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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

There's plenty to 'wine' about at the annual ManyFest

By: Kristy Hoffman

Posted: 09/8/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Caroline Flett and Candace Bakkelund sample some wine during ManyFest Friday. (TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

WINNIPEGGERS, get your taste buds ready: ManyFest, downtown's biggest street party, is happening today and Sunday and as part of the festival, guests have the opportunity to sample wines from all over the globe.

"I finally found a white wine that I like," Allison Enns said enthusiastically while reviewing the wines she had sampled. "This is a great way to taste a variety of wines, including ones that are generally out of my price range."

The wine-sampling section of the festival is put together by the Independent Speciality Wine Stores of Manitoba, an association of Winnipeg's private wine stores. It is set up under a number of white tents and visitors have the opportunity to walk by each and speak to wine experts about different flavours from an array of countries.

They are given a checklist where each wine is listed, so if they like what they taste they will remember the name when they feel like splurging on a bottle.

"It gives people exposure and makes them understand that specialty doesn't necessarily mean expensive," said Mo Razik, chairman of the Independent Speciality Wine Stores of Manitoba. "These are all great wines, but they are priced anywhere from $10 to $17 or $18; they are not all very, very expensive."

ManyFest is host to the only outdoor wine festival in the province, and this is the third year wine tasting has been available, although in that short time it has become one of the most popular features of the festival.

"Both of the previous two years, the Saturday night you could not move," said Razik. "Rain or shine, people come out."

Wine tasting is only part of several events at the festival. Others include live entertainment in the form of bands and buskers, and a giant movie screen set up in Memorial Park where guests can bring lawn chairs and blankets and grab some popcorn, which is being handed out by Manitoba Lotteries, one of the event's presenters.

"I was here last year to watch a movie in the park; it was a lot of fun" said Kathy St. Cyr as she waited for How To Train Your Dragon to begin playing.

St. Cyr said she typically attends the event with a friend and it makes for a nice evening out in Winnipeg, even if the weather is a bit chilly coming into the fall.

"So far the event looks well-organized and it looks like lots of people are coming out, it is going to be a good time," she said while munching on some popcorn.

The festival also includes Ciclovia, and stretches of the north side of Broadway close off for the event, where people are allowed to flood the streets. There will also be a Zumbathon, MiniFest Kids' Zone, and farmers and artisans markets over the weekend.

The event is presented by the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ and Manitoba Lotteries.

"Last year, over 150 volunteers and dozens of community groups devoted their time and helped give back to the community by bringing excitement and enthusiasm to the event," said Stefano Grande, executive director of the Downtown BIZ. "With so many new activities lined up at this year's event, we need even more Winnipeggers to get involved to help ManyFest shine bigger and brighter."

More information about the festival is available online (www.manyfest.ca).

kristy.hoffman@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 8, 2012 B2

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