Toronto Festival Raises a Glass and Funds for Medical Research and Innovation

9^th Annual Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival to benefit Peter Munk Cardiac Centre and McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the University Health Network

TORONTO, Oct. 29, 2013 /CNW/ - Bringing together the brightest minds in medical research, top international culinary talent and acclaimed vintners, the Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival, presented by Rogers, is Canada's premier wine and culinary fundraiser for medical research and innovation. For Festival Pass Holders, the event takes place November 1 and 2.

Since 2005, Grand Cru has not only raised visibility of the impressive work of the University Health Network (UHN), but more than $11.4 million to support scientific research and fund key program areas at Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital, UHN. Proceeds from this year's Festival will benefit the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre and the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine where funds will be used collaboratively for research in heart, arthritis, vision and diabetes.

Attracting an exceptional group of Toronto's corporate and philanthropic community along with influential Canadian and international guests, the Festival includes the Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival Live Auction and Halpern Portfolio Wine Tasting events^* and the Exclusive Wine & Dine Experience where top chefs including Daniel Boulud, Mark McEwan and Massimo Capra collaborate with acclaimed vintners such as Château Latour, Château Margaux and Antinori to create specialized dinner menus and wine pairings in 30 spectacular private homes across the city for guests. Each home will also host a world-renowned University Health Network medical scientist.

Additional Festival sponsors include Miele and Grand Touring Automobiles.

For further information about Grand Cru, including a full list of participating hosts, chefs, wine estates and UHN scientists, please visit www.grandcru.ca.

You can also follow the Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation on Twitter at @tgwhf or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tgwhf. For Grand Cru-related communications, use #GrandCru2013.

_____________________________
^* The Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival Live Auction and Halpern Portfolio Wine Tasting events take place every other year.

SOURCE: Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation

For media inquiries please contact:

Andrea Flanders, Zeno Group
416-849-8942
[email protected]

For sponsorship inquiries please contact:

Megan Goldwell, Toronto General
& Western Hospital Foundation
416-340-5240
[email protected]