There are those of us who love wine, and love to know everything about wine. These devotees read the details provided by the experts — and when the tasting notes suggest there’s a hint of shoe leather in the flavour profile, they can actually taste the shoe leather.
Why anyone would want to taste shoe leather is another question, entirely.
And there are those of us who like wine, but can’t really put a finger on why we prefer a Pinot Noir over a Shiraz. Maybe our wine choices are as simple as “red” and “white.”
Fiona Standing, the director of Winefest, says that those who visit the Edmonton Convention Centre for sips and snacks represent a wide spectrum of wine knowledge. The goal is to make the festival a welcoming, non-snobbish experience no matter if you’re a sommelier or just someone who wants to learn a little more about wine.
“I think, for everyone attending Winefest, you can really taste anything and everything,” says Standing. “You have more than 300 bottles of open wine to explore. You can explore all the grape varietals — whites, reds, sparkling. It’s a chance to explore and see what your palate takes to.
“No matter your background or level of wine knowledge, no matter if you’re new to wine or an expert sommelier, there is always something new to learn. What we want to bring is an educational experience. Even a master expert in wine will tell you that there is still so much to learn.”
And, if you see the tasting notes, and don’t taste all the notes of cherry, oak, melon and, yes, shoe leather, don’t fret. Each and every one of us experiences food and drink in our own way. Some of us like certain flavour profiles, and some of us don’t. Just ask yourself, do you love it, like it or hate it?
“Before you invest $40 or $50 in a bottle of wine, have a taste with us,” says Standing. “Everyone has a different experience with wine, as well. There is no right way or wrong way.”
As mentioned, more than 300 bottles will be on offer. More than 80 wineries, from 16 different countries, will be represented. There will be 57 vegan wines and 32 pours that are gluten-friendly.
There is a special focus on the Spanish wine region of Rioja, which will introduce festival-goers to Old World-style wines from the area. Winemakers in the region have to pass strict measures on quality control and process, to ensure that they can be designated as “official” Rioja wines.
And, Standing says there is no ignoring the surge in interest in non-alcohol wines. The Soft Crush area will feature a taste test: Noughty Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Chardonnay against a similar style of alcoholic wine. Festival goers can also learn about how the “sober” wines are made — and learn about the differences between alcohol-free and de-alcoholized offerings.
Food will be provided by the Edmonton Convention Centre’s team, under the eye of executive chef Serge Belair. And, organizers are asking attendees to bring non-perishable items to the event — all items will be donated to the Edmonton Food Bank. For every pound of food donated, the Winefest organizers will give $1 to the charity.
Winefest Edmonton runs Feb. 23-24 at the Edmonton Convention Centre.
