Visa Infinite Wine Country Experiences launch in Ontario

NIAGARA, ON, Aug. 9, 2012 /CNW/ - Wine Country Ontario has teamed up with Visa Infinite to create a unique wine touring program for cardholders. Special benefits include complimentary tastings, exclusive winery experiences, discounts and more at 26 Ontario wineries. The program also features two winery dinners with award winning chefs at Niagara wineries Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery and Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery.

The unique experience of visiting Wine Country Ontario allows consumers to enjoy warm hospitality while soaking in beautiful landscapes, stunning architecture and intriguing galleries and shops along quiet roads in Ontario's backyard. The new Visa Infinite program gives cardholders the special benefit of an insider's look where they can enjoy: behind the cellar door in-depth vineyard tours, library wine tastings, private tastings led by winemakers, access to limited large format bottles, exclusive barrel room tastings and special discounts.

"Ontario wines are recognized internationally for their quality and taste.  More and more visitors are discovering Ontario's great wine region - the Visa Infinite Wine Country Experiences program is another great way for consumers to experience what local has to offer," said Ed Madronich, Chair of the Wine Council of Ontario, the organization promoting Wine Country Ontario.

Participating Ontario wineries include:

13th Street Winery				Angel's Gate
Cave Spring Cellars				Chateau des Charmes
Closson Chase				Creekside Estate Winery
Flat Rock Cellars				Good Earth Vineyard & Winery
Henry of Pelham				Hidden Bench Vineyards and Winery
Huff Estates Winery				Inniskillin Niagara
Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery				Malivoire Wine Company
Niagara College Teaching Winery				Norman Hardie Winery and Vineyard
Peller Estates				Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery
Rosehall Run				Southbrook Vineyards
Stratus Vineyards				Tawse Winery
Thirty Bench				Trius Winery at Hillebrand
Vineland The Grange of Prince Edward Vineyards and Estate Winery

The new Wine Country Ontario Visa Infinite Experience program kicks-off with two unique dinners where cardholders will enjoy memorable evenings of wine and culinary pairings.

On August 11, 2012 prepare to be thrilled as an incredibly eclectic and undeniably innovative ensemble of Toronto's finest chefs, known as The Group of Seven Chefs, create a special wine country experience at Canada's beautiful and iconic Jackson-Triggs Estate.  This unprecedented experience features combined culinary talents of The Group of Seven Chefs: Cowbell's Mark Cutrara, The Tempered Chef Bertrand Alepee, Beast's Scott Vivian, Marc Dufour, Gwalio's Nick Liu, Murray Street's Steve Mitton, Teddy Corrado and Jackson-Triggs own chef Tim Mackiddie. The very special multi-course meal will be complemented by a selection of over a dozen of Ontario's finest wines, hand-picked by top sommeliers to match the food. Guests will recieve a premium gift. $200 per person call 1-888-711-9399 or www.visainfinite.ca

On August 31, 2012 experience Masters & Proteges, an exceptional collaboration of the finest farm-to-table chefs. Host Paul Harber, Chef Proprietor of Ravine Vineyard and Restaurant, has assembled a group of renowned master chefs; Michael Stadtlander of Haisai Restaurant & Bakery and Eigensinn Farm; Frank Dodd, Chef of Hillebrand Estates Winery; Nathan Young, Chef de Cuisine at Ravine Vineyard; Brian Steele of The Old Prune in Stradford; and Ryan Crawford of Niagara's Stone Road Grille. Together they will create an unprecedented gastronomic extravaganza paired with local Ontario wines. $225 per person call 1-888-711-9399 or www.visainfinite.ca.

Integrated Digital Media Group (IDMG) is Visa Infinite's culinary marketing agency who designed produced the Visa Infinite Wine Country Experiences program. For more information on Wine Country Ontario visit www.winecountryontario.ca.

Wine Country Ontario is dedicated to promoting Ontario's wine-growing regions—from the wines and wineries themselves to the complete experience of each destination: local cuisine, year-round activities and warm hospitality. Wine Country Ontario promotes Ontario's vintners and the unique qualities of our authentic, 100% VQA wines. 

SOURCE: Wine Country Ontario

Media contact:         
Magdalena Kaiser-Smit
Director of Public Relations - Marketing & Tourism
Wine Council of Ontario for "Wine Country Ontario"
www.winecountryontario.ca
Twitter @winecountryont
905-562-8070 ext. 228
Cell: 905-246-1922
[email protected]