Media Releases
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Inaugural Cornucopia Wine Summit sets the stage with influencers and icons from near and far
Whistler, B.C. – The first ever Cornucopia Wine Summit is set to take place in the renowned mountain resort of Whistler, British Columbia as part of the resort’s 20th annual food and drink festival - Cornucopia, presented by BlueShore Financial.
Over the course of two days, the Cornucopia Wine Summit will showcase the BC Wine Industry in a variety of panels, discussions and debates. Topics will range from case studies of industry successes to the challenges facing today’s producers to forums for exchanging ideas with the goal of shaping a successful future. Highlights of the Summit include: Cornucopia’s 20th Anniversary Party showcasing Whistler culinary offerings; discussion forums including Rebels & Icons and, The Future of BC Wine; culminating with the Cellar Door Grand Tasting and much, much more.
Leading the discussions, debates and panels will be 13 of the wine industry’s leading influencers, educators, advocates and winemakers from around the world. Festival organizers are thrilled to announce the participation of the following acclaimed international oenophiles taking part in the inaugural Summit.
• Multi-award winning wine writer Jamie Goode for WineAnorak, and a London-based wine judge. The Sunday Express UK wine columnist and lecturer will present the Keynote Address and share his unparalleled perspective on wine from both British Columbia and around the world. Goode has visited Canada’s wine regions on several occasions and most recently was a judge at both the 2016 National Wine Awards of Canada as well as the 2nd Annual Judgement of BC Wine Tasting. Goode has received numerous writing awards and just recently launched his new book: I Taste Red: Understanding the Flavour of Wine published by Quarto/University of California press.
• Madeline Puckette, chief wine communicator at WineFolly.com will provide insight into marketing online for the wine industry. As the author of the New York Times bestseller, Wine Folly: The Essential Guide to Wine; Puckette’s background in visual design, music and restaurants has helped shape her communication of all things wine through infographics, and social media. Puckette’s awards and accolades include: Court Of Master Sommeliers Certified Sommelier (Level 2); 40 Under 40 – Wine Enthusiast Magazine 2015/16; Wine Blogger of the Year – International Wine and Spirits, 2013/14; and Top Wine Writer – Quora, 2012.
• Winemaker Charles Smith of Charles Smith Wines in Washington State is considered a true artisan and pioneer in the wine world. Charles Smith Wines is the largest winemaker-owned winery, and the third largest winery overall, in Washington State. The brand expanded in 2015 with the opening of Charles Smith Jet City, the largest urban winery on the West Coast. As a self-taught winemaker, Smith has received 85 scores of 95 points and above and more than 350 scores of 90 points and above from leading wine publications such as Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, and Wine & Spirits. As the recipient of numerous awards, Smith is the only person to have won “Winemaker of the Year” by both Food & Wine and Wine Enthusiast magazines.
Goode, Puckette and Smith will be joined by familiar local British Columbia faces of wine including Michaela Morris (wine writer & Summit Host); Sid Cross (International Wine & Food Society), Cynthia Enns (Laughing Stock Vineyards), Andrew Windsor (Tinhorn Creek Winery), David Paterson (Tantalus Wines), Ian Tostenson (BC Restaurant & Food Association), Karen Graham (Winedrops), Mark Hicken (Winedrops), Mike Klassen (BC Wine Appellation Task Group) and passionate Whistler local Jack Crompton.
For full schedule and to purchase tickets please visit: www.thewinesummit.com or Whistlercornucopia.com
-30-
Cornucopia, presented by BlueShore Financial is Whistler’s Celebration of Food + Drink. The dazzling eleven-day display of gourmet food and drink attracts over 15,000 visitors to the resort and caters to everyone from amateur enthusiasts to aficionados. Respected industry professionals, judges and presenters headline each event, seminar and tasting, offering the best possible opportunity to garner as much information and insight as possible. Held on the cusp of the opening of each ski season in beautiful Whistler, British Columbia, Cornucopia was designed to showcase and support local restaurants, restaurateurs and the food and wine industry. With wide-spread appeal through the immense variety of events available, the festival is truly a food and drink festival with a Whistler attitude.
Whistler is Canada's premier year-round leisure and meeting destination located in the Coast Mountains 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Consistently rated the top ski resort in North America, Whistler was the Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The resort offers an extensive range of accommodations totaling 10,000 bedrooms among 24 hotels as well as townhomes, condos, B&Bs and chalets. Whistler also boasts more than 100 restaurants and bars, 200 retail shops, 25 spas and countless activity options from world-renowned skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking and golf, to hiking, rock climbing, and watersports. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is home to a diverse community of more than 10,000 permanent residents.
Tourism Whistler is the member-based marketing and sales organization representing Whistler, operating the Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler Golf Club, Whistler Visitor Centre, as well as 1.800.944.7853 and whistler.com - Whistler's official source for visitor bookings and information. As the convention and visitors bureau for the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Tourism Whistler represents more than 7,000 members who own, manage and operate properties or businesses on resort lands including hotels, restaurants, activity operators and retail shops.
Media can visit whistler.com/media for Whistler facts, media releases, story starters, local personality profiles and access to images and B-roll.
Media Contacts
Mary Zinck
Media Program - Cornucopia
Manager, Travel Media
T: 604.938.2702
E: mzinck@tourismwhistler.com
W: www.whistlercornucopia.com/media
T: @CornucopiaWine
F: @WhistlerCornucopia
I: @cornucopiawhistler