Calgary --- WINESTAGE Sept 8th and 9th --- anyone else going?

[newJJD]

Sorry, I should have posted this earlier for those that have never heard of this event, as I believe it is sold out (as it does every year)

This is by far the premiere wine and food event in the city. (Rocky Mountain, Taste of Calgary, The Winefest @ SAIT and those Co-op deals don't even come close)

This event features 7 wine stores (Richmond Hill Wines, Kensington, Metrovino, J. Webb, Banff Wine Store, The Wine Shop and Bin 905), as well as some of the top food purveyors in the city. This year, the list is:

Both Nights:
ST Germain, Brava, Infuse Catering, Mango Shiva, The Cookbook Co. Cooks, Tribune

Friday Only:
Cilantro, Janice Beaton, Red Tree Catering

Saturday Only:
River Cafe, Eight, Velvet

I love this event, I will be there both nights. Each wine shop has between 5-8 different wines, not plonk either, many bottles worth $50+. The restaurants tend to serve 3-4 dishes, usually 2 from their menu and 1-2 "test" dishes. Last year St Germain served some amazing short ribs and a foie gras dish.

Best part - $69 unlimited sampling - none of this taste tickets garbage. I would easily spend that much at any of the restaurants featured.

If you can still get a ticket (available at any of the 7 participating shops), I hope to see you there!

[Gobstopper]

Hey JJD!

I was cooking with a name tag that said "chuck" (a pseudonym along with "buck") I came by Richmond with Jon and got some Amon-Ra a little later, and we spent most of the after party parked between Richmond and Metrovino. Nice to have almost met you. Hope you enjoyed the after party oysters shucked by an absolute maestro!

[Gobstopper]

I worked at the Wine Stage last night and it was a lot of fun, I didn't get to see much of the food that people had but some of the things I tried were cool. Mango Shiva smelled very good. The Perogies we had vanished fairly quickly. The wine highlight for me was getting Amon Ra poured by the winemaker. `

[newJJD]

We may have met then! I'm Jay and I was pouring for Richmond Hill, right next to Ben Glaetzer,

Were you pouring wine or serving food?

[pepper_mil]

Spit.

I could never survive a wine tasting if I hadn't learned this. Some people take teeny sips of everything, but you can't really taste properly that way.

[John Manzo]

This sounds awesome, but how does a lightweight like me not get drunk off his ass and then drive home?

[newJJD]

Take a taxi... the event is at the Epcor Centre for Arts, which, if I recall correctly, is not that far from you...

[John Manzo]

Too late, but I'll try to remember it for next year- right now we're clearing off the social calendar with the film fest starting soon-ish....