The Grand To Launch Fine Wines & Food Festival

The first-ever Grand Festival of Fine Canadian Wines and Food will
takeplace on October 16, 2010, and will feature wine tastings and food
pairings,lectures from the Grand Theatre stage, and will showcase wines
not only from the acclaimed region of Prince Edward County, but those
from across the country.

The Grand Theatre Foundation's Chair, Walter Fenlon, and Writer and Educator
David Lawrason revealed the details of the festival to a group of regional
wine lovers on Thursday, January 28th at the Grand Theatre.

Attendees to the launch were treated to tastings from six celebrated
wineries from Prince Edward County - Huff Estates, The Grange of Prince
Edward Vineyards & Estate Winery, Rosehall Run Vineyards, Black Prince
Winery, Norman Hardie Winery, and Closson Chase Vineyards. A sampling of
Kingston's best restaurants including Le Chien Noir, AquaTerra Restaubistro,
Fort Henry Restaurants, Tango Restaurant & Tapas Bar, Olivea Restaurant and
Windmills Restaurant & Catering contributed a wide variety of food pairings
for the evening.

Walter Fenlon, Chair of the Grand Theatre Foundation, is thrilled about the
partnership. "So many people in our community have an interest in the
high-quality wines being produced locally, as well as the wide range of
top-level restaurateurs in Kingston. This Festival will not only raise funds
to support the Grand Theatre Presenting program and educational activities,
but will also fill a need in the community for Kingstonians to have a unique
event to celebrate our local chefs, food producers and wineries."

"The Grand Theatre is a marvelous space and Kingston is a great fit for a
Canadian wine festival," observes David Lawrason. "It's an historic capital
of the country set in a beautiful region that is coming into its own as a
gastronomic and arts centre. We are starting modestly in 2010 but there is
no reason this festival could not become one of the most important wine and
food events in the country."

As a former Globe and Mail wine columnist David Lawrason first wrote about
Prince Edward County as the industry started in 2001. He moved to Belleville
in 2005 to more closely chronicle the County's extraordinary growth (there
are now over 30 wineries). Currently writing for Toronto Life, he is also
founder of Wine Access magazine, co-founder of the Canadian Wine Awards, and
organizer of the Quinte Arts Council's Artevino Wine Awards competition,
which will also be part of Our Grand Festival of Fine Canadian Wines and
Food. He is also a contributor the new County Grapevine magazine, a media
partner to the Festival.

The Grand Theatre Foundation is a registered charitable organization and
raises funds to bring the joy of the performing arts to Kingston, the
surrounding region and beyond. With revenue from ticket sales covering only
a portion of the "Grand Theatre Presents" annual operating budget, and
education and community outreach costs, the Foundation actively fundraises
to support these activities.

The 1st Annual Grand Festival of Canadian Wines will take place October 16,
2010, at the Grand Theatre. Tickets will go on sale at the Grand Theatre
Presents season launch in the spring and will be available through the Grand
Theatre Box Office at 218 Princess St., by phone at 613-546-5020 or online
at <http://www.kingstongrand.ca>.