Northern Ontario's wine makers will converge on Ristorante Verdicchio on Oct. 6 for the first Fork & Barrell fundraiser for the Northern Cancer Foundation.
The evening will be all about local flavour, as Verdicchio's head chef, Francesco Corconteno, will prepare a meal featuring local farm-fresh organic vegetables and locally produced organic meat, cheese and wine.
“It's about showcasing local talent at a local restaurant owned by a local family that wanted to help their cancer centre,” said Tannys Laughren, executive director, Northern Cancer Centre. “It's something new for us, and a way for us to highlight the partnerships that make the cancer centre so great.”
Laughren said the idea is to have a night filled with fun, not an evening full of speeches.
“It's a night really for us to say thank you to the community while raising some much-needed money at the same time,” she said, adding attendees may have a chance to stomp some grapes the old-fashioned way.
“We couldn't do what we do without community support, and we couldn't exist without the volunteers and donors,” she said.
Laughren said she when plans first started coming together for Fork & Barrel, she was surprised at the list of wine makers available in the region.
“They are coming from all over Northern Ontario, from the Manitoulin Island and Sturgeon Falls,” she said. “I think this event will really open the eyes of people to what's available here, and to start supporting our local wine-making community and their endeavours.”
Fork & Barrel takes place at 7 p.m. at Natura Catering and Events. Tickets are $125 each or $1,000 per barrel of eight.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ncfsudbury.com or phone 705-523-4673.
