Media releases

• Top VQA wine promoters honoured at Experts Tasting

  Tuesday, June 18, 2019 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 18 June 2019 – R00107

  More than 120 wine writers, educators and industry professionals gathered at Brock University on Tuesday, June 18 for the 30th annual Experts Tasting, which promotes Ontario VQA wine and celebrates individuals who have helped grow and promote the grape and wine industry.

  Organized by Brock’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI), the 2019 tasting focused on Riesling, from sparkling to Icewine. Five flights showcased a total of 35 wines with industry experts guiding guests through the tasting.

  “The Experts Tasting has been designed for the trade — primarily media, product consultants, sommeliers and wine educators who promote VQA wines,” said event organizer Barb Tatarnic, Manager of Outreach and Continuing Education at CCOVI. “This event allows guests to taste and learn alongside their peers in the industry. This tasting showcased multiple vintages and styles of Riesling and clearly showed what this variety can bring to the Ontario industry year after year.”

  The event also honours outstanding achievements and contributions by presenting VQA Promoters Awards to individuals who advance the industry through promotion or education.

  The Sparkling Winos — wine bloggers Jeff Graham and Michal Matyjewicz — were recognized for promoting and raising the profile of VQA wines in the promoter-at-large category.

  “This is something that we do purely as a hobby. This isn’t a full-time job,” said Graham. “We invest so much of our time and effort into Sparkling Winos, so it means everything to be recognized for that from our peers and other industry professionals we admire.”

  The social media influencers say they are passionate about educating people about VQA wine.

  “There is so much going on in this area, so many quality wines and such a focus on quality winemaking,” said Matyjewicz. “I think that is what makes it a unique wine region and makes it a really easy sell for us to help spread the word about sparkling and other VQA wines.”

  The lifetime achievement award was presented to Helen Fisher, retired viticulture research scientist at the University of Guelph, who was recognized for her groundbreaking work in the vineyard and her research into wine grape selections for cool climate regions.

  The 2019 VQA Promoters Award winners include:

  • Retail: Meg McGrath, Retail Manager, Hidden Bench Winery
  • Hospitality: Maribeth Mckey, Food and Beverage Manager, Inn on the Twenty
  • LCBO: Victor Borja-Sheen, Product Consultant, LCBO
  • Education: Ron Giesbrecht, Professor, Niagara College
  • Promoter-at-Large: Jeff Graham and Michal Matyjewicz, The Sparkling Winos
  • Lifetime Achievement: Helen Fisher, retired researcher, University of Guelph

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews: 

  * Britt Dixon, Communications Officer, Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute, Brock University bdixon@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x4471

  * Dan Dakin, Manager Communications and Media Relations, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases

• Brock partners with seven Niagara municipalities to tackle climate change

  Monday, June 17, 2019 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 17 June 2019 – R00106

  Whether it be flooding in Ontario or forest fires in Alberta, the impacts of climate change are on the minds of Canadians. Brock University this week is launching Niagara Adapts, a new partnership that aims to reduce the risks associated with climate change in the region.

  Local government is on the front line of both climate change impacts and responses. Municipalities engage with their residents showing leadership on the issue, and are well-positioned to design and implement local programs that make a big difference.

  Universities can also play a critical role in tackling climate change through the contribution of scientific expertise, research and innovation.

  “The challenges brought by climate change require that we all must work together,” said Brock University President Gervan Fearon. “As part of Brock’s new Strategic Plan, we are committed to collaborating with our local municipalities to enhance the life and vitality of Niagara region. Together we can better tackle the challenges of climate change and build a more sustainable future for our local communities and beyond.”

  Niagara Adapts is an innovative partnership that brings together seven Niagara municipalities — Grimsby, Lincoln, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Pelham, St. Catharines and Welland — with Brock’s Environmental Sustainability Research Centre (ESRC) to address what has been called the defining issue of our time.

  The partnership is motivated by the shared interest in building climate resilience in Niagara through a collaboration that can be more efficient through shared resources and expertise than if municipalities went it alone.

  Some of the participating cities and towns were successful in securing staff grants through the Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program funded by the Government of Canada and delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

  By the end of the partnership, all municipalities expect to have produced a climate change adaptation plan that provides recommendations to build climate resilience, from flood-proofing homes to increasing climate awareness throughout Niagara.

  “We couldn’t be more excited to be engaging in research grounded here in Niagara that will directly benefit local communities,” said ESRC Associate Professor Jessica Blythe. “It’s the kind of partnership we dream about.”

  ESRC Director Ryan Plummer said these sorts of partnerships are grounded in reciprocity.

  “They embody the spirit of sustainability science and are integrated into the research and service of the ESRC, profoundly impacting our students, staff and faculty,” he said. “At the same time, immense benefits are gained by our partners in terms of capacity building, evidence-based decision-making and leveraging expertise to address sustainability challenges and opportunities.”

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Manager Communications and Media Relations, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases