Just in time for Valentine’s Day, NC’s Learning Enterprises is unveiling three new online experiences sure to capture the hearts of wine, beer and spirit lovers.
Registration is now open for three new virtual events hosted by the Teaching Winery, Teaching Brewery, and Teaching Distillery.
To be held via Zoom on Friday evenings in February, the wine, beer and spirit experiences offer customers a chance to sip, savour and connect virtually: Made for Each Other (Feb. 11), Be(er) my Valentine (Feb. 18), and Brand(y) New (Feb. 26).
Wine event: Made for Each Other
Feb. 11, 5 p.m.
Raise a glass to classic wine blends with College winemaker Gavin Robertson.
‘The Valentine’s weekend-oriented theme of this tasting is a playful nod to the fact that some grapes, like some people, seem to get along really well together,” he said.
While he noted that some grapes in the wine world tend to be loners (like Pinot Noir) without needing any other grapes for harmony., other grapes, including the grapes in the wines they have selected for this tasting, bring out the best in one another.
“As winemakers, we can play matchmaker with these grapes by blending different proportions and different treatments (barrel-aged versus neutral stainless steel tank-aged, for example) to come up with a whole that’s greater than the sum of its parts,” said Robertson.
The experience package includes two bottles each of Balance Brut Sparkling Rose (a classic blend of Pinot and Chardonnay), Semillon Sauvignon Blanc (an Ontario rendition of two grapes that classically pair well in Bordeaux, France), and Tom Thomson Red (blending together red Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes), as well as admission to the virtual tasting seminar ($137.70).
“The aim of each blend is to create a wine that doesn’t show the individual varieties so much as it expresses itself as a unique and memorable experience unto itself, and each aims to be super food-friendly,” Robertson said. “I like the Balance Brut Rosé sparkler as an aperitif on its own or with smoked trout or shellfish, the Balance Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc with a lightly creamy risotto or fettuccine, and the Tom Thomson red with rich beef or venison dishes.
“Just add one of our tasty Icewines to the event flight – paired with chocolate strawberries of course – and you have your very own curated Valentine’s day pairing dinner that’s sure to impress!zz’
Free shipping is available across Ontario, as well as free local delivery in the Niagara region, and in-store pickup. Shipping orders require two to eight days so please order accordingly.
To register or for more information, visit
ncteachingwinery.ca/collections/experiences/products/made-for-each-other-classic-wine-blends
Beer Event: Be(er) my Valentine
Feb. 18, 5 p.m.
Celebrate your Valentine with a special selection of brews from the NC Teaching Brewery.
College Brewmaster Jon Downing leads the experience featuring a special Valentine’s release created for beer and wine lovers alike: Small Batch Chardonnale. The Chardonnale was brewed using Chardonnay grapes and NC-hops grown within a few meters of one another on campus.
“We have tried a couple of wine beer hybrids in the past and, as the popularity of them is increasing in the industry, I thought I would create a new one based on NC terroir,” said Downing.
The experience package includes six cans each of Chardonnale, Vienna 101, Stout 101 and Cider 101, as well admission to the virtual tasting seminar ($90).
Free local delivery to the Niagara region and in-store pickup is available (shipping is available at an additional charge).
To register or for more information, visit:
ncteachingwinery.ca/collections/experiences/products/beer-my-valentine
Spirits event: Brand(y) New
Feb. 25, 5 p.m.
Raise your spirits with a Brandy tasting experience.
Learn more about the production of brandies with NC’s Head Distiller David Dickson and follow along at home as he uses the featured selections from the Teaching Distillery to create cocktails.
The experience package features the newly released Spirits 101 Brandy, Spirits 101 Apple Brandy, Barrel Aged Eau de Vie, Dillon’s Cocktail Bitters, KVAS Cocktail syrup and admission to the virtual tasting seminar ($120.95).
“From my perspective, they have parallels in production process and a certain amount of history,” said Dickson.
He noted that the Eau de Vie is a short-aged grape spirit that utilized small 20L casks during production and, although it has wood notes, it doesn’t have much influence of aging. The Spirts 101 Brandy was aged for a minimum of six months in a 200L used-bourbon cask and blended with a spirit from a used wine cask. The Apple Brandy was a capstone project created by students from the Artisan Distilling program and, by contrast, was made out of apples and aged in a 60L cask for a minimum of six months.
Free local delivery to the Niagara region and in-store pickup is available (shipping is available for an additional charge).
To register or for more information, visit:
ncteachingwinery.ca/collections/experiences/products/brandy-new
