Note: Organizers of the 25th Cuvee weekend wine experience have ditched the competition part of the event for 2013 and instead have moved to a gala evening that features wines chosen by the winery.
I’m not sure how I feel about this new format, but the cancellation of an important wine competition in Ontario, even though it was judged by those who made it, is the loss of an avenue for wineries to show their wines in competition.
I definitely want the new format to be successful because the Niagara Community Foundation is an important and worthy recipient of the funds generated by the event.
I have to admit there were some concerns with the judging format and plenty of discussion about some of the winning wines, but they were judged fairly under the rules set out by Cuvee organizers. And the “Oscar” style of announcing the winners at the gala was pretty cool. Without that element and sense of excitement on Cuvee night can the evening attract the same kind of enthusiastic crowd?
Time will tell, but it is a little odd they would choose the 25th anniversary to so drastically change the format. Here’s the news release sent by the Cuvee organizers today.
St. Catharines, ON, October 1, 2012 – Next year’s annual Cuvée Weekend (March 1 to 3, 2013) is not only the occasion of its 25th Anniversary – it will also mark the rebirth and renewal of one of the wine industry’s most celebrated events, where hundreds of food and wine enthusiasts will savour Ontario’s best wines alongside winemakers and industry insiders.
The hallmark of the Cuvée Weekend Wine Experience has always been the Cuvée Gala at Fallsview Casino Resort, and this year will be no exception.
On Friday, March 1, 2013, in the spirit of a grand tasting, guests will sample some of Ontario’s best wines while celebrated chefs and food purveyors wow food lovers with live cooking stations. This year, however, the wines that will be poured at the Gala will not be chosen by a panel of winemakers via an awards judging process as in the past.
The Cuvée awards have been replaced with an invitation to participating winemakers to pour a singular, very special VQA wine – one that they have chosen themselves as their personal favourite.
In this way, wines offered for tasting will be hand selected and “curated” by the winemakers themselves, ensuring that guests can taste the true highlights of what the Ontario wine industry has to offer. At the same time, they will gain a unique insight into the stories behind the wines and a glimpse of the personalities of the winemakers who make them.
The invitation for all wineries to participate will broaden the wine tasting experience for attendees as it now includes wineries who previously may not have attend due to competition philosophies.
According to Liz Palmieri, Director of the Niagara Community Foundation, which presents the event, “It is exciting to be celebrating the personal favourites of our acclaimed Ontario winemakers. As we mark Cuvée’s 25th year, what better way to launch our Silver Anniversary than with our new tasting format.
It will be a memorable party to mark our memorable milestone.” Other highlights include Icewine and Sparkling Wine Bars and an enhanced Après Cuvée party – all heralding a rejuvenation that will be welcomed by both guests and the Ontario wine industry.
Cuvée en Route passport program will remain unchanged — from Friday through Sunday, weekend guests can top off their experience by touring and tasting their way along the Wine Route.
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 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.
Cuvée Gala Tickets are now available for $175 (before December 31st), which includes the Cuvée en Route passport, at Cuvee or by calling 905-684-8688. Cuvée en Route passports can be purchased separately for $30 per person, via the same outlets or at participating wineries on or before Cuvée Weekend. Ticket and event information and announcements about participating wineries and chefs, details about each winery’s Cuvée en Route tastings, and overnight accommodation packages, can all be found on the Cuvée web site,www.cuvee.ca.
It is nice to hear they are moving in the right direction finally.
I just hope it’s not a tough sell for consumers to drive to Niagara Falls to taste one wine per winery as chosen by the winery. At least the old Cuvee had some element of surprise and suspense. Not sure what the draw here is.
Rick,
Would be interesting to know the background which led to the decision to cancel the ‘wine competition’.
If I were to assume that there has been criticism of the judging event or the categories then to deal with that by cancelling is not a solution in my eyes.
Arthur
Totally agree, Arthur. What makes the new format unique? Absolutely nothing. It’s like a walkaround tasting of Ontario wines which is done numerous times in numerous locations around the province. I don’t get it.
Is it possible that cost (presumably to the wineries) of pouring the considerable quantities of wines for the judging panel & at the gala is an issue? I guess time will tell. Lets hope the food is as good as ever!
Not sure, Mike … but something traumatic happened. All I heard last year was how successful the event was. I know as a judge, there were a lot of entries, in fact a record amount last year. There was buy-in from the wineries. Just a fair amount of grumbling about some of the winners. But, hey, you have to expect a different take on the wines when they are judged by the winemakers themselves. They look for different things in the wines.