Team Beer caps off sold-out dinner event with victory

An ongoing playful competition between NC beer and wine students, ended with a trophy and bragging rights for Team Beer on February 22.

The sold-out Caps, Corks and Forks dinner event drew over 200 guests to the Student Commons where an elegant five-course meal became a ‘battleground’ between Team Wine and Team Beer – comprised of students from the Winery and Viticulture Technician and Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management programs, respectively. This marked the 18^th round for the event, which has been a backdrop of a playful rivalry between the College’s beer and wine since 2012.

Each course was presented with a beverage selection from both teams and guests voted for their favourite pairing following each course with either a cap or a cork.

Suspense and drama were set on high, as each team took turns in the lead throughout the evening until, ultimately, Team Beer trickled ahead of Team Wine in the fifth and final round 525: 453.

Team Beer coach Adrian Popowycz noted that the event was a phenomenal success.

“The food was exceptional, with both wine and beer pairings being excellent examples of how one should approach matching beverages and food,” he said. “Both Team beer and Team Wine students will take home lasting memories and learnings from this event.”

The lesson for participating students: “teamwork does indeed make the dream work,” Popowycz said. “The students had each other’s backs and fully supported each other throughout the whole process. We had a diverse team that brought in unique perspectives that helped shape our overall strategy and approach to the event.”

He explained that students had to go beyond the theoretical and share their knowledge by personally connecting to people as they made their case about how the selected beverage brought out the best in each dish.

“This ability (soft skill) is so important for long-term success. This will carry over for them throughout their careers,” he said.

Wine Professor Gavin Robertson, who coached Team Wine, said that while his team didn’t take home the trophy this time, he couldn’t have been more impressed with their performance.

“The pairings they developed were thoughtful, creative, and truly showcased their growing expertise in wine selection and food pairing,” said Robertson. “Beyond that, the professionalism they demonstrated throughout the evening was outstanding.

“Presenting each course to a room of over 200 guests just a few months into the wine program is no small task, and they handled it with confidence and poise.”

He noted that the logistics of service were just as demanding.

“Coordinating over 1,000 glasses of wine to be poured and served at the right temperature and condition, all at the right moment, is a massive undertaking, and they executed it seamlessly,” he said. “Events like this push students outside their comfort zones and provide invaluable hands-on experience in a high-pressure environment.

“I’m incredibly proud of how they rose to the occasion, and I know this experience will serve them well in their future careers.”

Participating in the event was an example of a cooperative, collaborative competition, said Popowycz. He noted that both teams helped each other with the mechanics of serving and clearing the beverages for each course as well as the final evening cleanup.

“Kudos to both teams, coaches and all of our amazing students! They made the evening one to remember!”

After capturing the coveted trophy for Round 18, Team Beer (Caps) has now tied Team Wine (Corks) in overall Caps, Corks and Forks wins. Since the series launched in 2012, Team Wine has won nine previous rounds, while Team Beer has won eight previous rounds.

Beyond the rivalry between beer and wine students in the limelight, the event included students from the School of Culinary Arts who were busy behind the scenes, preparing the multi-course meal alongside a team of College chefs, led by Chef Justin Downes and Chef Catherine O’Donnell. Hospitality students were also involved with service at the event.