Visitors to the 2016 Niagara Wine Festival will have the chance to hear the stories behind the wines they taste thanks to educational seminars organized by Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI).

The Educate your Senses wine and cheese seminars are back by popular demand and will take place both Saturdays of the festival, Sept. 17 and 24, in Montebello Park.

The Sept. 17 seminars will be hosted by Christopher Waters, VINES Magazine editor and CCOVI continuing education instructor. Waters will introduce attendees to some of Niagara’s top winemakers, including alumni of Brock’s Oenology and Viticulture program, as they share their experiences and stories behind their wines.

The Sept. 24 seminars will be hosted by CCOVI oenologist Belinda Kemp. The winemaker lineup for those sessions will be posted to the CCOVI website next week.

Each seminar will feature two wines paired with cheese from The Cheese Cellar at Stoney Ridge Winery.

Brock will have a booth set up in the park Sept. 24 and wineries that employ Brock alumni and students will be identified with a Brock Alumni sign.

Educate Your Senses wine seminars

Location: Roy T. Adams Bandshell, Montebello Park, St. Catharines

Cost: Two tokens ($6.50)

Brock alumni will receive a free wine glass with registration and receive half-off the seminar cost (one token instead of two).

Saturday, Sept. 17

2 p.m. Marc Bradshaw, Strewn Winery

3 p.m. Richie Roberts*, Fielding Estate Winery

4 p.m. Jessica Wallace*, Diamond Estate Winery

*Marked sessions feature alumni of Brock’s Oenology and Viticulture (OEVI) program