Seminars

Join Vikram Vij (Vij’s/Rangoli/My Shanti), 2016 Edmonton Gold Medal Plates Champion and 2017 Canadian Culinary Championships Bronze Medalist Eric Hanson (Prairie Noodle House) and Gurvinder Bhatia (Quench wine editor and mythbusting avenger) as we bust myths and misconceptions with this food and wine pairing experience that will have you thinking wine with your next korma, curry, ramen, Penang or al pastor.

Panelists: Dr. Ian D’Agata, Dr. Michael Apstein
Is it the sulfites in wine that give you a headache? Do you know how much sugar is in the wines you drink? Are organic or “natural” wines better for you? What’s the truth about resveratrol in red wines and is it good for your heart? Learn the truths, myths and maybes when it comes to the health benefits of wine from Dr. Ian D’Agata and Dr. Michael Apstein.

Riesling might be the world’s most misunderstood grape variety. It’s received a bad rap due to the all too pervasive lacklustre, sweet apple juice-style wines that our parents drank in the 1970s. But fortunately, the image of this noblest of varieties is on the mend thanks in part to wines like those produced by these outstanding Canadian producers that highlight Riesling’s vibrancy, diversity, versatility and stunning age-worthiness.

Fifteen years ago, it is unlikely that many would even dream that Syrah grown in British Columbia could help draw international attention to the province’s burgeoning wine industry. But the grape variety is raising eyebrows. Fresh, elegant, nuanced, fruit-driven, peppery, meaty and expressive. Syrah’s ability to express the diversity of terroir that exists in the province is also becoming more evident. Join our experienced panel to taste and discuss Syrah grown in BC, the rewards and difficulties, the elegance that can be achieved in the province’s cool climate, where it does well and what is a global reference wine or style, not necessarily Syrah, that BC can look to and learn from to develop Syrah as a signature wine?

It’s not just white and sparkling wines that Canada excels at growing. Fresh, elegant, full-flavoured, nuanced, fruit-driven, savoury and expressive, Canada is producing outstanding quality red wines that are comparable to their cool climate counterparts from around the globe. But enough talk, let’s taste. Syrah, Gamay and Cabernet Franc: we will taste 3 examples of each from within and beyond our borders. All wines will be tasted blind. Our own mini Judgement of Edmonton.

Often referred to as the “heartbreak grape” due to its temperamental nature and sensitivity to microclimate and terroir, but treat it well, nurture it and grow it in the right conditions and Pinot Noir can result in some of the most beautiful wines in the world. Benefiting from cool climates, Pinot Noir is a natural fit in Canada as evidenced by the quality being produced and the resulting accolades. Join a few of our country’s Pinot Noir specialists to taste and learn why Pinot Noir could very well be Canada’s signature red grape.

There is still a perception that Canada is not able to produce full bodied, structured red wines that are traditionally associated with other wine growing regions of the world. But with the diversity of soil conditions and micro-climates that exist in our country, the range of wines we can grow well does include bold, full bodied reds that can satisfy any big red drinker, while still possessing and expressing the freshness of our cool climate.

Sparkling wines are not just for celebrations. Festive, fun, vibrant and versatile, we will explore the methods and styles of bubbles being produced across the country and why our cool climate is helping us produce sparkling wines comparable to the best in the world. We all need to resolve to drink more (Canadian) bubbles. A selection of Canadian sparkling wines will be tasted.

The Canadian wine industry has undergone a tremendous quality evolution over the past quarter century. From random plantings to identifying and understanding the diversity of soil conditions and microclimates to ensuring specific grape varieties are grown in appropriate vineyard sites to reflecting the vineyard in the bottle. Should we be focussed on certain grapes varieties or celebrate the diversity that is possible and risk being a jack of all trades, but master of none? And does organic, biodynamic and sustainable farming raise the quality level of our wines beyond conventional farming or is it simply a marketing ploy? Explore the philosophies and taste the wines with many of the wine professionals responsible for the innovation, quality evolution and direction of the Canadian wine industry and perspectives from beyond our borders.