Wine festival to feature 250 different wines at 2-day event

Wine lovers on P.E.I. are set to enjoy the annual Festival of Wines scheduled for this weekend.

Jean-SebastienMorin, a sommelier and the wine category manager for the PEILiquor Control Commission, says interest in the festival has grown since its launch21 years ago.

"There's a lot more interest, a lot more questions. People are interested in talking to winemakers or agents that really know the wine."

New events have been added this year, including having dinner with a winemaker.

"You have a chance to sit down and have a winemaker or a winery principal telling you about the wines, pairing it with food," saidMorin. "It's kind of a beautiful thing when the wine and food sing together."

TheWinemaker's Dinners are being held at various restaurants in Charlottownand Summersidefrom Wednesday to Friday.

Spitting is OK

Two grand tastingswill take place on each day of the festival from 7 to 10 p.m.

"At the grand tastings you have about 250 wines, a lot of them not available during the rest of the year," said Morin.

The festival offers a wine boutique where a favourite wine from the tasting can be bought.Morin said staff at the boutique are knowledgeable about all the wines.

Morin said it's even OK to spit out the wine you are tasting.

"You'll see it at tables, there's spittoonson every table."

Selecting wines for the festival began 11 months ago and is based on customer preferencesand interests.

The festival takes place May 26 and 27at the Eastlink Centre. More information can be found on the festival's website.

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |Jumping for joy: P.E.I. riders get new events in 2017
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |Roger Moore's Island visit showed different side to actor