Barb Tatarnic has been a champion of Ontario wines for decades, but this year, the organizer of the largest celebration of VQA products is feeling extra patriotic.

“Ontario wines are amongst the best in the world, and we are going all in to prove it,” says Tatarnic, who is overseeing the Cuvée Grand Tasting on Saturday, May 24 at the Holiday Inn and Suites in St. Catharines.

Hosted by Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI), the Grand Tasting offers industry professionals and wine enthusiasts a taste of local wine and culinary excellence.

The Cuvée Grand Tasting takes place Saturday, May 24 at the Holiday Inn and Suites in St. Catharines.

The evening will include a curated selection of vintages from Ontario’s top winemakers, 10 live cooking stations featuring gourmet foods and live music from AudioworX.

Those wanting to explore the Niagara wine region can also take advantage of the Cuvée En Route Passport program that welcomes guests to visit select wineries for tastings from Friday, May 23 to Sunday, May 25.

“Cuvée is a celebration of excellence in VQA winemaking, and it has been for years,” says Tatarnic, CCOVI’s Manager of Professional Studies and Outreach.

She says events like Cuvée support Ontario’s world-class grape and wine industry and the hardworking individuals who have cultivated it over the years, which is critical given the current economic and political climate.

“Now, more than ever, ‘Made in Canada’ and ‘Buy Local’ are top of mind, so we are shouting it from the rooftops to continue to support our local winemakers and wineries,” Tatarnic says.

She points to a report by Wine Growers Ontario that states the grape and wine industry supports more than 22,300 full-time equivalent jobs in Ontario.

“Those numbers are outstanding but imagine what we can do if we all focus on supporting local products,” she says. “We want to be part of a long-term effort that puts homegrown products front and centre and supports the people who live, go to school and work in Niagara’s wine region.”

Proceeds from Cuvée support scholarships for students in Brock’s Applied Grape and Wine Science (OEVI) program as well as industry-driven grape and wine research.

“Brock’s Applied Grape and Wine Science program is the only program of its kind in Canada, providing expert and dedicated professionals to wineries and vineyards from B.C. to Ontario’s growing regions and into the burgeoning scenes in Quebec and the Maritimes,” says CCOVI Director Debbie Inglis.

Supporting the event means that people are directly supporting wineries and vineyards in Ontario and across the country, she says.

Tickets to the Grand Tasting — with reduced pricing options available for groups of six or more — and Cuvée En Route are available through the Cuvée website.