A Royal Vinous Affair: Fairmont Empress Announces Exclusive Wine Cellar Showcase

 On Saturday, November 18, Fairmont Empress, renowned for its timeless elegance and exquisite culinary and wine collection, is unlocking the door to its cellar for the first time for an exclusive dining experience. The hotel is debuting ‘A Royal Vinous Affair,’ a one-night-only event filled with incredible cuisine expertly paired with prestigious vintages from celebrated wine regions around the globe.

Led under the guidance of the hotel’s resident wine expert, Certified Sommelier Maeve Fogarty and Chef de Cuisine Tyler Paquette, the exclusive cellar collection dinner will feature an extraordinary lineup of wines from renowned estates, including Dom Perignon 2004, Chateau d’Yquem 1997, Chateau Latour le Grand Vin 1996, Chateau Palmer 1983, Heitz Cellars Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, and Gaja Barbaresco 1999. Each pour will be accompanied by a carefully crafted seven-course dinner, designed to complement the flavour profiles and nuances of each wine. The menu will include lobster, caviar, Hokkaido scallops, and A5 Waygu. To further enhance the experience, the dinner will be set in the hotel’s iconic Lobby Lounge, which opened in 1908.

As the hotel celebrates its 115th anniversary, it is only fitting to taste wines from prominent wine houses that have also stood for over a century. Throughout the evening, guests will be transported through time as they learn about the heritage, craftsmanship, and tales behind each vintage. The hotel’s sommelier, Maeve Fogarty, will guide participants through the menu and delve into the history of each bottle. With every sip comes a tale to tell.

With only 22 seats available, this intimate dining experience will begin at 7:00 p.m. and is priced at $1200 per person, excluding taxes and gratuities. Reservations are required and can be made online.

Ticket holders who would like to book an overnight stay can contact reservations by calling 250-384-8111 for a special event rate.

Maeve Fogarty, Sommelier
Fogarty is Fairmont Empress’ Certified Sommelier overseeing the hotel’s elaborate wine program. Her passion for wines blossomed while working at a floating fishing lodge in Nookta Sound, where guests would fly in cases of wine to enjoy during their stay. This experience afforded her the privilege to learn more and taste some of the finest wines, including Napa Valley Cabs and Russian River Pinot Noirs. Her fascination with these bottles inspired her to deepen her knowledge and enroll in her first wine course through WSET. In November 2022, she became a certified sommelier and was among the few who received honours in the Wine Scholar Guild French, Italian and Spanish programs. Her appetite for learning remains insatiable with ongoing studies and courses. She is currently working towards her Champagne Master Level and becoming a Certified Specialist of Spirits.

Tyler Paquette, Chef de Cuisine
Paquette is the Restaurant Chef at the signature Q Restaurant and Q Bar, where he leads the culinary team and oversees the menu development of both dining venues. Prior to his role at Fairmont Empress, Paquette held the role of Sous Chef at the lauded Langdon Hall in Ontario, where he managed a culinary brigade that saw the restaurant rise in the ranks to the No. 4 Restaurant in the nation on the coveted Canadas100Best list. Hailing from Vancouver Island, Paquette is no stranger to the Victoria community. At a young age, he knew that the culinary industry was his calling, finding the constant search for refinement and precision to be a motivator in his career. In his free time, Paquette enjoys travelling and foraging for wild plants, affirming his passion for discovering new culinary innovations while respecting the surrounding bounty of ingredients rooted in nature.

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About Fairmont Empress
Recognized as one of the Top 21 Iconic Hotels in the World by National Geographic Traveler magazine and honored by Travel + Leisure Magazine’s World’s Best Awards for Top 3 City Hotels in Canada, Fairmont Empress is located in Victoria, BC overlooking the city’s sparkling Inner Harbour. A Forbes Four-Star, AAA Four-Diamond property that offers 431 beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites, Willow Stream Spa with signature West Coast experiences, and Q at the Empress featuring Pacific Northwest cuisine, an award-winning wine list, and regionally focused cocktail culture. World-famous Tea at the Empress is served in the Lobby Lounge with stunning harbour views. The Grande Dame property completed a $60+ million restoration in 2017 that celebrated its proud history while moving the hotel into a new era of modern luxury and transforming the iconic property into a must-visit destination. In 2023, the property introduced a revamped Fairmont Gold Experience, including a major renovation to the Fairmont Gold floor. 88 Fairmont Gold rooms are now ready to accommodate guests along with a newly renovated lounge. Located on Vancouver Island, Canada’s Castle on the Coast is the ideal starting point to explore British Columbia’s stunning natural and expansive beauty.

About Fairmont 
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is where the intimate equally coexist with the infinite – an unrivaled portfolio of more than 80 extraordinary hotels where grand moments of life, heartfelt pleasures and personal milestones are celebrated and remembered long after any visit. Since 1907, Fairmont has created magnificent, meaningful and unforgettable hotels, rich with character and deeply connected to the history, culture and community of its destinations – places such as The Plaza in New York City, The Savoy in London, Fairmont San Francisco, Fairmont Banff Springs in Canada, Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai, and Fairmont The Palm in Dubai. Famous for its engaging service, awe-inspiring public spaces, locally inspired cuisine, and iconic bars and lounges, Fairmont also takes great pride in its pioneering approach to hospitality and leadership in sustainability and responsible tourism practices. Fairmont is part of Accor, a world-leading hospitality group consisting of 5,300 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries.fairmont.com | all.accor.com | group.accor.com