Wonders of Wine and Food

BENJAMIN BRIDGE SPARKLING HEADS TO LONDON'S 2012 OLYMPICS

July 24, 2012 (Gaspereau Valley, Nova Scotia) – Benjamin Bridge is delighted to announce that its 2008 Benjamin Bridge Méthode Classique Rosé was selected as one of two Canadian sparkling wines to promote and celebrate Canada's best at the London 2012 Summer Olympics.

Canada's High Commissioner in London England will be hosting Olympic receptions and dinners throughout the Summer Games to showcase the best of Canada. About 20 wines, and only two sparkling wines, were selected by Janet Dorozynski, Ph.D., Global Practice Lead with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade who oversees a program which assists Canadian Embassies to serve and promote Canadian wine, and works with companies to develop export market strategies. She explained:

"London is an important market for Canadian wine and is particularly important in terms of exposure to world-renowned authorities in the global wine industry like Jancis Robinson, Master of Wine, and Tom Stevenson, the world's leading authority on Champagne...We want to showcase our very best, and Benjamin Bridge is clearly one of our very best...to promote investment in Canada."

Founder and co-owner of the winery, Gerry McConnell, said:

"We're excited and honoured to be selected as one of only two sparkling wines from Canada to be served during the Olympics...it's truly a testament to the quality of the wines we've been producing at Benjamin Bridge since we began just a little over ten years ago. And the exposure this brings for not only Benjamin Bridge but also the emerging reputation for Nova Scotia wines overall...is terrific."

Benjamin Bridge completed the bottling of its 2011 vintage sparkling wines last week. McConnell said: "Of the 16,000 bottles we cellared last week, all of which were produced from 100% vinifera grapes, about half are sparkling rosé and of exceptional quality according to Raphaël..." Raphaël Brisbois, former chef de cave for the legendary Piper Heidsieck, who together with lead wine consultant, Peter J. Gamble, and resident winemaker, Jean-Benoit Deslauriers are responsible for crafting Benjamin Bridge's nationally acclaimed Méthode Classique sparklings.

A very limited supply of the 2008 Benjamin Bridge Méthode Classique Rosé remains available for sale at private wine stores and select NSLC stores.