Whistler’s high altitude food and wine party
turns 12 this year — in strange times. As the current economic downturn
goes global, I’m betting Cornucopia cannot arrive soon enough for some local
merchants desperate to kick off an early ski season with five days of food and
wine.
This year’s festival runs from Nov. 6 to 10
with new organization and plenty of “new” events organizers no doubt are
expecting will attract crowds. So how do you attract people to spend money on
food and wine when skiing is not an option? Go international and head for
France, the home of wine. With British Columbia wineries about to blow the
budget on their appearance as the theme region at the Vancouver Playhouse
International Wine Festival next spring, Cornucopia will work the French theme.
What follows is our annual guide to some of
the best wine events at Cornucopia. After 12 years I suspect people will
gravitate to some of the events that particularly interest them and/or fit
their current wine needs. As always, unless otherwise mentioned, all events
take place at the TELUS Whistler Conference Centre (TWCC). For complete details
on ticket availability and pricing for both events and accommodations simply
log onto whistlercornucopia.com. Don’t wait for the last minute to pick up
tickets — otherwise you may be disappointed.
The kick off House Party goes French this year
under the banner of
Apéritif a la Française (House Party).
The French are determined to make inroads in the
B.C. market at the consumer level and will use the Grand Foyer of the TWCC to
work the crowds. The plan is to serve a variety of classic French aperitif
wines to inspire you to think French the next time you are buying wine.
Entertainment and bites of food round out Cornucopia’s kick-off. Thursday, Nov.
6. $35. 5 to 7 p.m.
The signature CRUSH nights have been revamped
again this year to include dinner possibilities at a number of Whistler
restaurants. Both CRUSH nights can include a multi-course dinner ticket at one
of 16 Whistler restaurants ranging from $100 to $135, depending on which
restaurant menu you choose. The CRUSH Premiere Gala Grand Tasting runs Friday,
Nov. 7 at 8:15 p.m. (VISA Early entry) or from 9 to 11:15 p.m., and includes a
guaranteed high-end wine at each of the 75 booths. CRUSH Gala Grand Tasting
runs Saturday, Nov. 8, from 9 to 11:15 p.m.
My radio colleague Kasey Wilson returns with
her four-woman tasting crew to defend their title against my four-man picks at
the Battle of the Sexes. The women won last year so the heat is on the men to
turn the tables. The format remains unchanged: the women taste four wines and
the men taste four wines while the audience has access to all eight glasses.
Points will be awarded for any correct answers that lead to the identity of the
wines. The boisterous audience, split with men on one side of the room and the
ladies on the other, is invited to help out. If you love a mystery this event
is for you. Eight wines, 90 minutes, 75 seats. Organizers are expecting a full
house. Saturday, Nov. 8, 1:30 to 3 p.m. $75
Another first in 2008 is The New Greece. Given
the rather modest selection of Greek wine in British Columbia it’s difficult to
fathom how far modern Greek wine has evolved. Sommelier/importer Paul
Martzoukos of Tannin Fine Wines will lead a tasting of wines that will shock
you if you haven’t done Greece in decades. See what happens when tradition
meets innovation and the wines you’re served are completely unknown to your
senses. It may be the most instructive tasting you attend this year. Sunday,
Nov. 9, 2 to 3:30 p.m. $50.
The always affable DJ Kearney is joined by
Paul Watkins on Sunday as they mix and match their
Mini Tasting
series to the following themes:
Chenin Blanc
and
Ancient Varietals
from 11 to noon,
Cabernet Franc and Pinot
Noir
from 1 to 2 p.m. and the
always popular
Syrah/Shiraz and Sweet Wines from 2:30 to 3:30
p.m. These are fun, informative, short-track tastings that arm you with just
enough information to be dangerous at your next dinner party. All tastings are
priced at $35.
In terms of star power, that honour goes to
Thomas Perrin of Chateau Beaucastel. Perrin returns to Whistler to present
three decades of Chateau de Beaucastel at the Bearfoot Bistro in concert with
chef Melissa Craig. Perrin’s famed Châteauneuf du Pape comes off a 70-hectare
site in the southern Rhone where his family grows all 13 authorized grape
varieties. While the blend is 30/30 mourvèdre/grenache, Perrin also uses 10 per
cent syrah and counoise and five per cent cinsault. The rest of the blend is
made up of the rest of the approved grapes including vaccarese, terret noir,
muscardin, clairette, picpoul, picardin, bourboulenc and roussanne. Dinner is set
for
Saturday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $295.
For late night bubble aficionados it doesn’t
get any better than Bubbles + Oceans @ Araxi. The theme is sparkling wine as
served up by 20 of the top producers in the world. Pair that up with sushi,
oysters, lobster and crab and you have a party befitting the allure of
Whistler. Start time is Saturday, Nov. 8 at 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $150, and
expect long line-ups even with your $150 ticket.
The weekend
wraps up, as always, at the Fairmont Breakfast Buffet at the Fairmont Chateau
Whistler’s Wildflower Restaurant. Chef Stufano plans to make the most of the
fall harvest at this farewell breakfast. The buffet is available from 7 a.m. to
1 p.m., which should accommodate most everyone on a Monday departure schedule.
Fairmont Chateau Whistler, $35.
You can buy
event tickets on an individual basis, subject to availability, on-line at
http://www.whistlercornucopia.com/tickets
or call
1-888-999-4566
.
See you there.
Anthony Gismondi is a globetrotting wine writer who makes his home in West Vancouver, British Columbia. For more of his thoughts on wine log onto www.gismondionwine.com