Winnipeg Wine Festival uncorks in September

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This article was published 07/09/2024 (741 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As summer winds down, the slate of drinks-related events once again picks up, with all manner of tastings and celebrations slated to take place in the coming weeks and months.

The biggest of these is the Winnipeg Wine Festival, whose public tastings take place Sept. 20 and 21 at the RBC Convention Centre (375 York Ave.).

You’d be forgiven if you thought this year’s wine festival had already taken place. However, the fest that happened in January was, in fact, last year’s festival, which was pushed back from fall 2023 to early this year due to last summer’s work stoppage at Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries.

While the 2024 fest casts a wider net than normal with the theme region — “Wines of Europe” — the overall fest is slightly more compact. The slate of ancillary “Wine Down” events that typically lead up to the public tastings has been scaled back to just one. On Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m., a wine-and-food event dubbed “The Perfect Pairing” takes place at Kitchen Sync (370 Donald St.), and will feature four food stations and eight wine stations for guests to try out a range of combinations. Tickets are $99 and are available at wfp.to/CeP.

The Sept. 20-21 public tastings will see “Wines of Europe” booths take up a bigger footprint than the Winnipeg Wine Festival’s theme region typically occupies — not surprising given all wines from France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany and more will be poured there. And while there will be some new-to-Manitoba products debuting at the festival, a whole lot of tried-and-true crowd favourites will also be on hand.

Beyond the European contingent, of particular interest to curious palates will be five booths pouring sake, soju and rice wine. And for those wanting to sip on something other than wine, options will also include booths featuring tequila and sparkling wine cocktails, beer, hard seltzers and low/no-alcohol options.

Tickets for the Winnipeg Wine Festival are $69.95 at Liquor Marts or $82 (including fees) online at wfp.to/Cem. (If you buy before Sept. 10, you’ll be entered to win a gift basket featuring European wines.) A limited number of physical programs will be landing at Liquor Marts in the week leading up to the Winnipeg Wine Festival, with online programs to come as well. And, as always, the festival benefits Special Olympics Manitoba.

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That same week, Jones & Co. (1616 St. Mary’s Rd.) celebrates its 25th anniversary on Thursday, Sept. 19, with a day full of tastings, games and discounts off some store staples.

Jones & Co., which originally opened as Banville & Jones, was among the second wave of private wine stores that opened in Winnipeg in 1999, alongside Calabria Market, Pembina Fine Wines (now the Winehouse) and De Luca Fine Wines (now the Pourium). The other four stores — Kenaston Wine Market, Stephen & Andrews (now GJ Andrews), La Boutique del Vino (now De Nardi Wines) and Fenton’s Wine Merchants (now Ellement Wine + Spirits) opened in 1994. No new private wine store licences have been issued since 1999.

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Another fest returns on Friday, Sept. 13, as Brew at the Zoo will see all manner of lagers and ales being poured alongside coolers, hard seltzers, wine and more. A handful of local producers will be on hand, including Low Life Barrel House, Kilter Brewing Co., Shrugging Doctor Beverage Company and others. Tickets are $55 plus tax for regular admission (from 7 to 10 p.m.), or $75 for premium tickets, which include early admission (at 6 p.m.) and a food voucher. For tickets visit wfp.to/Ceu and for more details on the event including what’s being poured, see wfp.to/CeY.

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On the topic of anniversaries, Trans Canada Brewing Co. (1290 Kenaston Blvd.) celebrates seven years of beers on Saturday, Sept. 14, with a day-long celebration kicking off at 11 a.m. and featuring new and exclusive beers along with core and seasonal pours, entertainment, food and more. The first 250 folks to show up will also get a free tuque. For a complete list of beers and more, see tcb.beer/2024-anniversary.

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Wines of the week

Chic NV Barcelona Brut Cava (Penedès, Spain — around $21, private wine stores)

A classic blend of indigenous Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel-lo grapes, this Spanish cava is pale straw in colour, offering green apple, floral, light herbal and lemon zest notes on the nose. It’s crisp, light-bodied and delivers just a hint of sweetness that complements the apple, peach and lemon flavours, with zippy acidity and bright effervescence keeping things fun and fresh. Just what you’d expect from a cava in this price range. Available at The Pourium, Kenaston Wine Market, Calabria Market and De Nardi Wines. 3.5/5

Cantina Zaccagnini 2022 Rosé (Terre de Chieti, Italy — $20.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

From the Terre di Chieti region within Abruzzo in Italy comes this rosé, which is medium orange-pink in colour and offers fresh floral, red apple, strawberry and peach aromas. It’s light-plus bodied and dry, with lean strawberry, cherry and red apple skin flavours coming with medium acididity and a crisp, clean finish. Chill this right down and enjoy the waning days of summer. 3.5/5

Beloki 2020 Tempranillo (Rioja, Spain — $16.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

Sourced from 40-year-old vines, this Spanish red offers lovely aromatics, featuring raspberry, red licorice, violet and plum notes as well as herbal and white pepper notes. It’s dry but juicy and medium-plus bodied, bringing ripe red and dark fruit along with an earthy, tarry edge, an herbal component, light and soft tannins (it’s mainly aged in stainless steel) and a medium-length finish (it’s 13.5 per cent alcohol). Chill for 15 minutes and enjoy this well-priced red with pizza, ribs, burgers or other grilled fare. 4/5

 

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