Wines of the Veneto - Sunday 26th July
Wines of the Veneto - Sunday 26th July
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Spend an evening with Freddie Rae and Enid Grace as we explore the wines of Veneto — a region shaped by Alpine foothills, limestone soils, and a winemaking tradition that bridges sparkling celebration with some of Italy's most powerful reds.
🕕 6:00PM
📅 Sunday, 26th July
📍 24B Station Road, Hillier — Prince Edward County
Led by former sommelier and winemaker Freddie Rae, the night will unfold as a flowing narrative — weaving together the chalky hillsides of Soave, the Venetian trade routes that made Prosecco a symbol of Italian elegance, and the patient art of appassimento that transforms grapes into the legendary Amarone. Expect insight without pretension, and a sense of discovery that deepens with every glass.
Across six courses and six wines, we'll begin with the effervescent charm of Prosecco, move through the mineral-driven whites of Soave Classico — one of Italy's most underrated expressions of Garganega — before building toward Amarone della Valpolicella, Veneto's most celebrated wine and one of the most concentrated, age-worthy reds in the world.
Alongside this, Enid will bring a series of exquisite, regionally inspired dishes — each one thoughtfully composed to echo and elevate what's in the glass. Think rich risottos, aged Monte Veronese, and the robust flavours of the Veneto table.
About Enid Grace
Enid's connection to Italian cuisine runs deep. Having lived across Italy, learning from nonnas in different regions, she absorbed the traditions, techniques, and soul of Italian cooking at its most authentic. She's brought that knowledge home to Prince Edward County, where she's built several successful local businesses, each rooted in her passion for bringing true Italian flavours and hospitality to the community.
About Freddie Rae
Freddie cut his teeth in fine wine as a sommelier in Manchester, UK, before relocating to Prince Edward County to become Assistant Winemaker at Norman Hardie, where he completed five vintages. In 2025, he barreled his own wine — set for release in August 2026. A holder of the prestigious WSET Level 4 Diploma, Freddie has also completed a vintage in Central Otago, New Zealand, crafting world-class Pinot Noir. His approach to wine is informed by both dedicated study and hands-on experience across some of the world's most respected wine regions.
Testimonials
We recently had the pleasure of attending an Italian wine dinner hosted by Freddie Rae and Enid Grace. The dinner was held in Enid’s studio and featuring a multi course Italian dinner prepared for us by Enid and paired to Italian wines selected by Freddie.
What a wonderful evening- it was relaxed and absolutely without pretence. The intimate space, delicious food and carefully curated wines combined to create a memorable evening.
Freddie, as our host for the evening, introduced each wine and helped us understand more about the Italian wine regions and which attributes of each chosen wine helped create a successful pairing with the food. Enid not only spoke to us briefly about each course , but gave us insights into what made her unique preparations so special.
With only ten guests for the evening, the evening was convivial, and relaxed, with laughter, stories and insights being shared by all participants. By the end of the evening Freddie and Enid had demonstrated to all of us the power of how food, wine and environment can create memories and friendships. I can’t imagine a more enjoyable evening. Thank you Freddie and Enid!
Steve Sheriff, Picton
I recently attended an Italian dinner where Fred handled the wine
pairings, and I have to say—it was excellent. His knowledge of wine is
impressive, and the way he explained each pairing with short stories and
context made it both informative and entertaining.
No long speeches, just the right amount of detail to keep it
interesting.
The food and wine were both top quality. You could tell a lot of thought
went into the matches—each one brought something extra to the dish.
What made the evening really stand out was how personal and relaxed it
felt. It wasn’t a big, noisy event. It was small, intimate, and had a
great atmosphere. You could ask questions, have a proper conversation,
and actually enjoy the experience.
Fred did a great job. I’d gladly attend another evening like this.
Christian Jaehn-Kreibaum, Financial Advisor, Belleville