Celebrate the i4c with an exclusive “Cool Chardonnay Boot Camp” with WineAlign’s John Szabo and David Lawrason

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Celebrate the i4c with an exclusive “Cool Chardonnay Boot Camp” with WineAlign’s John Szabo and David Lawrason

WineAlign is pleased to offer its members an exclusive “Chardonnay Boot Camp” session with John Szabo and David Lawrason on Saturday on July 21st in Niagara.

As a part of the 2nd annual International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration (i4c),  you will spend an afternoon with WineAlign’s David Lawrason and John Szabo as they take you on a global tour of cool climate chardonnay.  John and David will lead a structured tasting of Chardonnays from New Zealand, South Africa, Austria, Italy, Burgundy, Chablis, California, Oregon, BC and Ontario.  Learn about what makes each of these wines (and regions) exemplars of the 5 aspects of “cool” – latitude, altitude, marine influence, microclimate, and winemaking style.

After “Boot Camp”, join in the i4c celebrations at the Cool Chardonnay World Tour tasting of up to 110 different cool climate chardonnays from 55 international producers, followed by the “Beyond the Barrel” al fresco dinner.

Your WineAlign Experience ticket includes our “Chardonnay Boot Camp” (4:00pm), the “Cool Chardonnay World Tour” (6:00pm) and “Beyond the Barrel Dinner” (8:00pm).  All events are at the beautiful grounds of the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, in Vineland, Ontario.

Tickets are $150 (+HST).

To purchase tickets, go to www.coolchardonnay.org and select “WineAlign Member Experience” on the Tickets page (scroll to the bottom of the page).

Here’s a cool video about the event.

Cool Chardonnay

13 amazingly “cool” events. 12 stunning vineyard locations. 110 international cool climate chardonnays.

The 2nd annual International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration – experience the Rebirth of Cool…

 The International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration is a collegial event that enables wine enthusiasts to interact directly with the winemakers or proprietors and their wines. Whether at a communal table during an i4c luncheon or at the grand tasting events, winemakers/proprietors will be pouring their wines throughout the weekend.

Guests of the i4c are invited to “Blend their own Chardonnay Experience”.  All events are a la carte, which means that guests can either sip or immerse themselves in this chardonnay extravaganza.

The Keynote Speaker for the 2012 event is Stephen Brook, renowned columnist for London’s Decanter Magazine.

Tickets and information are available at www.coolchardonnay.org.

The International Cool Climate Chardonnay Association is a not-for-profit group of 28 inspired Ontario winemakers and winery owners devoted to the renaissance of chardonnay and is proudly supported by Founding Sponsors Wine Country Ontario, The Grape Growers of Ontario and the LCBO|VINTAGES.

 The Signature Event…The Cool Chardonnay World Tour

Saturday, July 21st, 2012
6:00pm – 11:00pm
The grounds of the Vineland Research & Innovation Centre
650 guests

Tour the world with one glass…in one amazing night! The Cool Chardonnay World Tour is the only event where you can taste all of the wines being presented at the 2012 celebration. Enjoy a leisurely 2-hour tasting in the stunning rhododendron garden, while enjoying sumptuous hors d’ouevres from Quebec’s renowned Maison du Gibier. 

Following the World Tour tasting, enjoy our signature “Beyond the Barrel” al fresco dinner. Featured winemakers Brian Schmidt (Vineland Estates), Craig McDonald (Hillebrand), Philip Dowell (Angels Gate), Ross Wise (Flat Rock Cellars), Harald Thiel (Hidden Bench), Ron Giesbrecht (Henry of Pelham) and Dan Sullivan (Rosehall Run) will turn in their corkscrews for whisks, tongs and spatulas as they join Chef Erik Peacock and to present a fabulous regional feast.

Dine under the stars, mixing and mingling with the participating winemakers, then finish the night with a “Blanc de Blanc” bar and a live band in the heart of Niagara’s wine country.

2012 Participating Wineries:

ARGENTINA
Catena Zapata (Mendoza)   Pablo Sanchez – Assistant Winemaker

AUSTRALIA
Printhie Wines (Orange, NSW)   Ed Swift – Owner/Winemaker
Yabby Lake (Mornington Peninsula)   Keith Harris – Chief  Viticulturalist

CANADA
Blue Mountain Vineyards (BC)   Matt Mavety & Christie Mavety – Winemaker
Meyer Family Vineyard (BC)   JAK Meyer & Chris Carson – Owner & Winemaker
13th Street Winery (Niagara Escarpment)   Jean Pierre Colas – Winemaker
Angels Gate Winery (Niagara Escarpment)   Philip Dowell – Winemaker
Bachelder Niagara (Niagara Escarpment)   Thomas Bachelder – Winemaker and Owner
Cave Spring Cellars (Niagara Escarpment)  Angelo Pavan – Vice president/Winemaker
Flat Rock Cellars (Niagara Escarpment)  Ross Wise – Winemaker
Henry of Pelham  Estate Winery (Niagara Escarpment)  Ron Giesbrecht – Winemaker
Hidden Bench Vineyards (Niagara Escarpment)  Marlize Beyers – Winemaker
Malivoire Wine Company (Niagara Escarpment)   Shiraz Mottiar – Winemaker
Pearl Morissette Estate Winery (Niagara Escarpment)  Francois Morissette – Winemaker & Principal
Rosewood Estates Winery (Niagara Escarpment)   Natalie Spytkowsky – Winemaker
Vineland Estates Winery (Niagara Escarpment)   Brian Schmidt – Winemaker
Coyote’s Run Estate Winery (Niagara-on-the-Lake)   Jeff Aubry – Owner
Hillebrand (Niagara-on-the-Lake)   Craig McDonald – Winemaker
Inniskillin Wines (Niagara-on-the-Lake)   Bruce Nicholson – Winemaker
Jackson-Triggs Niagara (Niagara-on-the-Lake)  Marco Piccoli – Winemaker
Lailey Vineyard Winery (Niagara-on-the-Lake)  Derek Barnett – Winemaker
Le Clos Jordanne (Niagara-on-the-Lake)   Sebastien Jacquey – Winemaker
Peller Estates Winery (Niagara-on-the-Lake)
Pondview Estate Winery (Niagara-on-the-Lake)  Lou Puglisi – Proprietor
Ravine Vineyard (Niagara-on-the-Lake)   Shauna White – Associate Winemaker
Southbrook Vineyards (Niagara-on-the-Lake)   Ann Sperling – Director of Winemaking /Viticulture
Stratus Vineyards (Niagara-on-the-Lake)   J-L Groux – Winemaker
Closson Chase Vineyards (Prince Edward County)  Deborah Paskus – Winemaker
Huff Estates Winery (Prince Edward County)  Frederic Picard – Winemaker
Norman Hardie Winery (Prince Edward County)  Norman Hardie – President & Winemaker
Rosehall Run (Prince Edward County)   Dan Sullivan – Proprietor / Winemaker

CHILE
Vina Concha Y Toro S.A. (Chile)  Felipe del Solar – Country Manager – Canada
Vina Haras de Pirque (Chile)  Maria Cristina Cifuentes, Director – Americas
Vina Quintay S.A. (Chile)   Alajandro Abarca – Managing Director

FRANCE
Decelle-Villa (Burgundy)   Jean Lupatelli – Winemaker
Dom. Chanson Pere & Fils (Burgundy)  Gilles de Courcel – President
Dom. Marchand-Tawse (Burgundy) Pascal Marchand – Owner/ Winemaker
Domaine des Clos (Burgundy)   Gregoire Bichot – Gerant
Domaine Emmanuel GIBOULOT (Burgundy)  Emmanuel Giboulot – Proprietor
Domaine Laroche (Burgundy)   Sandrine Audegond – DirectorExport
Champagne Ayala (Champagne)  Raymond Ringeval – Export Director
Domaine Jean Bourdy (Jura)   Jean-Francois Bourdy – Co-Owner

NEW ZEALAND
Felton Road (Central Otago)   Blair Walter & Nigel Greening – Winemaker
Kumeu River (Kumeu/Auckland)  Michael Brajkovich MW – Winemaker
Villa Maria (Hawkes Bay)   Justin Harrison – Market Manager – Canada

UNITED STATES
Chamisal Vineyards (Edna Valley, California)   Fintan du Fresne – Winemaker
Dutton Goldfield (Russian River Valley, California)   John Schultz – National Sales Director
Flowers Winery (Sonoma Coast, California)   Jason Jardine – President, Director of Winemaking
Ramey Wine Cellars (Russian River Valley, California)  David Ramey – Owner/ Winemaker
Lamoreaux Landing (Finger Lakes, New York)   Josh Wig – Owner/ Winemaker
A to Z Wineworks/Rex Hill (Willamette Valley, Oregon)   Cheryl Francis – Co-Founder, consulting winemaker
Chehalem Vineyards (Willamette Valley, Oregon)   Harry Peterson-Nedry – Founder
Firesteed Cellars (Willamette Valley, Oregon)   Bryan Croft – Winemaker
Hamacher Wines (Willamette Valley, Oregon)   Eric Hamacher – Owner/ Winemaker
Ponzi Vineyards (Willamette Valley, Oregon)    Luisa Ponzi – Winemaker