People with a passion for wine may credit a friend for introducing them to the beverage, or possibly a favourite restaurant. Hotel and Food Administration (HAFA) student Caitlyn Pedersen credits HTM 4050: Wine and Oenology. It’s a course that not only deepened her understanding of wine but ignited her passion to continue learning about it after the course’s conclusion.

After discussing her new-found interest with Professor Bruce McAdams, they launched an independent study project to develop a new student-run, wine-focused website for Guelph’s oenophiles and wine enthusiasts.

Offering a new kind of “wine buzz”, WINE @Guelph promotes local wine-related news and events. It features a wine of the month recommendation, blog, links to tasting groups and profiles of local oenophiles.

“The success of this project largely rests on my level of involvement within the community and my ability to make connections with those involved in the industry,” says Pedersen. “I fell in love with the University of Guelph because it felt “real” and with that in mind, it is imperative to me that WINE @Guelph deliver the same sort of genuine feeling to readers.”

In addition to the website, WINE @Guelph will host events over the next year that will feature guest speakers and oenophiles. Pedersen will manage these events in addition to growing the profile of WINE @Guelph.

As for the future of the website, Pedersen says she and McAdams hope it will grow in the coming years and that HAFA students will express interest in taking the project on.

“I think it has potential to become an integral part of the local wine community and I can see a lot of organizations being interested in using WINE @Guelph to promote their wine-related business,” says Pedersen. “It will be greatly beneficial to consumers as a hub for ‘everything wine’ in Guelph.”