Source: Niagara this Week

A friendly rivalry between wine and beer making students at Niagara College will come to a head this Thursday when they face off in the ultimate event: Caps, Corks and Forks.

“There’s always been a friendly rivalry between us,” explains first year winery and viticulture technician student Mary Catherine Wasilik.

“You have two programs, where both sets of students are so passionate about the product they’re making, you can’t help it,” added classmate Morgan Juniper. “It’s interesting too, because outside of the school atmosphere there’s a bit of a friendly rivalry between wine drinkers and beer drinkers. It’s interesting to be able to bring that existing outside rivalry into the school environment.”

Niagara College’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute (CFWI), which encompasses the college’s Teaching Winery and Teaching Brewery, as well as the culinary program, is addressing that perceived rivalry head on by coming up with a signature event that combines all three: wine, beer and food... or as the institute puts it: corks, caps and forks.

“It’s a great opportunity to showcase what the students here at Niagara College are doing,” said Jon Ogryzlo, CFWI dean. “It’s going to be an exciting, interesting night.”

Under the direction of chef professor Tony DeLuca, Niagara College’s culinary students will be preparing a five-course meal for event-goers. Two teams of five, one representing wine students and one representing beer students, will be responsible for pairing each course with a drink selection. Prior to the courses, students will have the chance to explain their pairing and try to “win over” the audience.

“We’ll essentially just be telling them about the pairing and why we think it works with the course,” said Juniper. Following each course, guests will choose which pairing they like better, casting their vote with either a cap (representing beer) or a cork (representing wine).

“There’s going to be a lot of corks,” said second-year wine student Jacklyn Boyd, with a laugh. Despite Niagara’s deep wine roots, Ogryzlo said people shouldn’t be quick to dismiss the beer students. “Beer and wine are quite different in how you make them,” he said. “Beer students have had the opportunity to make two beers — from scratch — to pair with specific courses on the menu. So, that gives them a bit of an edge when it comes to those two beers.”

He added that wine students, however, have been at work as well, trying to find the perfect pairing.

Kevin Brauch, host of TV show The Thirsty Traveler, will be the master of ceremonies for the evening. The event is set to take place in the newly renovated Benchmark Restaurant at Niagara College’s Niagara-on-the-Lake campus. Tickets for the event have been selling fast, said Ogryzlo, but a limited number are still available. Tickets are $79 each.

While the response from the community has been great, Ogryzlo noted that student response has been equally positive. “We already have a long list of students who want to participate in the next event,” he said.

For those who aren’t able to score tickets to Thursday’s event, there will be a second round of Caps, Corks and Forks taking place on March 22, with a third event in the works for the fall.

For more information or to make a purchase, contact Benchmark at 905-641-2252, ext. 4691.