Fourth-annual wine and food fest prepares to uncork the fun and flavours of Vancouver Island and British Columbia
The Taste weekend kicks off on Thursday, July 19, 2012 at Victoria’s Crystal Garden with The Main Event: an evening brimming with more than 100 BC wines and great Vancouver Island eats. Guests will be joined by local chefs, wine producers and the live music of Greenlaw, a local band with a unique blend of dub, soul, jazz, drum and bass-infused rhythms.
“People are taking a greater interest in what they eat these days and the idea of eating local and buying local is achieving a greater place in consumer’s minds,” says Kathy McAree, founder and producer of Taste. “Local food is a given when it comes to keeping dollars in your own community.” McAree brings these local values to the four-day festival collaborating with many like-minded local winemakers, chefs, artisan producers, farmers and fishers – all key players in helping to make Vancouver Island a vibrant culinary destination. Taste also attracts winemakers from mainland BC as well ensuring a wide variety with more than 150 wines available for islanders to taste and experience.
Other special events taking place July 20 – 22, 2012 include the Swine and The Vine pig roast on the Hotel Grand Pacific patio, a three-course brunch at Vista 18, a seafood extravaganza called Sips and Seafood hosted by Inn at Laurel Point, and a variety of wine seminars focusing on the fun of B.C. bubbly, getting “Bang For Your Buck” with B.C. wines under $20, and a worldwide pinot noir comparison. Two of the wine seminars – hosted by writer, wine consultant, and sommelier, Kurtis Kolt – also include a year subscription to Wine Access Magazine. And you won’t want to miss the dining adventure to take place in the middle of the field at the Vantreight Family Farm, overlooking the Saanich Peninsula and Pacific Ocean where guests can reach back and pick what’s on their plate!
Local industry professionals can taste hundreds of B.C. wines during the afternoon preceding The Main Event and Vancouver Island and Gulf Island restaurants can enter the Taste Wine List Awards presented by EAT Magazine by visiting www.VictoriaTaste.com/trade-industry
On-line tickets to Taste are set to go on sale April 19, 2012. Special money saving packages are now available for pre-purchase. For more information on the events and purchase information, visit www.VictoriaTaste.com.
