Niagara College’s friendly rivalry between wine and beer students returns Saturday, Feb. 21 as Caps, Corks and Forks takes place at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus.
The sold-out event will welcome 250 guests for a five-course dinner prepared by the College’s Benchmark team, while Team Wine and Team Beer students present and defend their beverage pairings. After each course, diners vote using a wine cork or beer cap, with the running tally leading to a winning side by night’s end.
“Caps, Corks and Forks is more than a competition; it’s a celebration of skill that shows what makes a Niagara College education like no other,” said Craig Youdale, Dean of Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies.
Team Wine, led by Professor Peter Rod, will showcase Niagara VQA wines under $40, including a selection from the NC Teaching Winery. Rod said the process gives students valuable analytical experience.
“Academically, students spend a lot of time tasting a huge variety of wines which helps them to refine their palates, write better tasting notes, and to think critically when analyzing wine qualities and food compatibility,” he said.
Team Beer, led by Professor Adrian Popowycz and Teaching Brewery staff member Ian Morrison, will present Ontario craft beers, including alumni-connected brews and a selection from the NC Teaching Brewery.
“The Caps, Corks, and Forks event offers Brewmaster students a valuable real-world learning experience,” said Popowycz.
Fourth-term Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management student Lauchlan Robertson hopes the evening shifts perceptions.
“The thing I’m most excited about is proving that beer is a valid menu pairing,” he said.
Since the series launched in 2012, the teams have split victories evenly at nine each, making this year’s competition a tiebreaker. The winner will be revealed at the end of the evening.
