{"id":57044,"date":"2019-03-25T16:26:09","date_gmt":"2019-03-25T20:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=57044"},"modified":"2019-03-25T16:31:22","modified_gmt":"2019-03-25T20:31:22","slug":"record-crowd-pours-in-for-cuvee-grand-tasting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2019\/03\/record-crowd-pours-in-for-cuvee-grand-tasting\/","title":{"rendered":"Record crowd pours in for Cuv\u00e9e Grand Tasting"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was another packed event this year as the 31st annual Cuv\u00e9e Grand Tasting brought almost 900 guests together to celebrate excellence in the thriving Ontario wine industry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Organized by Brock University\u2019s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI), the record crowd came to Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls Saturday, March 23 to sample from the largest selection of Ontario wines under one roof and taste unique culinary dishes from local chefs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the largest event of its kind and the strong turnout of guests year after year truly showcases the importance of our grape and wine industry and the strong level of support it garners from our community,\u201d said Cuv\u00e9e manager Barb Tatarnic.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tony Aspler presents Doug Whitty, of 13th Street Winery, the Tony Aspler Cuv\u00e9e Award for Excellence Saturday, March 23 in Niagara Falls.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Grand Tasting also honours the talented people who work in the $4.4-billion Ontario grape and wine industry.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Tony Aspler Cuv\u00e9e Award of Excellence, presented to the individual or institution that best furthers the aims and aspirations of Ontario\u2019s wine industry, was awarded to Doug Whitty and 13th Street Winery. Whitty is a third-generation Niagara grape grower and was the 2017 Grape King. As he called Whitty to the stage to receive the award, Tony Aspler credited him and 13th Street Winery with \u201cenhancing the winery experience with art and sculpture and, of course, butter tarts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Whitty called Aspler a \u201cpioneer in this industry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe was there right from the beginning supporting us,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is really a great honour for me to win this award, I am very humbled and thankful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Winemaker of Excellence Award winner was Bruce Nicholson from Inniskillin, who was selected for his contributions to the industry, his commitment to excellence and his mentorship to winemakers across Canada.<\/span><\/p>\n

This year\u2019s Cuv\u00e9e Vineyard of Excellence Award went to Martin Schuele, a grape grower in Beamsville. Sponsored by BASF Canada Inc., the award recognizes a grape grower who promotes excellence in vineyard practices.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Cuv\u00e9e Grand Tasting is a great opportunity for BASF to not only celebrate Ontario wines with our grape customers, but to also introduce those customers to some of the future industry leaders from Brock University and Niagara College,” said Scott Hodgins, Crop Manager, Horticulture for BASF Canada Inc.<\/span><\/p>\n

Schuele and his family, who grow for Arterra Wines Canada, have about 120 acres of vineyards and it\u2019s been a family-owned operation since they arrived from Germany in the early 1980s. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSchuele vineyards have long been associated with vineyard excellence,\u201d said CCOVI Senior Scientist Jim Willwerth. \u201cMartin\u2019s Chardonnay block was pristine with high quality fruit even in the tough 2018 vintage.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cuv\u00e9e also celebrates the next generation of winemakers and grape growers by providing scholarships to Brock University Oenology and Viticulture undergraduate and graduate students through the Cuv\u00e9e Legacy Fund.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Cuv\u00e9e Scholarship winners are:<\/span><\/p>\n