One Exceptional Vintage: Niagara Grape & Wine Festival Recognized With Three Prestigious Awards
St. Catharines, ON (February 29, 2024) – It’s the Oscars of Ontario’s festival and events industry and the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival is bringing home some serious hardware! Canada’s oldest and largest wine celebration was recognized with three highly coveted awards at the annual Festival and Events Ontario (FEO) Awards Gala on February 28. In addition to being named one of Ontario’s Top 100 Festivals for the tenth year in a row, Niagara Grape & Wine Festival volunteers received the Family Volunteer of the Year Award and the Cool As Ice Gala was honoured with the FEO Innovation Award.
A Top 100 Festival
Competing against hundreds of other festivals and special events from every corner of Ontario, the 2023 Niagara Grape & Wine Festival’s diverse mix of programming helped it earn top-100 status for another year. In addition to bringing big fun to Niagara, events like September’s Montebello Wine & Culinary Experience, June’s Tailgate Party and Brunch By The Lake events, and January’s Cool As Ice Gala bring big money to Niagara’s economy. The Festival, which attracts over 25,000 tourists to Niagara each year, is estimated to have an overall annual economic impact of $25 million.
Well-Deserved Recognition for Adored Volunteers
The Niagara Grape & Wine Festival team was also thrilled that the tireless efforts of a dynamic duo of Festival volunteers were recognized with FEO’s Family Volunteer of the Year Award. Each year, Paul and Karen Moyle travel from their home in Toronto, sometimes days before the Festival even begins, to help make Festival events a success with their time, effort, and endless enthusiasm. According to Niagara Grape & Wine Festival Executive Director Dorian Anderson, “From helping late into the night with event setup to educating guests about premium wines in our Harvest Lounge, Paul and Karen Moyle are an integral part of the Grape & Wine Festival’s success every single year. But their value to the Festival goes far beyond their ability to get things done. Paul and Karen’s continued commitment, leadership, and enthusiasm inspires all of our staff and volunteers.”
All Eyes On The Cool As Ice Gala
The decision to transform January’s traditional Icewine Gala in 2023 into the Cool As Ice Gala captured the hearts of FEO judges, who recognized the revamped event with a first-ever FEO Innovation Award. The Cool As Ice Gala brought together a collection of 35 wineries and a selection of Niagara’s top chefs to celebrate Icewine season in style at the historic Niagara Power Station, creating an inaugural night so special that tickets completely sold out for the Gala’s second year.
“We are absolutely thrilled that the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival has been honoured with three Festival and Events Ontario awards. It’s so energizing to have the efforts of our team and our volunteers recognized, and we’re already pouring that energy into our 2024 event planning. Our 73rd year is going to be one to remember!” said Dorian Anderson, Niagara Grape & Wine Festival Executive Director.
About Niagara Grape & Wine Festival
Thanks to generous support from the City of St. Catharines, the Grape Growers of Ontario, the Wine Marketing Association of Ontario, the Ontario Government’s Experience Ontario program, and many other generous sponsors, the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival, Canada’s oldest and largest wine festival, is celebrating its 73rd anniversary in 2024. Exciting plans are in the works for festival fun in June and September. For a sneak peek of what’s in store, visit www.niagarawinefestival.com.
Media Contact:
Dorian Anderson, Executive Director, Niagara Grape & Wine Festival
doriana@niagarawinefestival.com | 905.688.0212 ext. 117
@niagarawinefestival
