What better way to celebrate your 50th birthday than by winning 50 bottles of Nova Scotia wine?

Lynda Carter of Elmsdale, Nova Scotia is the lucky winner of the Nova Scotia Winter Icewine Festival Wine Cellar thanks to her visit to Jost Vineyards on Valentine’s Day – also her 50^th birthday.

To keep track of all the wines she now has in her wine cellar, Carter’s husband presented her with a wine journal to keep tasting notes on all her wine experiences. “We will actually have wine in the wine rack,” says Carter. “But I can guarantee that we will crack one open later today to celebrate.”

Wines in the wine cellar include Icewines as well as a selection of products from Bear River Vineyards, Blomidon Estate Winery, Gaspereau Vineyards, Jost Vineyards, Sainte-Famille Wines, Domaine de Grand Pré, Muir Murray Estate Winery, Lunenburg County Winery, L’Acadie Vineyards, Tideview Vintage Cider and Benjamin Bridge.

Guest Post -

Icewine festival is here – and customers are loving our dessert feature! Flour-less Chocolate-Almond cake with Rose poached Pears and Cinnamon Spiked Nova Scotia Honey, paired with Grand Pre’s Ortega Icewine which shows characteristics of exotic spices, floral notes, apricot jam, and honey, with just a touch of smoke. Available for Lunch & Dinner from Feb 4th – 11th   $18.

Congratulations to Carolyn Marshall who won a Dessert Pairing by participating in Veronica Leonard’s contest at Nova Scotia Wine Examiner.

Dessert at Muir Murray Winery

The first Perfect Pairings Progressive Dinner Tour for the Icewine Festival was a great success and enjoyed by all who attended. Chef Todd Frank blew us away with a fantastic food and the meal was enhanced by the wonderful wines from each of the three wineries visited. Plus the guests had an extra special moment on the drive from Blomidon Estate Winery to Gaspereau Vineyards in between courses – dozens of Bald Eagles in the trees near the road! Space is still available for February 13^th and 14^th and it is a great tour to enjoy with your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day!

Oyster Shooters at Blomidon Winery

Blomidon Estate Winery’s L’Acadie Blanc and Eel Lake Oyster Farms’ local oysters are a dynamic combination. Visitors last Saturday certainly enjoyed the treat when they were visiting Blomidon during the Winter Icewine Festival.

Nolan and Kim Deon provided oysters, information and entertainment for all that visited the winery. Outside, the smells of wood fire greeted you as you walked toward the winery, and although it was chilly, a fire always draws a crowd outside! Blomidon is hosting Eel Lake Oysters Farm again next weekend on Saturday (10-5) and Sunday (10-3). So there is still time to try the Blomidon Oyster shooter – cheers!

Curling at Grand Pre

Domaine de Grand Pre’s outdoor curling rink was a hit this past weekend during the Icewine Festival.  The idea for the paint can curling was one winemaker Jurg Stutz has been thinking of for a while and 2010 was the year to start what will become an annual event. Wines of Nova Scotia was there on Saturday, the day before the official Charity Paint Can Curling event and boy did we have fun throwing paint can “rocks” around!

Weather depending, the rink will also be set up next weekend. So take a day-trip to try out the rink or pre-book your team for next year, but watch for this annual event as a highlight of the Icewine Festival next year as well. And don’t forget to sample the wine!

If you attend one of the many winery events taking place during the 2010 Winter Icewine Festival, you will have an opportunity to fill out a ballot to win your very own Nova Scotia Wine Cellar. This amazing prize includes 50 bottles of wine, from wineries throughout the province.

Click here for a list of winery events.

Draw will take place March 1, 2010. No purchase necessary. Must be 19 years of age or older to enter.

Menu
Muscat braised leek, oyster and scallop soup
L’Acadie vine smoked Salmon
Maple mustard glazed pork belly
Lamb ravioli with pak choi
Poached pear with white chocolate panna cotta
NS wines will be paired by Jurg Stutz

Reception 6:30pm. Dinner 7pm. $80 (tax and gratuity not included). Reservations Required. Call George Davis at 902-420-9626 www.chives.ca

Guest Post -

There are just a few seats left on each of the Perfect Pairings Progressive Dinner tours running February 6, 13 and 14^th. Go North Tours is pleased to be working with Chef Todd Frank, former Executive Chef of the Between the Bushes Restaurant for the Progressive Dinner during the Icewine Festival. While working at Between the Bushes, Todd was a huge supporter of local wines for the restaurant’s wine list.

Speaking to Todd recently, he said, “I had wines from all the local wineries on the wine list and when I wasn’t serving the wine, I was cooking with it and creating new dishes. The Progressive Dinner is such a unique idea. I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Plus every guest visits three wineries during the tour so that’s three chances to enter to win 50 bottles of Nova Scotia wine in the WANS “Win Your Own Nova Scotia Wine Cellar” giveaway. Call Go North Tours for more information or to book your tour and experience the Icewine Festival in a truly unique way!

Blomidon Estate Winery, February 5-7 & 12-14
Warm Winter’s Glow – Icewine, Oysters & more!
Canning Come warm up by the fire at Blomidon Estate Winery and sample our beautiful Icewines with oysters, the ‘Food of Love’, from Eel Lake Oyster Farm.  Visit us as our winemaker Simon Rafuse takes you through the process from vine to wine for this year’s Icewine harvest. 10:00am – 5:00pm. Canning. Complimentary admission. 1-877-582-7565 or 902-582-7565. www.blomidonwine.com