In a typical year, Brock University\u2019s Cool Climate Oenology and Research Institute (CCOVI) welcomes thousands of industry professionals and wine enthusiasts to its slate of in-person tastings, conferences, workshops and other special presentations.<\/p>\n
When the pandemic hit, however, CCOVI explored new ways of staying connected in a virtual capacity \u2014 and those efforts are paying off.<\/p>\n
In the past six months alone, CCOVI has engaged with more than 600 community and industry members though its new online initiatives.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt a time when we cannot connect in-person, it\u2019s important for us to still stay in touch,\u201d says Barb Tatarnic, CCOVI\u2019s manager of Outreach and Continuing Education. \u201cSimilar to the increased demand we saw for our online continuing education courses<\/a>, we knew there was a demand for virtual outreach experiences, too.\u201d<\/p>\n More than 100 guests attended CCOVI\u2019s new virtual wine tastings, for example. Featuring industry partners like Gabriel Demarco (BSc \u201913), Winemaker and Viticulturist at Cave Spring Vineyard<\/a>, and\u00a0Mitchell McCurdy (BSc \u201918), Winemaker at\u00a0Marynissen Estates Winery<\/a>, the events have been so popular that CCOVI is already planning for additional offerings in the future.<\/p>\n \u201cThe past 15 months have been challenging with COVID-19, so our tasting was a chance for my senior team and their partners to connect, have a few laughs and learn about wine and pairings,\u201d says Trent Hilpert, President of Piller\u2019s Fine Foods. \u201cThe depth of Mitchell\u2019s knowledge was absolutely incredible, and the event was very well done and creative.\u201d<\/p>\n For Cory Petznick (BA \u201994), Piller\u2019s Director \u2013 Business Development, Alternate Channel, Co-Pack and Food Service, the online tasting experience was an inviting way for a beginner like himself to learn more about wine. Doing so in the company of other local Brock alumni was an added bonus.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is always great to reconnect with people that you share something in common with and\u00a0I find that when I come across alumni from Brock, you quickly discover that there are so many great stories that you have in common and it brings back some very cherished memories,\u201d says Petznick, who participated alongside his wife and fellow alumna, Molly Petznick (BA \u201996).<\/p>\n