From April 4th to 9th, experience an Ontario Wine Tour in your own backyard when award-winning wineries and growers from Prince Edward County (PEC) and Niagara Wine Region (NWR) come to Toronto for Riverside’s 3rd Annual Winefest.
Sponsored by the Riverside Business Improvement Area (BIA), Sugar Loaf Bakery & Cafe (catering sponsor), Toronto Food Tours, the Ralph Thornton Center, and Team Sheppard RE/MAX, Riverside Winefest will showcase 10+ wineries, and dozens of wines throughout the week in events at Riverside venues – along Queen St East from the DVP to Empire Avenue.
Nearly two dozen participating Riverside restaurants, service providers and retailers will host everything from prix fixe wine pairing dinners and classes to FREE wine tasting extravaganzas.
We’re putting a spotlight on Winefest’s prix fixe events:
East + West + Wine + Wood Dinner (7 Courses-7 Wines)
April 5th, 2017 | 7:00PM – $120 per person including tax & gratuities
The Peasant Table, 782 Queen St E
Tickets: tofoodtours.com/eastwestwinewood
As part of the Riverside Wine Festival celebrations, join Toronto Food Tours and The Peasant Table for an epic wine dinner. Toronto Food Tours’ Chef Scott will be pairing up with The Peasant Table’s Chef Boris for a night of great food, wine, and some friendly chef rivalry. Experience a seven course dinner featuring menu items cooked over hard wood in our wood-fired oven. That’s right folks; their whole menu has a wood fired theme. It is paired with three wines from Angels Gate Winery of Niagara wine region and three wines from Trail Estate Winery of Prince Edward County wine region – wine reps will be on hand to tell you more!
MENU
Ontario Sparkling + Amuse Bouche
Dinner
Tuscan White Bean Puree + Shaved Truffle
Octopus Carpaccio
Pancetta Wrapped Wood Fired Romaine Hearts + Roasted Garlic Aioli + Shaved Pecorino
Roasted Hay & Honey Gelato
Seared Scallop + Wood Fired Shoshito Peppers + Black Ink Tagelatelli
Wood Oven Roasted Artickoke + Braised Dry Aged Ontario Short Rib
Dessert
Limoncello & White Chocolate Mousse
Ontario Wine with An Italian Flair Dinner (6 courses-6 wines)
April 5th, 2017 | 6:30PM – $85 per person plus tax & gratuities
Il Ponte Cucina Italiana, 625 Queen St E
For Reservations: 416.778.0404 or info@ilponte.ca
Enjoy a 6-course meal with 6 wine pairings featuring Ontario winery Rosehall Run. This event doubles as a community fundraiser with proceeds going to support local Riverside charity Nellie’s Shelter. Perched at Queen East and Don Valley, Il Ponte boasts both art celebrating Riverside and the best view in the neighbourhood of the Riverside Bridge itself.
Cave Springs Wine Pairing Dinner (5 courses-5 wines)
April 6th, 2017 | 7:00PM – $65 per person plus tax & gratuities
Tabule Middle Eastern Cuisine, 810 Queen St E
For Reservations: bookenda.com
Enjoy a 5-course dinner of sumptuous Middle Eastern cuisine paired with Cave Spring Cellars wines at Tabule Middle Eastern, among the city’s finest Middle Eastern eateries!
MENU
Course 1
Dip Platter: hummus, babaganuj , tabule
Paired with Cave Springs 2016 Rose
Course 2
Flash fried cauliflower finished with a touch of tahini, and Falafel’s
Paired with Cave Springs 2014 Chardonnay Dolomite.
Course 3
Garlic Shrimp with Spicy Tomato Sauce
Paired with Cave Springs 2015 Gamay
Course 4
Two juicy skewers of Ontario ground lamb and veal with onions, parsley, garlic, and spices served with rice and vegetables
Paired with Cave Springs 2013 Cabernet/Merlot
Course 5
Kunafa ashta: Filolayered with custard and topped with rose water syrup
Paired with Cave Springs 2014 Indian Summer Riesling
The Art of Cooking with Wine (Class Experience)
April 6th, 2017 | 6:30PM-9:00PM – $69 per person including tax & gratuities
The Ralph Thornton Centre, 765 Queen St E
Tickets: tofoodtours.com
Join Chef Scott of Toronto Food Tours as he takes over the community kitchen at The Ralph Thornton Centre for a hands-on cooking class dedicated to food and wine! Together you will cook a four course meal with Ontario wine as he secret ingredient. Best of all, you get to eat your homework and learn about wine pairing with each course.
Chef Scott will teach you the ins and outs of cooking with wine as you create French onion soup, roasted beat salad with goat cheese with toasted pumpkin seeds and a white wine vinaigrette, coq au vin (red wine braised chicken) served with grainy mustard smashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables, and for dessert a red wine poached pear with chantille cream and dark chocolate. If you love to cook and love wine, this is the class for you!
Perfectly Paired: Wine + Cheese + Chocolate (Class Experience)
April 9th, 2017 | 3:00PM to 6:00PM – $49 per person including tax & gratuities
The Peasant Table, 782 Queen St E
Tickets: tofoodtours.com
Indulge yourself in the three simple pleasures that stimulate the senses, tickle the taste buds and please the palate; Wine, cheese, and chocolate. Learn how each one is made, the do’s and don’ts of pairings, proper tasting methods, and terminology. Most of all learn how to enjoy each of these separately or together. Also learn about flights, vertical tastings and how to make the perfect cheese board. It’s a fun-filled way to spend an afternoon!
Sparkling Wine Brunch
April 9th, 2017 | 11AM to 2PM – $35 per person including tax & gratuities
Sugar Loaf Bakery & Cafe, 729 Queen St E
Reserve 647.847.6122
Enjoy a full brunch paired with sparkling wine from 13th Street Winery at Sugar Loaf Bakery – a local favourite and our Riverside Winefest 2017 catering sponsor!
MENU
Smoke Salmon Croque Madame or Black Truffle Terrine
Desert (your choice of available deserts)
Coffee or Tea
Cuvee Rose Sparkling Wine
The Magic of Wine and Cheese (Show Experience)
April 9th, 2017 | 7:00PM (Doors Open at 6:00PM) – $40 per person plus tax & gratuities
I’ll Be Seeing You Bar, 747 Queen St E
Tickets: EventBrite
Jeremy Lago of The Pantry will be guiding you through an amazing selection of cheeses paired with Henry of Pelham wines. Comedy magician Peter Morse will be performing throughout the evening. Get your tickets ahead as this will book up fast!
Check out the full line up of Riverside Winefest 2017 events and let us know you’re coming!