It’s Cornucopia the annual Food and Wine Festival in Whistler!
Winemakers from Fairview Cellars, Quails Gate, Bella, Bartier Bros, Privado and Averill Creek.
Plus Sommelier of the Year Samantha Rahn, The Wine Diva, DJ Kearney and The House Wine Girls.
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The SHOW
Food, Wine and Whistler.
What a great combination.
It’s the annual gathering in the mountains called Cornucopia.
Crush at Cornucopia
It’s been stretched to 10 days by adding even more seminars, winemaker dinners and fun in the field events.
And here’s the best part..it’s still going on this weekend.
We attended last weekend and started downstairs in the Conference Centre where all the seminars are held.
Guests “down under” include
Daenna van Mulligen – The Wine Diva. She was buzzed about her bubbles and Riesling seminars. www.winediva.ca
Wine Diva Daenna van Mulligen
The House Wine Girls – Michelle Bouffard and Michaela Morris. They talk Beyond Malbec in Argentina. (Torrontes) Pairing wine with Asian Food and Pinot! http://www.housewine.ca/
House Wine Girls
Samantha Rahn. Sommelier of the Year. Araxi Whistler. We start at her first love Riesling but get the first backgrounder on her new Syrah..called Samantha. Made at Okanagan Crush Pad
www.araxi.com
Wine expert DJ Kearney was hosting a seminar that had everyone’s attention – Natural Wines. Little or no intervention..some made in Amphorae. DJ Kearney (@djwines) | Twitter
DJ Kearney
Then we head upstairs in the Whistler Conference Centre to the Trade Tasting Event.
Guests “upstairs” include
Bill Eggert. Owner/Winemaker at Fairview Cellars. We talk about his new Cab Franc and The Golden Mile. www.fairviewcellars.ca
Bill Eggert
Debbie Woodward.. Co-Owner of Privato. Kamloops, BC. Their 2011 Pinot Noir won best red wine in the Cornucopia Competition. Congrats. http://www.privato.ca/
Debbie-Woodward-from-Privato-Vineyards-and-Winery
Jay Drysdale – owner/winemaker of Bella Wines. Now on the Naramata Bench. Focusing on Ancestral Gamay plus wonderful Gamay and Chardonnay Bubble. www.bellawines.ca/
Andy Johnson – Owner/Winemaker at Averill Creek – Representing Vancouver Island. Talks about his new Charm De L’ile (P Gris/P Noir) Charmat Method Sparkling. http://www.averillcreek.ca/
Nikki Callaway – Winemaker at Quails Gate. Her 2013 Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay was chosen Best Cornucopia White. Talks about how she got from the heat of Saudi Arabia to the Winter in the Okanagan. www.quailsgate.com
Nikki Callaway
Michael Bartier – Winemaker at Bartier Bros and consultant at Okanagan Crush Pad. Focusing now on The Bartier Brothers and his “ Pinot project” The Garnet Valley Ranch. www.bartierbros.com
Michael Bartier
www.okanagancrushpad.com
Thanks for the assistance from
Mary Zinck
Dana Lee Consulting
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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON
- James Nevison – Had a Glass 2015
- Celebrating The Golden Mile
- The Hip bring The Beer