Cuvée is preparing to celebrate 25 years in grand style

New Grand Tasting format for Cuvée Gala offers guests the best of Ontario Wine Country 

January 8, 2013 – The Cuvée Wine Weekend, one of the wine industry’s hottest events, is introducing exciting new features that will shine the spotlight on Ontario winemakers in honour of its 25^th anniversary. 

Inspired by some of the world’s premiere wine events, the Cuvée Grand Tasting Gala, which takes place on Friday, March 1, 2013, at the Fallsview Casino Resort, will celebrate the best of Ontario wine and cuisine. 

Winemakers from 40 Ontario wineries have selected their favourite vintage to be showcased at the event. 

While guests sip their way through some of the province’s best wines and meet the winemakers responsible for them, they will also enjoy culinary masterpieces created at live cooking stations by ten of Niagara’s top chefs. Following the Grand Tasting, the celebrations continue with Après Cuvée, featuring music, dancing, an Icewine and Bubbles Bar and Craft Beer Bar. 

Wine industry insiders are excited about the new direction for this year’s Cuvée Gala. According to noted wine writer, Tony Aspler, "Winemakers are proud of their work and want to showcase their best effort. The Grand Tasting format for the Cuvée Gala will give the public an insight into what they consider the 'favoured child' of their family."

"This new format is a wonderful way to celebrate the silver anniversary of Cuvée. The reintroduction of Après Cuvée should delight everyone as well!" said Sue-Ann Staff of Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery.

Cuvée Wine Weekend tickets also include a Cuvée en Route tasting passport. From Friday through Sunday, weekend guests can top off their experience by touring and tasting their way along Niagara’s wine route.

Participating wineries and restaurants will offer exclusive tastings, special meals and menu items as part of the Cuvée en Route passport program.

Ticket and event information, as well as announcements about participating wineries and chefs, details about the Cuvée en Route passport and overnight accommodation packages can all be found on the Cuvée website, www.cuvee.ca.

Proceeds from the Cuvée Weekend go to the Niagara Community Foundation.  Established in 2000, the Foundation has raised almost $20 million and granted over $4.8 million from its endowment fund created to support local charities working in the arts, heritage, environment, social services, health, education and community development.  Community foundations are one of the world’s fastest growing philanthropic movements, with more than 1,100 similar organizations in 42 countries.

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