With the Cuv\u00e9e Grand Tasting celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, organizers have pulled out all the stops to highlight the best VQA wine and food Ontario has to offer.<\/p>\n
Organized by Brock University\u2019s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI), the Cuv\u00e9e Grand Tasting is the largest celebration of Ontario VQA wine and food of its kind. This year\u2019s event takes place Friday, March 23 at the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls<\/strong>, with the Cuv\u00e9e en Route passport program once again extending the wine celebration all weekend long at participating wineries.<\/p>\n Cuv\u00e9e is the most prestigious and largest celebration of Ontario wine, with more than 750 people attending last year\u2019s gala. Proceeds from the weekend support grape and wine scholarships for Brock\u2019s oenology and viticulture students as well as industry-driven research initiatives at CCOVI.<\/p>\n Cuv\u00e9e manager Barb Tatarnic said the Grand Tasting allows guests to enjoy wines from 48 of Ontario\u2019s top winemakers, and culinary delights from celebrated local chefs. Exclusive tastings will be available from up-and-coming wineries and restaurants, as well as the favourites guests have come to know and love.<\/p>\n \u201cWe always strive to bring a mix of new and unique wine and culinary partners to Cuv\u00e9e, as well as highlight the event\u2019s long-standing partners,\u201d Tatarnic said. \u201cThis year will be a true testament to that commitment, as we ring in 30 years of winemaking excellence with our best event yet.\u201d<\/p>\n Each of the 48 wineries will present two of their winemakers\u2019 favourite wines at the Grand Tasting, offering a rare chance to learn about each selection directly from the winemaker who created it.<\/p>\n The gala will also feature 12 of Niagara\u2019s top chefs, who will showcase deliciously creative dishes at live cooking stations. A new addition this year is The Restaurant at Bench Brewery, a soon-to-open eatery in the historic Bench Brewing Co. building in Beamsville led by Chef Erik Peacock.<\/p>\n \u201cHe brings culinary talent as well as his philosophy for \u2018going local\u2019 to The Restaurant at Bench Brewery,\u201d Tatarnic said of Peacock. \u201cThe restaurant doesn\u2019t open to the public until June, so we\u2019re thrilled that we can offer guests of Cuv\u00e9e an exclusive sneak peek of what they can expect when it opens this summer.\u201d<\/p>\n Established culinary partners, such as Scotiabank Convention Centre\u2019s Centreplate, are also putting a fresh spin on things this year.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing able to showcase a dish for the 30th anniversary celebration of Cuv\u00e9e at the Scotiabank Convention Centre is a true honor,\u201d said Chef James Price, of the homemade miso he will be serving this year. \u201cFor an event like this, I like to present something unique and hand-crafted. I also can\u2019t wait to see what all of the other talented chefs are going to bring to the table this year.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvonne Irvine, <\/strong>Assistant Winemaker at Creekside Estate Winery, is excited to present two of Creekside\u2019s favourite wine selections and its new-to-the-market Rood Apples Cider at Cuv\u00e9e.<\/p>\n \u201cCuv\u00e9e is one of the highlight events of the year and it is always filled with inventive and delicious food from Niagara\u2019s top chefs with some of the best wines that Niagara has to offer,\u201d she said. <\/em>\u201c<\/strong>As a consumer, this is a really great opportunity to sample Niagara\u2019s best.\u201d<\/p>\n The newly created Winemaker of Excellence Award will also be part of the celebration this year, paying further tribute to the talented people who propel the industry forward. The winner will be announced before the kickoff to the evening\u2019s Apr\u00e8s\u00a0Cuv\u00e9e after party, which features live music from the Associates, Icewine, sparkling wine, cider and local craft beer.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Winemaker of Excellence award will appropriately round off the evening as we celebrate excellence in Ontario winemaking,\u201d said Tatarnic.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s culinary stations include:<\/strong><\/p>\n A complete list of participating wineries can be found at cuvee.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n