There is a new way to show your green and gold spirit this year, and it comes in red and white - wine, that is.
With every sip of the white - a blend of 2011 Reisling and Pinot Gris grapes called Ursa - or the red - a blend of Merlot, Pinot Noir, Petit Verdot and Zweigelt grapes called Ursus - you will help ease the burdensome cost of student athletes travelling to national games.
The Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation has created a pair of custom-labelled wines to support the Golden Bears and Pandas sport programs. All profits from wine sales go into the Championship Fund, a new initiative by the dean of the faculty, Kerry Mummery, '94 BPE.
With 24 varsity teams and more than 500 student athletes, the Golden Bears and Pandas are one of the most successful in Canada. Last season, the price tag of airfare alone for 19 Golden Bears and Pandas teams to travel to national championship tournaments was more than $300,000.
The wines are produced by Kelowna-based Bounty Cellars, owned by Wade Rains, '90 BSc(Pharm). The 47-year-old started the wine business in 2005, and says he's proud to be using wine as a tool to a greater end: in support of his alma mater.
"Athletics are an important part of the university and seem to be the first on the chopping block with budget cuts," he says. "I loved going to the games and watching the Bears hockey games."
For this pharmacist, the transition to winemaking was easy. "There are two parts to winemaking. There's the science, which my degree helps with, and then there's the art."
Rains marvels at the variety of flavours that come from a single grape. "Depending on the yeast, the kind of barrel, the temperature - all can change the texture, feel and quality of wine." That's the challenge - and the art - he relishes most.
Enjoy the fruits of Rains' labour (pun intended) at Golden Bears and Pandas home games, on campus through Aramark Classic Fare Catering, Conference Services at Lister Hall, in the Faculty Club and at the Room At The Top (RATT). You can purchase the wine in Edmonton at Kegs and More Liquor, Vinomania and Sherbrooke Liquor Store.
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