Festival Events
PUBLIC TASTING
Ticket Information
- Public Evening Tasting on Friday, May 8th , 7:00pm - 10:00pm - $39.95
- Public Matinee Tasting on Saturday, May 9th, 1:30pm - 4:00pm - $32.95
- Public Evening Tasting on Saturday, May 9th, 7:00pm - 10:00pm - $39.95
The public is invited to visit representatives of more than 130 wineries and to sample from over 500 wines from 13 countries. Tickets will be available early March, 2009, at Manitoba Liquor Marts, and are on sale now at any Ticketmaster* location; Ticketmaster charge line 204 780-3333; www.ticketmaster.com *Agency fees are applicable.
Participating Wineries
Click on the PDF below to view the list of wineries
Wines of Chile
Overview of Chile
Between the majestic Andes Mountains and the mighty Pacific Ocean; and bordered to the north by the arid Atacama Desert and the stunning glacial region of Patagonia to the south, lay the fertile and temperate valleys of Chile’s wine regions. The Mediterranean climate’s dry summers and moderate winters nurture the vines and allow for excellent vintages year after year. The diversity and consistent quality of wine make the Chilean section in any liquor store a destination for wine lovers.
Chilean Varieties
Total area planted to wine grapes: 114,448 hectares
Total red varieties: 86,790 ha (76%) | Total white varieties: 27,658 ha (24%)
Primary Red Varieties (in hectares)
Cabernet Sauvignon: 40,441
Merlot: 13,142
Carmenère: 6,489
Syrah: 2,988
Pinot Noir: 1,361
Cabernet Franc: 1,099
Malbec: 1,014
Primary White Varieties (in hectares)
Sauvignon Blanc: 8,379
Chardonnay: 8,156
Moscatel of Alexandria: 6,026
Riesling: 305
Viognier: 222
Gewürztraminer: 191
About Wines of Chile
Wines of Chile is a promotional body that represents 90+ Chilean wineries with offices in Santiago and London. Wines of Chile was founded in July 2002 to position Chilean wine around the world through strategic marketing and promotional activities.
CHILEAN WINE REGIONS
Elqui Valley
Crystal clear skies make for starry-nights and sun-drenched days—a logical choice for vast expanses of vineyards. Recent wine grape plantations wind their way up the hillsides to more than 2,000 meters above sea level, making this not only Chile’s northernmost, but highest wine region as well. Cabernet Sauvignon leads the wine-grape production, but it is the cool-climate Syrah that has attracted the most attention. The Elqui Valley’s unique combination of geographic, geological, and climatic factors result in surprisingly fresh and spicy wines.
Choapa Valley
As there are no wineries located in the Choapa Valley, some 80 km (50 miles) south of Limarí. It continues to be of great interest to pioneering winemakers who value its rocky soils that produce fruity, medium-bodied wines with high acidity, low pH, and pronounced minerality.
Limarí Valley
With just 100 mm (4 in) of rainfall per year, drip irrigation is essential. Despite its semi-arid, Mediterranean climate and high summer temperatures, the Limarí Valley is an oasis for fine wine production. It is a transversal valley, extending from the majestic Andes eastward to the Pacific Ocean, which allows the curious “Camanchaca” fog to blanket the area with cool air each morning, and coastal breezes to reach inland to maintain mild summer temperatures.
Aconcagua Valley
The region is primarily dedicated to fruit, vegetable, and flower production, but has produced wine grapes since the mid-19th century. The possibility of incorporating drip irrigation sparked renewed interest in the valley beginning in the 1980s. The region pioneered the planting of Syrah in Chile and currently has large tracts of land dedicated to organic and biodynamic agriculture.
Casablanca Valley
The Casablanca Valley is Santiago’s gateway to the sea. The first vineyards appeared little more than twenty years ago. Credit for the ‘discovery’ of the valley is generally given to winemaking pioneer Pablo Morandé, who was looking for a cooler region more appropriate for white grapes. The higher, warmer, frost-free sections are suitable for some more forgiving red varieties, while the lower, cooler areas produce excellent fruit for cool-loving Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. In recognition of certain similarities between Casablanca and California’s Napa Valley, the two valleys signed an alliance in 2002, prompting Casablanca to create a wine route and develop tourist attractions in the area.
San Antonio Valley
San Antonio, which includes the now-famous Leyda zone, is one of Chile’s smallest viticultural areas. With vineyards as close as 4 km (2.5 mi) from the sea, it is also the most maritime region. The exploration for new terroir suggested that this area would be suitable for cool-weather varieties, such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, and the results are more than encouraging. Cooler temperatures mean longer ripening periods and crisper acidity for leaner, more food-friendly wines. Some producers have experimented with other red varieties such as Syrah. The result is a cool climate Syrah that is causing many to re-think the concept of Chilean Syrah.
Maipo Valley
The expansive and varied Maipo Valley is nestled between two mountain ranges, the Andes and the Coastal Mountains, and Chile’s capital city, Santiago, sits in the middle. Winemakers unofficially divide the valley into three distinct sectors: Alto Maipo, closest to the Andes; Central Maipo, along the valley floor; and Pacific Maipo in the sector closest to the Pacific Ocean. All three enjoy a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool rainy winters, but vary with respect to the degree of influence received by the mountains or the sea. Many winemakers blend wines from different Maipo vineyards to take advantage of the diverse qualities available in the three distinct areas.
The Rapel Valley
The Rapel Valley is comprised of two sub-appellations, Cachapoal and Colchagua.
Cachapoal Valley
Cachapoal is the northernmost of the two valleys in the Rapel Valley and is itself further divided from east to west. The majority of the wineries are located in the cool eastern sector between the Pan-American Highway and the Andes around Requingua and Rengo. On the opposite side of the highway and approaching the Coastal Mountains, the western sector around Peumo receives just enough cool maritime influence to create a warm, but not hot climate ideal for the area’s distinctive, full-bodied, fruit-forward Carmenère.
Colchagua Valley
Colchagua Valley is the larger and southernmost of the Rapel Valley’s two sub-appellations. Particularly worth watching are the expressive, full-bodied Cabernet, Carmenère, Syrah, and Malbec. Colchagua lies closer to the low and rolling Coastal Range than to the higher Andes and benefits from the cooling breezes that blow in directly from the sea, effectively extending the growing season for a long, slow ripening period. Temperatures vary widely on any given summer day, which further contributes to the expressive, fruity, well-balanced character of the wines crafted here.
Curicó Valley
Curicó is Chile’s second largest wine producing valley. Only its southern neighbour Maule has more area planted to vine. Numerous factors, such as the Mediterranean climate, a 5-month summer dry season with an average temperature of 20ºC (68ºF) and a maximum of 30ºC (86ºF), sufficient rainfall (700 mm / 28 in) and well-drained alluvial soils make this valley viticulturally attractive. Curicó’s winding rivers and diverse geographic landscape provide the opportunity to work with many different varieties. National statistics list 32 different types of wine grapes grown in the area (17 red and 15 white).
Maule Valley
Maule is Chile’s largest producing valley, with 43% of the country’s total planted area. This is one of Chile’s most geographically diverse valleys, and it can be divided into the Pacific, Inter-Andes-Pacific, and Andes regions. The climate is Mediterranean sub-humid throughout, with variations in the different sectors. The Pacifi c section, closest to the Coastal Mountain range, has higher temperatures and lower rainfalls (700 mm / 28 in per year), while the opposite is true when moving toward the Andean foothills with average annual rainfalls of up to 1,000 mm (39 in). Add to this a broad range of soil types and it is easy to see why there are a diversity of flavours and styles being developed in the Maule.
Itata Valley
The northernmost sector of the three-valley ‘southern region,’ Itata is no newcomer to wine. In colonial times, it was the abundant water supply that attracted winemakers. Annual rainfall is concentrated during the winter months and averages more than 1,100 mm (44 in) per year. Interest dwindled as winegrowing became more viable closer to Santiago. Today however, improving transportation systems and the drive for new terroirs have led a handful of new wineries to set up in Itata. Contrary to logic, this valley is often much hotter than Maipo, which is more than 500 km closer to the equator! Temperatures swing widely during the course of the day, and the quality of the light encourages excellent color development in the grapes.
Bío Bío Valley
With an average annual rainfall similar to that of the Medoc (more than 1,300 mm / 51 in), a deep and generous subterranean water table, and cool evening mists that creep down the Andean foothills, the Bío Bío is both blessed and challenged. Fruit ripens slowly this far south, and begins a full 20 to 25 days later than in northerly valleys. Rain and cold weather make winegrowing here more complicated than in other areas. Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, and Riesling express themselves very well with higher acidities closer to those found in Old World bottlings.
Malleco Valley
This is “daredevil winegrowing” with low temperatures, high rainfall, and high risk of spring and fall frosts that could wipe out an entire season’s work, but like any extreme sport, thrill-seeking growers are rewarded with exciting results, especially in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Gewürztraminer.
Purchasing Wine at the Festival
Over 500 wines will be featured at the Winnipeg Wine Festival. Many of these wines are available in Manitoba for the first time and are exclusive to the Festival. All of the wines showcased during the tasting evenings will be available for purchase at the on-site Liquor Mart.
- The on-site Liquor Mart layout is set up to match the order of the wineries in the Festival program.
- Our friendly, knowledgeable staff are available to answer any question you may have. The store is designed so you can find any wine quickly and easily.
- Each wine listed in the Festival program has a corresponding bin number assigned to it. Just use those bin numbers, which are in numerical order in the store, to easily find any wine you are looking for.
- PURCHASE EARLY! Make your initial purchase at any time and we will hold your parcel for you. Additional products can be added at any time.
- If you wish, you can purchase your favourite wines without the worry of taking them home. We will ship your purchases to the Liquor Mart of your choice for personal pick up. A minimum purchase of six bottles is required for delivery. The Liquor Mart will phone you once the product arrives. Allow one week for product to arrive in Winnipeg Liquor Marts. Shipping times will vary outside of Winnipeg.
- Earn 10 times AIR MILES® reward miles on purchases made at the Festival on-site Liquor Mart. Offer valid May 8 & 9, 2009 on purchases in excess of $25 (excluding taxes) and only on base AIR MILES reward miles.
Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Interac, and cash are all accepted at the Liquor Mart.
Arriving Home Safely
Whether you choose to sample a variety of different wines or savour a few of your favourites, remember, drinking and driving never mix. So before your visit to the Winnipeg Wine Festival make arrangements for alternate transportation to ensure you arrive home safely.
- Arrange to have a family member or friend pick you up at the end of the evening. Let them do the driving while you sit back and relax after a great evening exploring new vintages and grape varieties.
- Catch a cab. You'll find them plentiful in the downtown area, especially in front of the Winnipeg Convention Centre. Better yet, phone ahead and reserve a cab so there's no waiting.
- Consider "Keys Please" - this Winnipeg company offers professional designated drivers who will drive you home in your vehicle seven days a week. You can reach them by calling 475-1000.
- Take the bus. Winnipeg Transit offers inexpensive and reliable, city-wide service.
Final note: Manitoba's tough sanctions for drunk drivers remind us all that when you drink and drive in Manitoba - You Lose!
ANCILLARY EVENTS
During Festival week, there will be many fabulous wine and food events taking
place at venues throughout Winnipeg. Please check back regularly for updates
to these events.
World of Wine 
Presented by:
The highly acclaimed Provence Bistro which over looks the 18th hole of the Niakwa Golf & Country Club sets the scene for this fun Winnipeg Wine Festival Event. Sample the culinary delights at this walk about event while enjoying wines from across the globe.
Date:
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Time:
2:00pm – 5:00pm
Price per Ticket:
$75.00
Place:
Provence Bistro
Niakwa Golf & Country Club, 620 Niakwa Road
Tickets Available:
Sold out
The Curious Case of Wine to Vine
What would happen if your dining experience worked backwards, beginning with dessert and leading to the appetizer? Join the culinary team at The Billabong Australian Bar & Bistro to find out as they create a sumptuous dinner paired with wines chosen from the portfolios of Charton-Hobbs and Aqua Vitae.
Date:
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Time:
Dessert Wine Reception - 6:30pm
Dinner - 7:00pm
Price per Ticket:
$85.00
Place:
The Billabong Australian Bar & Bistro
D – 121, Osborne St.
Tickets Available:
The Billabong Australian Bar & Bistro: phone (204) 452-1019
Wines of Canada VQA Tasting
Presented by:
Come enjoy a wine tasting to experience some of Canada's finest wines. Try wines from several award winning Canadian VQA wineries while enjoying appetizers from the many food stations.
Date:
Monday, May 4, 2009
Time:
5:00pm – 7:00pm
Price per Ticket:
$20.00
Place:
Tavern United MTS Centre
260 Hargrave St
Tickets Available:
Click here to order tickets on line or phone (204) 926-8354
100 Mile Diet - Local Eating for Global Change
Locally raised and produced food has been called “the new organic" - better tasting, better for the environment, better for local economies, and better for your health. The 100 Mile Diet is a social movement where all ingredients for food and drink are sourced within a 100 mile radius celebrating the abundance, diversity, and taste of locally-grown food and the people that grow it. Six courses will be prepared by Winnipeg’s best Chefs from Bergmann’s on Lombard, Dessert Sinsations, The Fairmont Hotel, and Bothwell Cheese. Come and see the best that Manitoba has to offer as these great local culinary creations will be paired with wines from award-winning D.D. Leobard Winery.
Date:
Monday, May 4, 2009
Time:
Reception - 6:30pm
Dinner – 7:00pm
Price per Ticket:
$70.00
Place:
Bergmann's on Lombard
620 - 167 Lombard Avenue
Tickets Available:
Click here to order tickets on line or phone (204) 926-8354
Joe’s Italian Wine Night
Presented by:
Joe Aiello from 92 Citi FM hosts an evening of the best of food and wine from Italy. This walk about event features top notch culinary creations prepared by Belissimo Restaurant & Lounge paired up with regionally appropriate wines. It is a tour through Italy without having to leave Winnipeg!
Date:
Monday, May 4, 2009
Time:
7:00pm – 10:00pm
Price per Ticket:
$60.00
Place:
Bellissimo Restaurant & Lounge
877 Waverley St
Tickets Available:
Click here to order tickets on line or phone (204) 926-8354
Food & Wine - Divine!!!
Learn the secrets of matching wine with food from acclaimed wine author and educator Marnie Old. Explore the fundamental principles of pairing, from basic chemistry to sensory science in this fun and informative seminar. Winnipeg born Marnie Old has a high-energy and innovative approach that appeals to both beginners and wine experts alike.
Earls and the E & J Gallo Winery have come together to offer participants selected dishes from the sumptuous Earls menu paired with great tasting wines from California, Australia and South Africa.
Date:
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Time:
5:00pm – 6:30pm
Price per Ticket:
$40.00
Place:
Earls Main Street
191 Main Street
Tickets Available:
Click here to order tickets on line or phone (204) 926-8354
Hola Chile
Presented by:
Enjoy the richness of Chilean music, food, art and of course wine in the lush and warm confines of the Assiniboine Park Conservatory. This fun filled walk about event featuring 16 Chilean wineries in this unique venue is not to be missed.
Date:
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Time:
7:00pm – 9:30pm
Price per Ticket:
$35.00
Place:
Assiniboine Park Conservatory
15 Conservatory Drive
Tickets Available:
Click here to order tickets on line or phone (204) 926-8354
Night on the Red Carpet
An "Oscar-style" event, a 'Night on the Red Carpet' will feature wines from California, particularly the wine of the Oscars - Sterling Vineyards. Upon arriving at the event on Rembrandt's Red Carpet, guests will be treated like stars to an elegant five-course meal, prepared by Rembrandt's Chef, and paired with premium wine offerings from Sterling Vineyards. Reception and dessert wines will also be offered, while guests enjoy the sights and sounds of a live jazz band in Rembrandt's Masters Hall Ballroom.
Date:
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Time:
Reception - 6:30pm
Dinner - 7:00pm
Price per Ticket:
$95.00 includes gst, pst & gratuity
Place:
Rembrandt's Bistro
1 Wellink Drive at Highway 44, Lockport
Tickets Available:
Rembrandt's Bistro (204) 757-4441
Canad Inns Dinner in the Vineyard
Presented by:
Howard Soon, Senior Winemaker from Sandhill Winery is your host as he guides you through an elegant five course dinner paired with their finest portfolio of premium VQA wines. A dinner not to be missed!
Date:
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Time:
Reception - 6:30pm
Dinner - 7:00pm
Price per Ticket:
$149.00 includes gst, pst & gratuity
Place:
Canad Inns Windsor Park
1034 Elizabeth Road
Tickets Available:
Sold out
Wines from Spain: Grape Stomp
Presented by:
Come out and enjoy the time honoured tradition of stomping grapes, sample the exceptional wines of Spain, enjoy fine tapas and Spanish music and have a few laughs as your favourite local personalities stomp grapes for charity.
Date:
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Time:
7:00pm - 10:00pm
Price per Ticket:
$25.00
Place:
Delta Winnipeg – Main Ballroom
350 St Mary Ave
Tickets Available:
Click here to order tickets on line or phone (204) 926-8354
Net proceeds for all events will be donated to Special Olympics Manitoba.
All prices include taxes.
GALA DINNER
Presented by:
Thursday, May 7th, 2009
Winnipeg Convention Centre – Third Floor Hall B
Wine Reception 6:00pm
Dinner 7:00pm
This unique and memorable evening will be the ultimate food and wine experience. The evening begins with a wine reception followed by a five-course gourmet meal, featuring two fine wines paired with each course. Also included in the event will be live and silent auctions showcasing many distinctive wines and entertainment packages.
Tickets to this exclusive event are $215.00 per person or table of 10 for $2150.00. Tickets are available through the Winnipeg Wine Festival office at Special Olympics Manitoba by calling (204) 926-8354.
Dress: Business / Formal
Winnipeg Wine Festival 2008 - Gala Dinner
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