Amazing culinary events and wine weekends are taking place at wineries throughout the province during the 2011 Nova Scotia Fall Wine Festival. Events include winemakers’ dinners, grape stomps, wine tastings, winery tours and more. See below for a complete listing of this year’s winery events.
L’Acadie Vineyards
September 17 & 18, 2011
Champagne Wishes & Seafood Dreams
Gaspereau Valley Enjoy a tasting of nationally acclaimed PRESTIGE BRUT while Delta Halifax Executive Chef Les Stevens prepares seafood appetizers including lobster, scallops, oysters and smoked salmon in an informative tour led by sommelier Travis McFarlane and owner/winemaker Bruce Ewert. 12-5 pm $15 +HST. 902-542-8463(VINE) www.lacadievineyards.ca
Annapolis Highland Vineyards
September 24, 2011
Fall Harvest Celebration
Bear River East Join us in celebrating the wine, food & artists of the Bear River area. Sip award-winning wines, taste our world famous seafood and meet some of our local artisans. Tour the vineyard and winery then relax on our deck and enjoy the wonderful view. 12:00pm-5:00pm. Admission: Complimentary. Admission: Complimentary. 902-467-0363 www.novascotiawines.com
Avondale Sky Winery
September 24, 2011
Picture It!
Newport Be among the first to experience Nova Scotia’s newest winery. Bring the medium of your choice to our vineyard and participate in our Picture it! Contest. Whether you prefer to paint, sculpt, sketch of photograph what you feel captures how you ‘pictures’ Avondale Sky Winery, your depiction can go before our celebrity judge. Also, you may tour through the vineyard and winery, sample a variety of our quality wines and taste our cuisine. Hours 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Admission $10 includes a tasting glass, complementary wine samples and food. 1-902-253-2047. www.avondalesky.com.
Blomindon Estate Winery
September 17 & 18, 2011
Wine in the Vines
Canning Discover the beauty of Canada’s tidal winery. Tour through the vineyard and wine cellar, sample a variety of quality wines, attend an educational event, and taste local cuisine. September 17 & 18: vineyard tours, wine-tastings, and educational seminars.Time:1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission: Complimentary, but donations of a non-perishable food item or cash donation would be appreciated and will be collected for our local Canning Food Bank. 1-877-582-7565 or 902-582-7565. www.blomidonwine.com
Domaine de Grand Pré
October 8 & 9, 2011
Harvest Wine Festival
Grand Pré Great wine, food and more. Join us on Saturday and Sunday from 11am-5pm for free tours every hour. Our winemaker will be available to answer your wine questions. Live Music on Sunday. Admission: Complimentary. 902-542-1753 or 1-866-479-4637. www.grandprewines.com
Gaspereau Vineyards
September 25, 2011
Annual Fall Festival & Charity Grape Stomp
Gaspereau Valley In addition to complimentary Wine Tastings, Vineyard Tours and our Charity Grape Stomp event; enjoy delicious food and beverages prepared by local vendors and gourmands, local wine and live music by SWIG. Again, this year we are offering a prize of $100 (to be donated to your charity of choice), for the best dressed team. The winning team is the team that achieves the highest amount of stomped grape juice. Come join the fun, bring your picnic blanket and spend the day at Gaspereau Vineyards 7th Annual Fall Festival. Cost: $100/ Teams of 4. Teams must be registered by Tuesday, September 13th(all proceeds to charity of choice) 11am-4pm (rain or shine). For more information please call 902-542-1455. www.gaspereauwine.com
Jost Vineyards
September 17, 2011
Jost Vineyard’s 12th Annual Charity Grape Stomp
Malagash Mark September 17 on your calendar! It is the 13th Annual Charity Grape Stomp at Jost Vineyards in Malagash from 12 noon to 5pm. Enjoy live music by Artful Knave, great food and loads of fun. Watch and cheer for teams as they stomp grapes for their favourite charity. Admission is $3.00 (all proceeds go to charity), $200/pre-registered stomp team . 1-800-565-4567. 1-800-565-4567. www.jostwine.com
October 15, 2011
Jost Vineyards’ Harvest Open House
Malagash Get a feel for the energy and flavours of the yearly grape harvest at the Jost Vineyards’ Harvest Open House. Tours will be offered at 12 noon and 3pm. Enjoy fresh grape and grape juice tastings. Live music will be by The Laughing Freemen. 12:00pm – 5:00pm Complimentary admission. 1-800-565-4567 www.jostwine.com
Luckett Vineyards
September 3, 2011
Cheese & Wine Festival
Gaspereau Valley Talented local and international Cheese makers will join Pete at the winery to sample and promote their world-class products. Wine, Cheese and our splendid landscape will certainly impress! 11:00am to 5:00pm. Admission: Complimentary. 902-542-2600. www.luckettvineyards.com
September 10, 2011
Special Guest Appearance
Gaspereau Valley Enjoy an afternoon wine on the patio and expect a fabulous surprise! Rocket man, Sir Elton is expected to make a guest appearance. 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Admission: Complimentary. 902-542-2600. www.luckettvineyards.com
September 30, October 1 & 2, 2011
Wine & Harvest Festival Gala Dinner
Gaspereau Valley ‘Meal of a Lifetime’ – Share a memorable dining experience hosted by Pete Luckett in our Barrel Cellar Room. An incredible 6 course meal with wine pairings expertly created by Chef Jeff MacNeil for your dining pleasure. 5:30pm to 9:30pm, $250.00 per couple (+ tax and gratuity) 902-542-2600. www.luckettvineyards.com
Lunenburg County Winery
September 15 – October 1, 2011
Wine & Blueberries
Newburne U-Pick blueberries and Nova Scotia wine. Experience the beauty and fun of harvesting your own fruit at a Nova Scotia farm on the sunny South Shore of Lunenburg County. Bring your family for a picnic, camping at LaHave River Campground or visit Indian Falls Park on the LaHave River (all nearby). 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. 902-644-2415. www.canada-wine.com
Muir Murray Estate Winery
September 24 & 25, 2011
Iron Chef Competition
Wolfville t is our intention to have chefs each day compete against each other and the prize is a variety case of NS Wine. We will have guest judges as well as input from the tasting public. We will also be hosting local food and local products from around Nova Scotia –many other local vendors – so people will be able to make a great day of this event. There will be something for everyone! 11am to 4 pm For more information call the winery at (902) 542-0343 ext 102. www.muirmurrayestatewinery.com
Petite Riviere
October 15, 2011
Petite Guest Harvest Participation Day
Petite Riviere Petite harvest day is Adventure-Tourism at its best. Participate in a vineyard harvest day; be part of a team that makes a wine. This is no grape stomp; this is a real harvest where a specific amount of key grape varieties are targeted to develop a unique wine. The grapes will be crushed and prepared for fermentation in the late afternoon-early evening. Under the watchful eye of Petite’s vineyard manager; individuals will help harvest grapes, sort them and prepare for crushing. In the later part of the day, the cellar will be opened and a wine crushing performed and a wine prepared for fermentation. Harvest starts at 9:30 A.M.; lunch and refreshments will be available. Rain day is the 16th; grapes are only harvested in fine weather. Dress for field work! 902-693-3033. www.petiterivierevineyards.ca
Sainte-Famille Wines
October 1, 2011
Sainte-Famille Wines 18th Annual Harvest Wine Fest
Falmouth Join us for our 18th anniversary Harvest Wine Fest! We will have 12 teams grape stomping for charity, a pumpkin carving contest and miniature pony and buggy rides for the children, live entertainment, vineyard and winery tours, as well as wonderful Nova Scotia food and wine. A day for the whole family. Hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is a non perishable food item or donation of money for our local food bank. 1-800-565-0993. www.st-famille.com
Go North Tours
September 24, 2011
Perfect Pairings Progressive Dinner and Wine Tour
Annapolis Valley Go North Tours offers an intimate evening of perfect food and wine pairings while enjoying a private winery tour and dinner with each of the three courses at a different winery in the Annapolis Valley. Tours, tastings and courses at Gaspereau Vineyards, Blomidon Estate Winery and Luckett Vineyards. Limited seats. Departs Harbourfront Marriott ($140/person +HST) or Old Orchard Inn in Wolfville ($130/person + HST). Call 1-877-365-2552 to reserve. More info at www.gonorthtours.com.
October 1, 2011
Perfect Pairings Progressive Dinner and Wine Tour
Annapolis Valley Go North Tours offers an intimate evening of perfect food and wine pairings while enjoying a private winery tour and dinner with each of the three courses at a different winery in the Annapolis Valley. Tours, tastings and courses at Avondale Sky Winery, Gaspereau Vineyards and L’Acadie Vineyards. Limited seats. Departs from Harbourfront Marriott only. Cost: $140/person +HST. Call 1-877-365-2552 to reserve. More info at www.gonorthtours.com.
Young Winemakers’ Evening
September 30, 2010
Young Winemakers’ Evening at Tempest Restaurant
Wolfville Join Nova Scotia’s young winemakers at Tempest and celebrate food and wine pairings from Chef Michael Howell and local winemakers. Simon Rafuse (Blomidon Estate Winery), Jean Benoit Deslauriers (Benjamin Bridge) and Gina Haverstock (Gaspereau Vineyards) will pair some of their favourite wines with tapas sized portions of delectable bites from the Tempest kitchen. Wines by the glass will accompany the small plates offered individually on a special a la carte menu that evening. Event begins at 6:00pm but reserve a table any time that evening, for a little bite and a sample, or as much as you wish! 902-542-0588 www.tempest.ca