B.C. RED WINES SHINE: B.C. wines were put to the ultimate test at the Judgment of B.C. event staged at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel. A dozen red and a dozen white B.C. wines were pitted against similarly acknowledged global benchmarks. Inspired by the original Judgment of Paris in 1976 when renowned British wine critic Steven Spurrier originally hosted, B.C’s version of the event presented by the Wine Institute of B.C., saw syrahs from Le Vieux Pin, Nichol and C.C. Jentsch make the top five; the latter topping the list of 12 wines. Yarra Valley’s Soumah Chardonnay Single Vineyard 2013 reigned supreme on the white side. Best showing locally came from Blue Mountain, with their 2013 Chardonnay Reserve placing sixth.
WHITE AND BLACK: Vanhattan’s maestros of fun Tyson Villeneuve and Jordan Kallman held their annual Dîner en Blanc Aug. 25. Their fourth installment of the all-white pop-up party was by far the largest to date. More than 4,500 lucky guests attended the invitation-only event at Canada Place. Vancouver’s fancy outdoor picnic celebration attracted a well-dressed crowd, including a bride and groom who made the pilgrimage to the city’s waterfront — tables, chairs, dinnerware and food in tow — for the Paris-inspired tradition that began more than 25 years ago. For the reported 30,000 on the waitlist who could not attend, artists George Vergette and Graeme Berglund offered an alternative, Ce Soir Noir, a cheeky response to Dîner en Blanc. Much more casual, attendees sported black and enjoyed a relaxed evening of conversation and picnicking at Crab Park. Several hundred guests attended the inaugural free not-at-all secret event.
HAIL WARREN: Former UBC and B.C. Lion’s football player David Sidoo hosted CFL and NFL Hall of Famer Warren Moon at a reception benefitting the 13th Man Foundation, a charity Sidoo founded to improve the fortunes of UBC’s varsity football program. The legendary quarterback was brought in to help advise the team and boost its chances of winning a national title, a feat that has eluded the group for nearly two decades. Moon, who has compiled nine Pro Bowl selections as well as five Grey Cup championships in his illustrious career, joined first-year UBC football coach Blake Nill and newly acquired blue-chip QB Michael O’Connor for two scrimmages with the team before headlining Sidoo’s fundraiser at his Point Grey home. Expect to see more of Moon in the coming months, reports Sidoo.
