Wine Appreciation Through Education

Sept 8-10: Shores Of Erie International Wine Festival - A Toast To The Tastes!, Fort Malden National Historic Site, Amherstburg Ontario. Come stroll the magnificent waterfront grounds of one of Canada's most important historic sites. Cost: $10 day, $15 2 day pass, $20 3 day pass. www.soewinefestival.com

Sept 12: Toronto Vintners Club - 1999 Chateauneuf du Pape, The Ontario Club, Toronto ON. Toronto Vintners Club presents eight Chateauneuf du Pape wines from 1999, rated an excellent vintage showing power and youth. 6:15 PM, Cost TBD www.torontovintners.org

Sept 17: 17th Annual Feast of Fields, Albion Hills Conservation Area, Lakeview Site, Caledon ON. Feast of Fields is a unique event that invites organic growers to present their delicious selections of organic products and answer questions about their operations and philosophies. Using the organically grown produce, some of Ontario's top Chefs prepare mouth-watering delicacies for all to try. Our visiting breweries and VQA wineries offer a delightful variety of tastes to accompany the fare. As well, non-profit groups provide additional information about organic agriculture, the environment, fair trade and other related issues. Knowledge is power, and the sense of community is strengthened and energized through this kind of dialogue.

Sept 20: Scotiabank Celebrity Luncheon presented by the Grape Growers of Ontario, will have international entertainment icon and recent investor in Ontario's grape and wine industry, Dan Aykroyd as its special guest speaker. These $65 tickets are going fast for this Wednesday, event.

Sept 22: Balderson Wine Cheese and Food Experience, Montebello Park St. Catharines ON. Sample the best Niagara and Ontario has to offer, while enjoying wine seminars, art shows, children's Grapeland, grape stomps, white linen dinners in the Park and big name jazz, rock, country and pop recording artists on The Standard Main Stage.

Sept 22 to Oct 1: 55th annual Niagara Wine Festival, St. Catharines, Ontario. The Festival has grown to over 100 events including winery tours and tastings, concerts, Niagara cuisine, artisan shows, wine seminars, family entertainment and one of Canada's largest parades, running from Visitors can present their $20 Passport at the 30 participating Ontario wineries for complimentary and discounted activities along Niagara's famous Wine Route. For complete details and ticket information, please visit the Festival web site at www.niagarawinefestival.com or call the Festival Office at (905) 688-0212.

Other Festival highlights include…
RBC Financial Group Industry Awards - Tuesday September 19
32nd Bank of Montreal Artisan and Harvest Show - September 22, 23, 24 and 29, 30, October 1 - 10 am to 6 pm.
Grape King Installation, Wednesday September 20, 2:30 pm in the Grape King's Vineyard
VINES Magazine Wine Seminars - September 23, 24, 29 and October 1 - 2 pm, 3pm and 4 pm.
Mayor's Celebrity Grape Stomp, Saturday September 23 at 1:00 pm in Montebello Park
Brock Days - September 29, 30 and October 1 in Montebello Park

Sept 23-24: Artisans at the Winery, Hillebrand Winery, 1249 Niagara Stone Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON. This year marks the 12th anniversary of Artisans at the Winery. Browse and shop the handmade wares by some of Canada's talented artists. From fine art to home décor. From apparel to pottery. A celebration of great wine, food and art. 1-800-582-8412 or visit Hillebrand.com

September 27: Ontario Craft Beer Route Day Trip. Take a trip along the Ontario Craft Beer Route, enjoy magnificent fall colours, rolling country roads, quaint villages, locally harvested produce, regional cuisine and the heritage of Ontario’s craft brewers. Meeting at Toronto’s Granite Brewery (Mount Pleasant and Eglinton) then off to Hockley Valley Brewing Co., The Robert Simpson Brewery, and Lakes of Muskoka Cottage Brewery. 8:30 am to 6:00 pm. Please contact Jennifer Kitchen at 905-274-7887 or jkitchen@jkr.ca OR Kristen Rector at 416-705-5412 or krector@jkr.ca