Media Releases
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Six things to love about Cornucopia
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Whistler, B.C. – Cornucopia, presented by BlueShore Financial, is plating up the finest talent in local, Canadian and international food and drink. The scrumptious 11 day festival takes place in British Columbia’s coastal mountain resort of Whistler, featuring an expansive list of seminars, tastings, luncheons and more.
With so much to adore, browse through the top six things to love about Cornucopia, November 5-15.
1) VINE VARIETY – you heard it on the grape vine
Cabernet or Gewurztraminer, Prosecco or Syrah, old world vs. new world this is just a taste of the vine varieties attendees can explore. Self-proclaimed Oenophiles, amateur wine-lovers and every level in-between are invited to immerse themselves in a wine fiesta like no other.
Feeling fancy? Cellar Door gala tasting unlocks the gates to the world of luxury wines, uncorking top-shelf bottles and champagne. SEPTEMBER SPECIAL – grab your tickets to Cellar Door for only $99 (regular $120). With bottles ranging in price from $35 and up - this is an opportunity not to be missed!
Continue to build your cellar and explore the wine regions of the world. Tour Italy’s Sultry South, explore France Without the Attitude, Celebrate Argentina discover local and organic Social Justice Wines, attend the “Showcase Showdown” of wine classes – The Price is Wrong
or attend the gala of wine tastings – CRUSH Gala Grand Tasting. Perhaps you want to make it official with certification – sign up for the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Levels 1 and 2. Whatever your interest - you can be sure to impress at your next dinner party.
2) CULINARY EXPERTISE – learn from the best
From chef’s luncheons with renowned chefs from L’Abbatoir, Minami or the Okanagan’s Burrowing Owl Winery to the Culinary Stage Series, there are so many opportunities to learn from experts while savouring the delicious rewards of their labour. Key industry leaders taking part on the culinary stage series include Alana Peckham, who recently won the Food Network’s Chopped Canada, and Chef Deniz Tarakcioglu of Vancouver’s Café Medina.
3) CERTIFIED CICERONE – Beer gains respect
Microsoft vs. Apple, cats vs dogs, Pepsi vs. Coke – in the world of famous rivalries, the beer vs. wine debate is about to erupt and Cornucopia is looking for answers. Join Jack Crompton of Whistler Debates as he hosts Cicerone vs. Sommelier, a scrappy and scrumptious multi-course match-up between Sommelier David Stansfield and Cicerone Don Farion.
Beyond the battlefield Ken Beattie, Executive Director of BC Craft Brewers Guild, explores the ever-evolving craft beer market, presenting at Craft Beer for Wine Lovers as well as kick-starting the holiday season at BREWED: The BC Craft Brewers Guild Winter Beer Market, showcasing over 25 of B.C.’s best craft brewers, including a wintery sneak peek of their latest seasonal recipes.
4) SOMMELIER SMACK-DOWN – wine will be spilled
The sommelier Smackdown: two will enter, only one will leave with ego still intact. Join the quirky and somewhat vicious battle between two expert sommeliers – Sunday School’s David Stansfield and Lisa Cook – at this epic Sommelier Smackdown. David and Lisa will step into the ring and pit their favourite wines against each other in a high intensity cage fight for wine geek supremacy.
5) MIX LIKE A PRO – the full spectrum of taste
Guests are invited to experience the full spectrum of spirits and cocktails throughout Cornucopia. Head to the gala tasting Poured
where patrons can sip a 50 year old whisky from Europe or perhaps an expertly-crafted B.C. beer, a Canadian cider or a fine wine from across the globe. Shaken or stirred? Neat or over ice? The choice is yours at With a Twist, where guests choose their own cocktail inspired journey. Always wanted to be a distiller but couldn’t take the leap of faith? Industry pioneer Tyler Schramm, of the Pemberton Distillery and self-described “booze witch” Kelly Ann Woods of Gillespie’s Fine Spirits in Squamish, lead BC Craft Distilling uncovering the distilling industry and how they got started in the business.
6) WHISTLER – need we say more?
As the age-old saying goes, location, location, location! From the pedestrian Village to the majestic surrounding mountains, and the unmistakable energy of the resort, Whistler provides the ultimate setting for Cornucopia. Whether it’s a local experience you’re after or an indulgence of global proportions, Cornucopia offers tastes from all regions, for all palates – experience why Whistler is on everyone’s bucket list.
A master-chef, distiller, sommelier and cicerone walk into a bar… find out what happens next at Cornucopia, November 5-15.
www.whistlercornucopia.com
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Cornucopia,
presented by BlueShore Financial is an eleven day dazzling display of gourmet food, wines, spirits and beer catering 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 the local food and drink industry. Now encompassing wineries, breweries, distilleries, chefs and restaurants from Vancouver, greater B.C. and beyond, Cornucopia has become recognized as a preeminent representation of the culinary tourism industry in Canada. With widespread appeal shown 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.
Broadcasters: Whistler now has the capability to take you live with our enhanced fibre network. The significantly expanded network of more than 200 kilometres of fibre optic cabling throughout the resort allows instant transmission of HD signals to any location at any time. Details on how to access, and book the fibre are available on our media site.
Media Contacts
Mary Zinck
Manager, Travel Media
T: 604.938.2702
E: mzinck@tourismwhistler.com
Katie Brockett
Coordinator, Communications
T: 604.938.2726
E: kbrockett@tourismwhistler.com
W: www.whistlercornucopia.com
T: www.twitter.com/CornucopiaWine
F: www.facebook.com/WhistlerCornucopia