Most cities across Canada host a food and wine festival at some point throughout the year.
Now that relaxed indulgence is available in our own backyard.
The second annual Sturgeon Valley Wine and Food Festival returns to the Enjoy Centre this Saturday with a sophisticated array of palette-pleasing choices.
It’s the harvest season – the time to indulge in an impressive selection of premium wines, spirits, and imported and micro-brewed beer.
During the fun and social atmosphere guests are also encouraged to pair beverages with a selection of savoury nibblers from local restaurants and food purveyors.
Just check out the applewood smoked wild boar slider, or the salciccia (sausage) and potatoes. Perhaps sweet confections are your style with the showpiece Lamé Tuxedo, a chocolate made with a layer of coffee ganache topped with dulce de leche.
“Last year after the festival we took a survey. The results from the survey were really positive. People enjoyed the festival. They liked the idea but were looking for more food. We listened closely to what people had to say and this year we doubled the food and wine. We really tried to take into account what people suggested,” said event producer Shani Gwin.
There are 23 vendors, eight that are food based. They are Nello’s Restaurant, Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria, The Riverhouse, D’Arcy’s Meat Market, The Hat and Jacek Chocolate Couture.
Sturgeon Valley Athletic Club in partnership with True Balance are introducing smoothies while St. Albert Gazette is selling chocolate covered strawberries with proceeds going to the St. Albert Food Bank.
“Because of our past success, it was easier to bring in restaurants and spirit vendors to cater to the palettes of our patrons.”
Gwin is especially pleased to have local micro-brewers Hogshead Brewing on board. Just the ales’ names – Clockwort Orange Wheat Ale, Hop Slayer IPA and Zombie Apocalypse Pale Ale – are enough to spike the curiosity index.
Other beverages range from vodka, whisky and brandy to rum, tequila and a roster of wines. Any of the beverages sampled on site can be purchased that night at the Enjoy Centre’s Liquid Harvest.
Last year the festival also experienced a bottleneck issue.
“We only had one door open. We didn’t expect so many people to show up at the same time and we only had one person at the door.”
This year, Gwin plans to have both entrance doors open with several ticket takers checking in patrons at the door prior to the start-up time.
“This way people can start enjoying the event right away.”
The festival hosts two sittings – one from 4 to 7 p.m. and at 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. The admission is $25. It includes a glass and a guide. Food and beverage tickets are 50 cents each. Samplers range from two to 10 tickets each. Advance admission tickets are purchased online at www.sturgeonfoodandwine.com.
