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Column: Whistler’s celebration of food and drink

There’s more to Whistler than skiing, especially if you enjoy wine and good food. There’s Cornucopia.
cornucopia whistler wine
Cornucopia House Party. Photo: Eric Hanson

There’s more to Whistler than skiing, especially if you enjoy wine and good food. There’s Cornucopia. Now in its 22nd year, the 11 day calendar is teeming with a diverse selection of events for the high-roller or savvy-shopper, for the connoisseur to those eager to learn.

Equal opportunity is the theme of Cornucopia taking place Nov. 8 to 18. From cooking demonstrations to drink seminars, winery dinners to gala tastings, there’s something for everyone.

Festival guests can customize the Cornucopia experience with packages that include accommodation and their choice of signature tasting events.

The House Party-Best of BC kicks off the festival combining local foods from Sidecut and domestic wines, spirits and beer. Indulge in BBQ from Sidecut, home-grown vodka, micro-brewed beer and much more from BC's land of plenty. Tickets are $52.

On Friday, Nov. 9, Cellar Door unlocks the gates to the world of luxury fine wines and champagnes by uncorking top-shelf bottles ($25 and up) to sip, savour and salivate over. Discover new wines and meet the producers and winemakers behind them. Browse the wineries and indulge in gourmet treats.

The flagship event is the Crush Grand Tasting on Saturday, Nov. 10. Sip a fantastic collection of wine. Take the opportunity to talk one-on-one with winemakers and producers from B.C. and beyond.

Do you ever look at a wine list and wish you could have it all? At Crush, you can do just that. It is an opportunity for guests to discover a new gem, or 10! Encounter wineries from B.C. and beyond and enjoy bites from some of Whistler's best restaurants. Tickets are $120 to $155.

A week later, on Saturday evening Nov. 17, the Poured Grand Tasting is another Cornucopia signature event to savour. Experience the full spectrum of what the beverage industry has to offer as you sip scotch, an expertly crafted BC Beer, a Canadian Cider or a fine wine from across the globe

Tickets are $48 and include a souvenir glass and five tasting tokens. Additional tokens are only $1.50 each.

While most signature tastings round out the weekend, guests can continue the celebration into the week by indulging in a variety of events. Fill your days with a selection of drink seminars from wine to gin to scotch, or learn a trick or two around the kitchen with local and visiting chefs at the Culinary Stage Series and Nourish Series demonstrations. For the luxury seekers, the Chef’s Table Luncheon’s will be held in lavish private Whistler chalets.

For detailed scheduled information go to www.whistlercornucopia. Com

Ehanson0705@ gmail.com

Eric Hanson is a wine educator and journalist.