MEDIA ALERT - WINE COUNCIL OF ONTARIO LAUNCHES "VQA Restaurant Award
Challenge" to MPPs

MPP AND MEDIA TASTING

TORONTO, Dec. 1 /CNW/ -

WHAT:	The Wine Council of Ontario continues its efforts to recognize licensees who passionately embrace Ontario VQA wines with its annually awarded VQA Restaurant Award of Excellence program. On December 2^nd, 2010 at Queen's Park they will officially launch a challenge for Ontario MPPs to help grow the list of winners.
	The Honourable Carol Mitchell - Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will be making comments to encourage MPPs to take the challenge to help support the great things we grow in Ontario. MPPs and journalists alike will have the opportunity to discover why it is a great idea for restaurants to list 100% Ontario grown VQA wines on their wine lists.
	This private MPP and media tasting is presented by the Wine Council of Ontario. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste local premium Ontario VQA wines paired with top Ontario restaurants serving local Charcuterie Three Ways, Pressed Sirloin Sliders and more.
	Winemaker's and winery proprietors will be in attendance, sharing their stories and providing detailed information about their wines. VQA Restaurant Award of Excellence winners will be serving specialties from their establishments while expressing their passion for pairing Ontario wines with their food.
	For more information about Wine Country Ontario and the VQA Award of Excellence program, please visit www.winecountryontario.ca.
WHERE:	Queen's Park - Room 228 Toronto
WHEN:	Thursday, December 2^nd, 2010 11:30am

Photo, Video and Interview Opportunities: Media is invited to attend with opportunities to interview, video and photograph.

For further information:

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Magdalena Kaiser-Smit, Director of PR - Marketing and Tourism
Tel. [phone] x228; Cell: 905-246-1922; E-mail:[email protected]