niagara College
3 p.m. Rob Power, winemaker, Creekside Estate Winery (Brock alumnus)
5 p.m. Archie Hood, Reif Estate Winery

Saturday, Sept. 29
1 p.m. Fred DiProfio, winemaker, Pondview Estate Winery (Brock alumnus)
3 p.m. Marc Bradshaw, winemaker, Strewn Winery
5 p.m. Lydia Tomek, winemaker, Hernder Estates (Brock alumna)

Sunday, Sept. 30
1 p.m. Angela Kasimos, winemaker, Riverview Cellars (Brock alumna)
3 p.m. Richie Roberts, winemaker, Fielding Estates (Brock alumnus)
5 p.m. Jeff Hundertmark, winemaker, Marynissen Estates