This year marks the sixth annual Nova Scotia Fall Wine Festival, which kicked off at Lunenburg County Winery on September 15 and runs to October 16, featuring over 45 events spread around the region's wineries, restaurants and farmers' markets.
There are wine and food pairings, wine tours with Go North Tours, cooking classes and---of course---grape stomping for charity. After all, nothing says Wine Festival like purple feet and a big heart. You can even work for your wine, by getting involved in the harvest at Petite Riviere Vineyards, on the South Shore not far from Bridgewater.
The festival's official kickoff was the Fall Celebration Dinner, Saturday September 17 at the Wolfville Farmers' Market, featuring a six-course dinner prepared by four of the region's top chefs, including Jason Lynch of Le Caveau in nearby Grand Pré, matched to wines selected by sommelier Amy Savoury. This event is also where the winners of the 2011 Atlantic Canada Wine Awards were announced.
Gaspereau Vineyards won winery of the year. Domaine de Grand Pré won white wine of the year with their 2010 Tidal Bay blend, and Jost won red wine of the year with their 2008 Baco Noir. Full results are up at thecoast.ca/WineWinners. This is the biggest and best Fall Wine Fest yet, and worth checking out. Most of the events are just over an hour's drive from Halifax. If you haven't been, it is time to check out your own province's wine country. Some of the events are listed in "For the wine" at right, with more at thecoast.ca and the festival's own comprehensive listings over at nsfallwinefestival.ca.
