Julia Sacco

The Lake Report

If you’ve never been able to attend Brock University’s ?Cuvée ?gala, now is the perfect time as the university launches an online celebration of the Ontario VQA wine industry.

On Friday, May 22, Brock’s annual event will take place virtually, featuring 48 wineries, 12 restaurants and seven breweries and cideries that were slated to take part in the Grand Tasting experience planned for last month.

After the event was cancelled due to COVID-19, organizers worked hard to create a fun experience so that wine lovers could still enjoy the experience they look forward to all year.

“What makes Cuvée special is its ability to bring the industry together in celebration of excellence in the Ontario VQA wine industry and in 2020, our guests can still do that virtually, whenever they want,” said Barb Tatarnic, manager of Cuvee.

“Get dressed up in your best gala attire — or stay in your sweats, go to ?cuvee.ca? and get ready to meet our industry partners, listen to their stories, and learn more about the labour of love that drives their craft.”

Tatarnic also said the experience will help support the related businesses affected by the pandemic, financially or otherwise.

“Although no one could have imagined the challenges brought about by COVID-19, it is important to now stand together, while apart, and support local industry,” she said.

Thomas Bachelder, winemaker and co-owner at Bachelder Niagara and winemaker at Le Clos Jordanne, also shared his excitement about the event being able to take place online.

“We have learned how to reach out and hug our fellow human beings virtually, and to all of you who have dreamt your ‘Cuvées’ into being but are not able to physically be together to pour them, to all of us, we say ‘Santé.’ ”

?Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute ?director Debbie Inglis said the online event serves to acknowledge successes and breakthroughs in grape and wine research.

“Bringing Cuvée online showcases Brock’s ability to still support and celebrate our VQA wine industry while it navigates unprecedented challenges,” she said

“Being able to raise a glass together, even if only virtually, will unite us and help us emerge stronger.”

The Cuvée Online Experience also coincides with the #30DaysofVQA, a project of Wine Country Ontario to promote the province’s VQA wine industry.

Watch cuvee.ca and follow @cuveegrandtasting and @winecountryont on social media for further information on the Cuvée 2020 Online Experience.