Cuvee shifts gears, goes online May 22
Winemakers will reveal their favourite wines and provide pairing tips
There won’t be tastings. There won’t be samples. But Cuvee isn’t ready to give up on 2020 just yet.
The Niagara wine industry’s annual gala was forced to cancel its April 25 event at the Scotiabank Convention Centre because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But since then, organizers have been working to bring the Cuvee spirit — if not the actual wine — to a virtual online experience.
The reworked event will now launch May 22 at www.cuvee.ca with videos created exclusively for the experience.
“As the pandemic has forced everybody to look for new norms, Cuvee is looking to do the same thing,” says manager Barb Tatarnic.
“This is basically a feel-good initiative created by Brock University … we really wanted to bring focus and support of our local community.”
Brock has hosted Cuvee at the Scotiabank Convention Centre for the past five years and organizes it through its Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture
Institute (CCOVI). This year marks Cuvee’s 32nd anniversary.
The online Cuvee will be free to watch and will be accessible until next year’s event.
Taking a traditional wine-tasting event online posed a challenge, says Tatarnic. But while people still won’t be able to sample the product, there will be plenty of links to go along with the culinary partners’ online store, allowing viewers to order and create the Cuvee experience later at home. Participating winemakers will reveal their favourite wines and provide pairing tips.
“We’re all missing Cuvee this year, but whether you’re a winery or a restaurant or local brewery that partners with Cuvee, they’re all still working on their own,” says Tatarnic.
“The video from the winemaker has them in the vineyard, or it could be them alone in their retail shop.”
CCOVI director Debbie Inglis says bringing Cuvee online for the first time ever showcases Brock’s ability to “support and celebrate our VQA wine industry while it navigates unprecedented challenges.”
In keeping with Cuvee’s gala theme, in which wine sampling gives way to dancing, Niagara band Jonesy has also contributed a video performance.
The Cuvee Experience is expected to go online at noon on May 22.
“Everybody’s having a tough time in this pandemic and looking for things to do and to enjoy,” says Tatarnic. “(The videos) help bring winemakers into the living rooms of the general public.”