NC was in the national spotlight on August 15 as viewers from across the country watched The Amazing Race Canada.
The NC Learning Enterprises hosted a sensory experience for the show’s participants that included NC wines for an episode of the show that was filmed in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The initiative was led by General Manager of the NC Learning Enterprises Corporation (NCLEC) Steve Gill and Events Coordinator Jessica Neal-Ellis .Gill, Neal-Ellis and a small team of staff from the Wine Visitor + Education Centre set up a sensory challenge for the show’s participants at 124 on Queen Hotel & Spa which was featured on the episode that aired on CTV on August 15.
For the sensory challenge, they set up numbered glasses – each containing a different wine from the NC Teaching Winery – alongside different food items. Without being permitted to taste the wines, teams had to correctly pair the wines with the food, based on scent alone.
Neal-Ellis even had a speaking role in the episode. Once teams completed the challenge, Neal-Ellis would hand teams an envelope containing a clue to their next location, and say, “Congratulations! Here’s your next challenge.”
The NC Teaching Winery wines featured in the sensory challenge included Balance Muscat, Gastronomy Chardonnay, Rose 101, Balance Gamay Noir, Dean’s List Cabernet Sauvignon, and Dean’s List Prodigy Vidal Icewine.
Students from NC’s two-year Winery and Viticulture Technician diploma program gain hands-on experience with the production of NC wines at the Teaching Winey – from picking and processing, to the maturation and bottling of wines, which are available at the Wine Visitor + Education Centre.–a popular stop along Niagara’s wine route.
Guests to the Wine Visitor + Education Centre will soon be able to tap into their inner adventurer and try the sensory challenge themselves. Neal-Ellis noted that the same sensory challenge will soon become available for guests to experience. Details will be posted one available at ncteachingwinery.ca.
How did wines and staff members from Canada’s first and only commercial Teaching Winery end up on the prominent reality series? Gill noted that they applied to be on the show. They demonstrated the challenge for show representatives before being invited to participate at 124 on Queen Hotel & Spa.
Gill and Neal-Ellis gathered for a viewing party at 124 on Queen on August 15 to watch the episode as it aired for the first time.
“I’m excited and a little nervous to see it,’ said Neal-Ellis, before the viewing. “It was awesome to represent the College on the show.”
“It’s such great exposure for the College,” said Gill.
