September 23

italiaLove Italian wine? Don’t miss the 2014 Italia with Gusto,Thursday, September 25, at Porsche Centre Edmonton (11107 – 170 Street) from 7pm -9:30pm. Tickets: $100, mealsonwheelsedmonton.org, 780-429-2020. It’s the best Italian tasting of the year bar none. Proceeds to Edmonton Meals on Wheels.

Learn to taste like a pro in a Wine Spirit Education Trust (WSET) program, taught in 58 countries, and in Edmonton by wine professionals Natasha Susylinski and Mary Bailey. Level I Foundation begins Mondays, October 6-November 10 (no class Thanksgiving weekend); Level II,Wednesdays, October 8-December 17; and Level IIIa Advanced, Tuesdays, October 7-December 23. Visit winecollege.ca, or call 1-888-988-8009 and ask for Angela Landon.

digin
Lots of events to choose from at Dig In!, St. Albert’s Horticulinary Festival, October 10 and 11. Enjoy hands-on seminars on landscaping, gardening, mixology, jam-making, pickling and an interactive wine tasting October 11 with the Tomato’s certified sommelier, Mary Bailey. The Blue Flame Kitchen will be there, and you have the opportunity to bake with Top Chef Canada’s Karine Moulin. Don’t miss the Alberta Ate Chef Collaborative dinner featuring chefs Blair Lebsack (RGE RD); Julia Kundera (The Glasshouse Bistro); Doreen Prei (Edmonton Petroleum Club); Danielle Job (Holt Renfrew Café); Brad Lazarenko and Steven Furgiuele (Culina). Book dinner tickets and your sessions at diginstalbert.ca.

About.spud.com spud is a new online grocery delivery service headed by Edmonton-born, Seattle-based Peter Van Stolk, the founder of Jones Soda. Spud joins locally owned Organic Box in offering organic, local and specialty groceries to Edmonton area households.

Love bubbles? Don’t miss the Battle of the Bubbles Wine maker Dinner featuring two giants of sparkling wine, Eileen Crane of Domaine Carneros and Mikael Falkman Taittinger. Enjoy the fabulous menu paired to suit by Larry Stewart, Wednesday, October 1 at Hardware Grill (9698 Jasper Avenue, 780-423-0969, hardwaregrill.com), $125 includes tax and gratuity.

Enjoy the Harvest Wine and Cheese at La Cité Francophone, in support of the French Quarter Farmers’ Market, Sunday, October 5, from 12:30pm-3pm. Expect local and French cheeses, wines, door prizes and a silent auction. Tickets, $60 at Café Bicyclette, and eventbright.ca.

Meet and taste with New Zealand wine icon Kevin Judd of Greywacke Vineyards, 7pm, October 7, at Crestwood Fine Wine & Spirits (9658 142 Street, crestwoodfinewines.com, 780-488-7800).

The Royal Mayfair Golf and Country Club presents a four-course winemaker dinner with Paul Speck of Henry Of Pelham Family winery, on October 10. Tickets $50, call 780-433-9666.

Here’s a terrific tasting opportunity; The Grape Escape brought to you by Co-op Wine Spirits Beer, Friday, October 17 and Saturday, October 18, from 5pm to 9pm at the Expo Centre, Edmonton Northlands. The Grape Escape is a fun and informative evening featuring wine, spirits and beer samples from producers from all over the world. Tickets are $50 each +GST, available at the Co-op MacTaggart Ridge (5962 Mullen Way), 780-432-2258, or online coopwinespiritsbeer.com.