The 14th annual Prince Edward Island Wine Festival gets underway this Thursday with a Gala Dinner at the Atlantic Tourism and Hospitality Centre on the Charlottetown waterfront beginning with a reception at 6:00 p.m. followed by the dinner. Dr. George Soleas, who has a long and distinguished career in the wine industry having trained in Oenology (winemaking) at the University of California at Davis and spent 11 years with the Canadian Wine Industry as Director of Research and Quality Assurance, is the Guest Speaker. Dr. Soleas is presently the Vice President of the Quality Assurance and Specialty Services for the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. Tickets for this event are still available by contacting Rose Hines at 902-894-6868 or via e-mail at rhines@hollandc.pe.ca.
Friday evening, the official opening of the annual Wine Festival is slated for 6:30 p.m., with the festival getting underway at approximately 7:00 p.m.. Tickets for the Wine Tasting sessions are $30.00 and can be purchased at PEI Liquor stores across the Island or at the door. More than 200 wines never before listed on the Island will be offered, and these wines may be purchased at the Wine Boutique on site at a generous 15% discount.
If you enjoy wines, the PEI Wine Festival this weekend is the place to be. Wine makers from many areas of Canada and from France and Australia will be here and it’s an ideal opportunity to discuss wines with the people who actually produce the product in the Festival.
Two seminars are set for Friday at the Civic Centre starting at 5:30 p.m. and they will be held in designated areas on the 2nd floor overlooking the Wine Festival area. One seminar on Wine Basics and the other on wines from Argentina will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis with approximately 30 spots for each seminar.
Each evening at the conclusion of the Tasting Session, the silent auction items will be offered to the public. All proceeds from the Silent Auction will be given to the Island Hospice Association. This auction is one of their biggest fundraiser ventures. As well, works of art from some of PEI’s finest artists will be on display during the show and available for purchase -- an exercise that has been well received by the public.
This is the 14th year for the Wine Festival which, within the industry and by the public, is regarded as one of the best such shows anywhere in Canada.