Experience an Ontario Wine Tour in Your Backyard!

 

Wine-Tasting (1)

From March 29 to April 3 experience an Ontario Wine Tour in your backyard when award-winning Ontario wineries and growers come to Toronto for Riverside Winefest.  Sponsored by the Riverside Business Improvement Area (BIA), Chef Scott Savoie, Boxcar Social and The Ralph Thornton Center, Riverside Winefest will showcase more than ten wineries at 20 events in Riverside venues along Queen St East from the DVP to Degrassi Street.  Participating venues will host wine pairing dinners, BYOW evenings, culinary seminars, FREE wine tastings and pairings, ‘try & order’ events, and more during the weeklong ode to the grape.

Riverside Winefest Week – What’s in Store

 Please RSVP to reserve your spot at any of these exciting events!

TUESDAY, MARCH 29

FREE Wine Tasting and “Discover Bouquets” Sensory Event at Quince Flowers

  •  Tuesday, March 29 from 4pm-6pm @ 660 Queen St E
  • Shop owner, artisan florist and wine enthusiast Rosemary Jeffares teams up with guest sommeliers for a sensory experience pairing floral notes from wines with the beauty of flowers, and demonstrates how floral details can convey your style from low-key elegance, to nostalgic, fun, or formal. This is an opportunity to “try and order” wines from some of Ontario’s finest Wine Growers.

FREE Wine & Wellness Seminar with Wine Pairing and Tasting at OMA Chiropractic

  • Tuesday, March 29 from 7:30pm-9:00pm @ 1 Munro Street
  • FREE Wine & Wellness Seminar with Wine Pairing and Tasting at Oma Chiropractic & Wellness – 1 Munro St . Enjoy a talk by a local wellness expert paired with wines in Oma relaxing and rejuvenating space.  Meet the people of Oma Chiropractic & Wellness – Toronto’s east end hub for hands on personalized care. This is an opportunity to “try and order” wines from some of Ontario’s finest Wine Growers.

Sweets & FREE Dessert Wine Tasting at Sugar Loaf Bakery & Café

  • Tuesday, March 29 from 4pm-6pm @ 729 Queen Street E
  • Enjoy delights and treats paired with FREE dessert wine tasting at Sugar Loaf Bakery & Cafe – Riverside’s latest culinary delight! Sugar Loaf specializes in ‘non’-traditional artisanal bakery focused on infusing traditional recipes with inventive flavors, influenced by various gastronomic cultures, such as French, Italian, and Brazilian.  This is an opportunity to “try and order” wines from some of Ontario’s finest Wine Growers.

BYOW Free Corkage @ Tabule:

  • Tuesday, March 29 for lunch or dinner @ 810 Queen St E
  • Enjoy lunch or dinner (at cost) at Tabule Middle Eastern, among the city’s finest Middle Eastern eateries, and bring your own bottle of wine with FREE corkage! Limit of two bottles of wine per group (750 ml). Note: you do not need to bring this ticket to enjoy this offer!

Wine Trivia & Tasting Night @ The County Riverside

  • March 29, 8-10pm @ 798 Queen Street E
  • Try out your wine prowess at The County General Riverside’s Wine Trivia Night!  Pair this with some FREE wine tasting and The County’s mouth-watering fare and you’ve got a perfect night on the town.  The County specializes in Ontario wines and great food, with a side of rockin’ music and superior hospitality.  Please Reserve via 416-781-4743 or sam@thecountygeneral.ca Note: there will be free wine tastings and trivia at this event, any food is at cost ($$).

Stand Up & Wine at The Underground Café & Comedy Club

  • Tuesday, March 29 starting at 9:30pm @ 670 Queen Street E.
  • Enjoy Ontario wine tasting and comedy at The Underground Comedy & Social Club – Toronto’s best kept secret! The Underground welcomes the best cutting edge comedy, burlesque, music and podcasts Toronto has to offer.

 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30

Vintage Finds and FREE Wine Tastings at Guff Furniture

  • Wednesday, March 30, 4pm-6pm @ 1 Davies Ave
  • Combine vintage wine, vintage design and a good bargain at this FREE Ontario wine tasting event at Guff Furniture. This is an opportunity to “try and order” wines from some of Ontario’s finest Wine Growers.

‘The Guilty Pair’ Special at Darkhorse Espresso

  • Available all week @ 630 Queen St E. ($$)
  • Darkhorse Espresso will be offering their ‘Guilty Pair’ special of Ontario Wine coupled with delectable shortbread.  Don’t miss this special offer – on all week!

Stratus Wine Pairing Prix Fixe Dinner @ Tabule Middle Eastern

  • Wednesday, March 30 from 7pm @ 810 Queen St E
  • Cost: $55 per person. View menu at: http://ow.ly/ZTiW7  For Reservations please call ahead 416.465.2500
  • Enjoy sumptuous Middle Eastern cuisine paired with Stratus wines at Tabule Middle Eastern, among the city’s finest Middle Eastern eateries!

I’ll Be Seeing You drinking wine on a Wednesday

  • Wednesday, March 30 – wine tasting from 6-8pm, event runs until close @ 747 Queen St. E.
  • Enjoy FREE Ontario wine tasting and adult colouring at I’ll be Seeing You, a bar by two sisters with a dollar and a dream!  Stay for dinner to enjoy the sisters special charcuterie offers ($$) and more.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31

Riverside Arts Market Uncorked

  • March 31, 4-6pm @ 790 Queen St E
  • Explore the Riverside Arts Market’s 50+ local artisan micro-shops and enjoy FREE Ontario Wine tasting!  This is an opportunity to “try and order” wines from some of Ontario’s finest Wine Growers.

Spring Fashion & FREE Wine Tasting @ Bergstrom Originals (781 Queen St E)

  • March 31, 4-6pm @ 781 Queen St E
  • Spring Fashion and FREE Ontario Wine tastings will be blooming at Bergstrom Originals! Designer and owner Christina Bergstrom will be your host for the evening. Come explore their new spring line-up, while experiencing some of Ontario’s best local vintages. This is an opportunity to “try and order” wines from some of Ontario’s finest Wine Growers.

Buy, Sell, Trade & FREE Wine Tasting @ Common Sort (804 Queen St E)

  • March 31, 4-6pm @ 804 Queen Street E
  • Come on into Common Sort for a FREE tasting of some of Ontario’s finest wines!  This is an opportunity to “try and order” some of Ontario’s best wines and, as always, feel free to bring in your clean, fashionable clothing items for the opportunity to Buy, Sell or Trade.

Ontario Wine with an Italian Flair @ Il Ponte Cucina Italiana (630 Queen E).

  • March 31, 6:30pm @ 630 Queen Street E
  • Cost: $75 pp – Enjoy a pre-dinner spritzer and full dinner paired with Cave Springs Wines, featuring local ingredients and authentic Italian products! Every dish aims to provide inspiration and palatial pleasure. For Reservations please call ahead at 416.778.0404 or reserve info@ilponte.ca

FRIDAY, APRIL 1

Wine Down & Celebrate for our 16th @ Dimensions Custom Framing & Gallery (733 Queen E)

  • April 1, 4-6pm @ 733 Queen Street E
  • Celebrate Dimensions 16th Anniversary by enjoying FREE Ontario Wine Tastings and fine art in the gallery. Your hosts for the evening are owners Ellen Davidson and master frameologist, Wendy Palmer.  This is an opportunity to “try and order” wines from some of Ontario’s finest Wine Growers.

Jazz, Wine & Hair @ ‘Untitled’ Hair Salon (792 Queen E)

  • April 1, 6-8pm @ 792 Queen Street E
  • Delight in live jazz while sipping FREE Ontario wines and chatting with expert stylists in ‘Untitled’ Hair Salon’s beautiful space. This is an opportunity to “try and order” wines from some of Ontario’s finest Wine Growers.

Trail Estate Wine Pairing Dinner ($85/pp) By Reservation @ The Peasant Table (786 Queen E)

  • April 1, 8pm @ 786 Queen Street E
  • Cost: $85 pp – Be the first to experience Trail Estate, the newest premium Ontario winery!  Enjoy a five course meal paired with red and white wines. View menu at: http://ow.ly/YZPja. For Reservations call 647-343-7022 or visit 786 Queen E

SATURDAY, APRIL 2

Sip & Shop Trunk Show @ Sash & Bustle Bridal Boutique (779 Queen E)

  • April 2, 10am-5pm @ 779 Queen Street E
  • Join for a day of sipping bubbly and shopping for your perfect bridal accessories! RSVP to info@sashandbustle.com

FREE Wine Expo, Live Music and More @ The Ralph Thornton Centre (765 Queen St E)

This is the BIG ONE!!! Enjoy wine tastings from 10+ Ontario wineries, live music, food demos and more at this community wine expo:

Expo After Party at Boxcar Social at 4 Boulton Ave

  • Date: April 2nd, 5pm-8pm, Location: 4 Boulton Ave
  • Keep the party going while starting to wind down from a full week of Riverside Winefest activities in Boxcar Social’s relaxing space, which will be open and available for Wine Expo afterparty’ers from 5pm until close.

SUNDAY, APRIL 3

WOGA = Wine & Yoga The Chi Junky Studio (70 McGee St)

  • April 3, 2016, 2-4pm @ 70 McGee St
  • Come Drink Wine in Your YOGA Pants!!! Bring your friends to the studio for a delicious wine tasting event with some of Ontario’s best wines plus experience a guided meditation from the Chi Junky Studio founder, Rachelle Wintzen.
  • The event will include an Open House wine tasting & meet/greet from 2-4pm and Guided Meditation will run in a candlelit room from 4:15-4:30pm (group 1 up to 30 ppl), and from 5:00pm-5:15pm (Group 2 up to 30 ppl)- to help calm your stressed out self to help prepare you for another productive and focused week! Reserve your spot as space is limited!

Wine Week Wind Down: A Curated Evening @ Boxcar Social ($$) By Reservation (4 Boulton Ave)

  • April 3rd, 6-8pm @ 4 Boulton Ave
  • Close out Riverside’s busy Wine Week w/ a relaxing evening in w/ Boxcar Social. Boxcar will be extending food service on to Sunday’s for this event, and will be pairing their food program with two amazing glasses of County Wine! Coffee and Desert to follow. Make your reservation at info@boxcarsocial.ca – limited seating available

 

About Riverside BIA

Just blocks from downtown Toronto, on the other side of the Don River valley and the busy parkway which bears its name, lies a vibrant neighbourhood with a unique small town in the big city atmosphere that makes it a draw for residents and visitors alike. Best known for heritage buildings, award-winning restaurants, and the street that inspired the internationally renowned Degrassi TV series, Riverside’s attraction also lies in its artisans and community builders of many sorts

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