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Food and drink

Cornucopia 2008: A dozen years down the road and in the middle of strange times

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