Popping the cork on a bottle of wine doesn鈥檛 always require a special occasion. But Allan Paulson, a professor of food science with the Faculty of Engineering, says the variety you choose is often enhanced by when and how you serve it.
鈥淓ach wine has a quality that makes it more desirable in a particular context,鈥� says the certified sommelier. 鈥淚t could be the meal you eat, or a romantic evening, because it鈥檚 more than wine: it鈥檚 a social experience.鈥�
In that spirit, Dr. Paulson is working with the faculties of Engineering and Architecture & Planning to create a unique social experience for . The two faculties are jointly hosting a on September 28 from 6-8 p.m. in the Exhibit Room at the Ralph Medjuck Building as part of the university鈥檚 Homecoming festivities.
The seeds for this event were sown last winter when Josh Leon, dean of engineering, and his wife, with Dr. Paulson鈥檚 help, hosted a wine tasting for some friends at their home. To make the evening even more special, they decided to make it a fundraiser for Feed Nova Scotia.
鈥淢y wife and I have long been supporters of this organization, but we鈥檇 never held a fundraiser like this,鈥� explains Dr. Leon. 鈥淪o we created a menu for the night, everyone contributed for the wine and we asked our friends to make a $50 donation if they wanted to participate. At the end of this wonderful evening, we had raised $1,400 for an important cause.鈥�
Supporting the Student Experience Fund
Given the success of the event, it seemed a natural fit for Homecoming and a great opportunity to raise funds for the Science Student Experience Fund, which supports community outreach activities, field trips and conferences for students.
鈥淚t鈥檚 all about ensuring our students get a complete education,鈥� says Dr. Leon. 鈥淭he ability to participate in activities and events outside the classroom is important because it augments what they learn. That鈥檚 what makes a university great. Thanks to the generosity of our community and our alumni, we鈥檙e able to offer our students these experiences.鈥�
Adds Dr. Paulson: 鈥淚鈥檓 a professor. I don鈥檛 want to compete with a sommelier that does this for a living, so I always do wine tastings for charity. It鈥檚 a nice way to give back to the community and it makes for a unique evening.鈥�
Everyone who attends will get to sample several wines provided by Bishops Cellar and a lovely assortment of delicious canap茅s specially chosen to complement each variety. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity for anyone with a聽 connection to Dalhousie to visit the university while seeing old friends and making new ones,鈥� says Dr. Leon. 鈥淧lus, Allan is a great professor who is very passionate about food and wine, so I think it鈥檚 an evening that faculty and alumni won鈥檛 want to miss.鈥�
The Architecture & Planning and Engineering Wine Tasting will take place from 6- 8 p.m. Friday, September 28 in the Exhibit Room of the Ralph Medjuck Building at 5410 Spring Garden Road. Tickets for the event are $45 and are available online , or call Terri Mann at 902.494.1378 for more details.
Sponsors for Homecoming 2012 include platinum supporters TD Insurance Meloche Monnex, MBNA and Egg Films.