6th Annual Wine Auction -Thursday, May 29, 2008

The Montfort Hospital Foundation’s 6th Annual Wine Auction will take place on Thursday, May 29, 2008 at the Hampton Inn Ottawa & Conference Centre, 200 Coventry Road.

Once again this year, we have a wide inventory of rare and vintage bottles to be auctionned. 

  Click here to view the Wine Auction Catalogue.

Registration: $40 per person - The fee is totally refundable with any purchase.

From 6 p.m.to 7:30 p.m. : Registration, Lots Inspection, Cocktail & Silent Auction
From 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.: Live Auction

To register, please complete the Registration Form and fax to 613-748-4928 or return by mail at the address indicated on the form.

If you wish to be part of our generous sponsors for this evening, please consult the Sponsorship Package which offers you excellent visibility opportunities.

For additional information or should you wish to inquire about donating wine bottles for our upcoming auctions, please contact Julie Briand at 613-746-4621, ext. 2009 or by email jbriand@montfort.on.ca       

What is there to do in Canada’s Capital this winter?  Warm up to Winterlude with Taste of Winterlude January 24-February 10 2008.  We are helping with a few of the events and thought it would make sense to offer a guide on our blog. 

About Taste of Winterlude
The NCC and American Express are proud to present the 3rd edition of Taste of Winterlude, from January 24 to February 10, 2008.  Choose from exclusive prix-fixe menus, select fine dining experiences and other culinary delights at some of our most popular restaurants in Ottawa-Gatineau.

Chefs at some of Ottawa-Gatineau’s most popular restaurants have created special prix fixe menus. The three-course table d’hôte menus are available for $20, $30 or $45 per person.*

Key dates/events:

• January 14- 18: American Express® Cardmembers receive first chance to register for Prix Fixe menus for any date Jan 24-Feb 10.  View menus online and call restaurants directly to book.
• January 19: Anyone can start to book Prix Fixe Menus.  View the menus online and call the restaurants to book.
• January 29: Walkabout Winter Feast (SOLD OUT)
• February 1: Celebrity Chef and Sommelier Dining Experience, Chef Angie MacRae and Sommelier Stacey Metulynsky co-hosts and co-authors of This Food That Wine host a dinner with wine at the urban element.  $150 + applicable taxes.  Call (613) 722-0885.
• February 4: Chefs’ Collaborative Dinner, $137 + applicable taxes, includes multi-course menu and wine.  Call (613) 271-3555.
• February 5: Winter Wine Fair featuring VQA Ontario wineries at the Government Conference Centre.  $45 admission. Call (613) 715-9399.
• February 6: Cave Spring Winemaker Dinner at Restaurant 18, $75 plus applicable taxes, call (613) 244-1188.
• February 13: Henry of Pelham Winemaker Dinner and 10th Anniversary for Empire Grill, $110 plus applicable taxes, call (613) 241-1343.

>> Here’s a copy of the Taste of Winterlude Brochure (1MB, PDF) << you’ll see all over the city.

Do you know anyone who loves wine and food in a winter setting?  Send them a link to this page or point them to www.winterlude.gc.ca/taste/ so they can learn more.

* prices are before taxes and do not include beverage costs.

David Lawrason is a renowned wine writer who recently launched is own web site www.davidlawrason.com.  He will be hosting a four week wine course which we highly recommend.  One of our staff members attended the last session he hosted and she gained a lot of tasting experience not to mention direct access to David`s expertise over four weeks.  Read more about David`s wine course.

Stacey recently had lunch with David to discuss her new book.  David blogs about this and a couple of other wine books on the Toronto Life Wine Blog.

Ron Eade, Ottawa Citizen Food Editor, covered the Futuristic Wine and Food Pairing Dinner we did with Chef Marc Lepine at the Courtyard Restaurant.  Have a read to see what he thought were the highlights. 

If you missed the Futurisic dinner and are interested in a similar event we are running in April at the urban element, check out our public event schedule.  Book early to avoid missing out!

It’s Easier Than You Think, This Food, That Wine
Park Hyatt Toronto
Saturday May 12, 2007 12:30 to 2:00 pm, $35.00

All proceeds in support of the Algonquin College Sommelier Program

Join Rod Phillips, Vic Harradine, James Bertrand for a panel discussion about wines, movies and the latest wine film – MONDOVINO. Afterwards take part in a MONDOVINO inspired wine tasting.

When and Where:
June 15, 2005 at Algonquin College, Woodroffe Campus, Hospitality Building Room H-102
7-8:00pm Panel Discussion in room H-102
8-9:30pm Wine tasting

Tickets:
$30, advance tickets only. Buy your ticket online or mail your cheque before June 10th to Groovy Grapes Inc. 394 Winston Ave, Ottawa ON K2A 1Y5 or call 715-9399.

Sommelier Guild Members: Email events@sommelierguild.com

How can I watch the movie before this event?
To get the most out of this event plan to catch MONDOVINO at Bytowne Cinema June 3-13th as the discussion and wine tasting are inspired by the film. Email contact@groovygrapes.com to find out how you can purchase group tickets for $5 each instead of $9 each, for show times and related tasting events.

About the film MONDOVINO:
A thought-provoking film about wine and wine culture, MONDOVINO was made by award-winning director and sometime sommelier, Jonathan Nossiter. Filmed in five languages over a three-year period, the documentary features interviews with Michel Rolland, Robert Parker, Hubert de Montille, Aime Guibert, Neal Rosenthal and members of the Mondavi family. Juxtaposing mom-and-pop wine growers with conglomerates, Nossiter intertwines multiple family drama and uncovers a complex tapestry of conflicts, conspiracies, and alliances that all stem from the production, distribution and consumption of one of the oldest remaining and most respected luxuries. Read more about MONDOVINO.

What:
Join us for a wine tasting before the opening night screening of MONDOVINO. MONDOVINO has been called the ‘Fahrenheit 9/11 for Oenophiles.’

Meet us for a pre-screening wine tasting at Courtyard Restaurant for cuisine and wine from California, Italy and France (a tie-in to the movie). We will then head over to the Bytowne Cinema for opening night of ‘Mondovino’. Your food, wine and a ticket to the movie are included as a package.

When:
June 3, 2005

• 6:00-8:00pm Wine Tasting at Courtyard Restaurant
• 8:45pm Movie at Bytowne Cinema

Tickets:
$40 in advance only. Buy online or send a cheque to Groovy Grapes Inc. 394 Winston Avenue, Ottawa, K2A 1Y5 before June 2nd, 2005.

Wine Tasting Menu:

Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay ‘00
House-Cured Salmon Gravlax Crepe Rolls

Renwood d’Agostini Bros. Zinfandel ‘01
Braised Rabbit-Chanterelle Mushroom Ragout Tart

Château Laroque Saint-Emilion ‘95
Rare-Seared Beef Tenderloin with Mushroom Cap and Aioli

Tenuta dell’Ornellaia le Volte Toscana ‘99
Merguez Sausage and Old Cheddar in Puff Pastry

About the film MONDOVINO:
A thought-provoking film about wine and wine culture, MONDOVINO was made by award-winning director and sometime sommelier, Jonathan Nossiter. Filmed in five languages over a three-year period, the documentary features interviews with Michel Rolland, Robert Parker, Hubert de Montille, Aime Guibert, Neal Rosenthal and members of the Mondavi family. Juxtaposing mom-and-pop wine growers with conglomerates, Nossiter intertwines multiple family drama and uncovers a complex tapestry of conflicts, conspiracies, and alliances that all stem from the production, distribution and consumption of one of the oldest remaining and most respected luxuries. Read more about MONDOVINO.

Here are details about a great event in the Ottawa Area June 2, 2005.

This year SWIRL & TWIRL is presenting its annual Beer, Wine & Food tasting fundraiser event at

Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave. West, Jean Pigott Hall
June 2, 2005 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Tickets are $25.00 each and will be available at: After Stonewall (370 Bank street), Mother Tongue books(1067 Bank street), Wilde’s ( 367 Bank street), Venus Envy (110 Parent street), Capital Xtra ( 251 Bank Street, suite #503), Pink Triangle Services (177 Nepean street suite 508) and Pride ( 238-2424).

We need your support to achieve our $10 000 goal for:

-Harmony House (providing a safe living environment for women and children in Eastern Ontario )
-Pink Triangle Services, and
-Ottawa-Gatineau Pride Committee.

With the purchase of your ticket, you will help these organizations, and you will get the chance to sample 14 wines and 3 beers from the following companies:

Henry of Pelham, Joseph Estates Winery, Cave Spring, Rosemount Estate, Philippe Dandurand Wines (Mouton Cadet), Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits, Authentic Wines Merchant

Mc Auslan Brewing Co (St-Ambroise Pale Ale, Apricot Wheat Ale, Griffon Extra Pale Ale)

New this year:

The following catering businesses and restaurants have donated some of their “creations”.
Todrics, Mary Beth Howitt Private Catering, Buzz restaurant, Saffron & Chives, Edible Catering Special Event, Dial-a-chef

We are also introducing an opportunity for you to sample higher-end products for an additional charge per product. The selection will include products such as a Scotch, an Ice wine, 2 red wines, and one white wine.

Regards,

The Swirl & Twirl Committee