WineDown gears up

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/11/2023 (1029 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Like so many events, the Winnipeg Wine Festival was impacted by the COVID pandemic. In 2020, the week of public tastings was first postponed from late April/early May to fall before being axed altogether. The following year the event was again cancelled, finally returning in the fall of 2022.

This year’s festival was again set to go in September before Liquor Mart employees went on strike in the summer, forcing organizers to put the fest on hold until things were sorted. After the strike was resolved, it was announced the festival’s public tastings would take place at the RBC Convention Centre on Jan. 26 and 27, 2024, with the annual gala dinner taking place on Jan. 25.

Now organizers have announced a scaled-back set of ancillary events as part of their WineDown series held in the lead-up to the public tastings. Only three WineDown events are currently slated to be held this year — a wine and appetizer event on Jan. 22 at the Delta Hotel (350 St. Mary Ave.); an Australia and New Zealand-themed tasting taking place at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights on Jan. 23; and a walk-around tasting highlighting wines from Argentina — the fest’s theme region — on Jan. 24 at the Leaf in Assiniboine Park.

One highlight of both the public tastings and ancillary events is the opportunity for wine drinkers to chat with winemakers, export managers and other winery representatives. It remains to be seen whether there will be as many winery principals in attendance this year given the rescheduled dates — and the prospect of leaving warm-weather wine country to come to Winnipeg in January.

Ticket sales could also be a concern for this year’s Winnipeg Wine Festival. Yes, the fest is being held in the dead of winter, but that rarely dissuades Winnipeggers; rather, it’s the fact that it comes one month after the expensive holiday season and at a time when inflation ain’t great and everything seems to be getting more expensive. Special Olympics Manitoba will certainly be hoping for strong ticket sales; the festival is the single biggest fundraiser for the organization, which lost out on revenue from the cancelled 2020 and 2021 events.

Tickets for each of the three WineDown events are $75 plus fees — they’re available along with tickets for the big public tastings at winnipegwinefestival.com.

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For those who prefer a dram of the stronger stuff, early-bird tickets for the Winnipeg Whisky Festival, which takes place March 1-2, 2024 at the Fairmont Winnipeg, are now on sale.

Tickets for the event, which features over 200 whiskies and other spirits as well as food stations and more, currently start at $219 plus fees, with a VIP option available. Prices go up on Dec. 31 — to get your tickets and for more information on the fest, which benefits the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, see winnipegwhiskyfestival.com.

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Another concern connected to the Liquor Mart employees’ strike this summer was the possibility products ordered earlier in the year for the holiday season might not make it to store shelves in time.

If the deluge of holiday-themed gift packs and advent calendars popping up in Liquor Marts and on its website is any indication, it would seem those issues have mainly been sorted. There are plenty of festive boxes featuring glasses, gifts with purchase and combo sets listed on the website and starting to appear on store shelves.

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The deadline for a $1,000 bursary offered by the Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Association for Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) is Monday.

The Rebecca Lechman bursary honours the former CAPS member and Jones & Co. employee, who died unexpectedly in March 2020. The bursary can be put towards furthering wine or hospitality training through the institution of the winner’s choosing; for information on how to apply, visit wfp.to/63W.

Rebecca was a big Chardonnay fan, and the winner of the bursary will be announced Nov. 27 at Promenade Brasserie (130 Provencher Blvd.), where all manner of Chardonnays will be available to sample. Tickets are $45 for CAPS members and $60 for non-members at wfp.to/63A.

 

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Wines of the week

Bodegas Bianchi 2022 Finca Los Primos Chardonnay (San Rafael/Mendoza, Argentina — $14.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

Pale straw in colour, this entry-level Argentine Chardonnay brings simple but fresh apple, pear, peach and floral aromas. It’s light-bodied and mainly dry, with some subtle sweetness ramping up the ripeness on the peach/pear/apple combo, while modest acidity adds some lemon in there as well. It’s unlikely there’s oak aging, as things are crisp and fresh on the palate, while the 12 per cent alcohol is unobtrusive. A tasty, simple white for salads, mild cheeses or sipping on its own. 3/5

Castello di Gabbiano 2016 Cavaliere d’Oro Chianti Classico Riserva (Tuscany, Italy — $21.59, Liquor Marts and beyond)

There’s a splash of Merlot added to the Sangiovese in this Italian red. It’s brickish-purple in colour, (common with relatively older reds), with leather, stewed plum, tobacco leaf and raspberry notes on the nose. These all come through with a lacquer note on the medium-plus bodied palate, while medium tannins bring pepper and black tea flavours. The fruit flavours have just enough life left in the 2016 vintage; drink this mature but still complex Chianti now with osso buco, steak or spicier pizza. On sale until the end of November (it’s regularly $23.99). 4/5

Saveurs du Temps 2019 Costières de Nimes (Rhône Valley, France — around $20, private wine stores)

A 75-25 blend of Syrah and Grenache, this southwestern Rhône Valley red is deep garnet in colour and offers peppery and earthy aromas along with blackberry, cherry, violet and blueberry notes. It’s full-bodied, juicy and viscous, with loads of dark berry notes coming from the Grenache that work well with the meaty, cherry and peppery Syrah characteristics. Tannins and acidity are both modest, offering a rustic component to this fun, approachable red. Available at The Winehouse. 4/5

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