Drinks for all at food festival

The annual Taste of Edmonton festival (July 16-25) is about more than food. In addition to sampling offerings from a number of our city’s restaurants and food trucks, festivalgoers will have multiple opportunities to quench their curiosity and their thirst with a variety of wines, craft beers and spirits.

The many interesting offerings in the wine tent include a sparkling rosé from Spain, Torrontés and Tannat from Argentina (yes, Argentina produces more than just Malbec), Vermentino from Sardinia, Chenin Blanc from France and Tempranillo from Spain.

A different Canadian wine will also be featured on each of the festival’s 10 days, with the focus on independent wineries from coast (Nova Scotia’s Benjamin Bridge) to coast (Vancouver Island’s Averill Creek).

An interesting aspect of the festival is the Sip ’n’ Savour pop-ups.

Each night from 6 to 10 p.m., in the large tent smack dab in the middle of Winston Churchill Square, different chefs, dishes and libations match the theme for that night.

Custom Cocktails, International Discovery, Pork & Pinot and Wild & Foraged are just a few of the themes inspiring the food, wine, craft beer and spirits that guests will experience.

Half of these themed popups are already sold out, but tickets are still available for the others, including Market Musings on Saturday, July 25, featuring chefs’ dishes prepared exclusively using ingredients from local farmers’ markets and a selection of Canadian wines and craft beers.

Anumberofintimateculinary workshops also provide an up-close-and-personal experience with chefs and culinary professionals for only $25.

I will be leading a Wine 101 class on Saturday, July 25 at 11 a.m., in the Sip n’ Savour Tent. We will embark on a tasting tour of the world and explore why wines from different grapes, regions and styles taste the way they do.

Tickets can be purchased in advance (a good idea) and a complete list of events and participating chefs can be found at tasteofedm.ca