Icewine festival ready to sparkle
Niagara-on-the-Lake is home to the original icewine festival, and its popularity continues to grow internationally.
Eduardo Lafforgue, president of Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce, says said the Niagara-on-the-Lake Icewine Festival is a time to enjoy a season that can at times not be enjoyable.
“It’s our major event for the wintertime,” said Lafforgue. “The icewine festival is really a place to have fun.”
Nicole Cripps, the chamber’s event co-ordinator , said tickets are being purchased from around the world. People are coming from the GTA, Quebec, the United States and Europe. Most recently, a group from Japan purchased tickets, and it’ll be its second time attending the festival.
The two-weekend festival begins with the Sparkle and Ice Gala on Friday. The Flash and Panache Cocktail Competition is Saturday. The Icewine Village runs this and the following weekend
A revamped White on Ice Dinner will be held Saturday, Jan. 24. Previously, it was held outside under a tent but last year was moved to the courthouse. This year, with recommendations made from a restaurant, the dinner will begin in the Grand Ballroom at the courthouse, and then guests will be split up into groups and taken to one of three restaurants.
“It’s a progressive-style dinner,” said Lafforgue. “It allows the restaurants to really highlight their own premises.”
The first restaurant each group visits will serve an entree with a wine pairing, then the next two restaurants will include a main and wine pairing.
The Sparkle and Ice Gala, which kicks off the festival Friday from 8 to 10 p.m., will feature 10 restaurants and 16 wineries.
Visit niagaraonthelake.com/ the-icewine-festival.