WILD BLUE UNVEILS EVENTS FOR CORNUCOPIA 2026
- The Listening Lounge Brings Japanese-inspired Cocktails and Vinyl Culture to Wild Blue After Dark -
WHISTLER, BC (September 29, 2026) - Wild Blue Restaurant + Cocktail Bar will present four distinctive dining and cocktail experiences during the 30th edition of Whistler’s Cornucopia Food + Drink Festival, taking place from November 5 to 15, 2026.
Spanning both weekends of the festival, Wild Blue’s Cornucopia events will showcase the restaurant’s culinary and beverage programs through experiences inspired by British Columbia, Italy, Japan and France. The lineup includes collaborations with Fort Berens Estate Winery, historic Piedmont producer Mirafiore, Suntory and The Wine Syndicate.
“Cornucopia gives the Wild Blue team an opportunity to create experiences that go beyond a traditional dinner and explore the stories, regions and people behind what is being served,” said Neil Henderson, Partner and Restaurant Director at Wild Blue. “This year’s events each have their own distinct identity, from celebrating the ingredients and wines of British Columbia to transforming Wild Blue into a Japanese-inspired listening lounge after dark.”
Wild Blue’s 2026 Cornucopia events include:
FORT BERENS WINEMAKER DINNER
Friday, November 6, 2026 | 6 to 10 p.m.
Wild Blue will open its Cornucopia program with a celebration of British Columbia, bringing together locally inspired ingredients and wines from Fort Berens Estate Winery in Lillooet.
Chef and Partner Alex Chen, Executive Chef Derek Bendig and the Wild Blue culinary team will present a multi-course menu inspired by the province’s ingredients and seasons. Heleen Pannekoek, Co-Founder, Co-Owner and CEO of Fort Berens, will join Wild Blue Wine Director Ryan Hayes to share the winery’s story, its connection to Lillooet and its place in the evolution of British Columbia wine.
TRUFFLES & BAROLO
Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 6 to 9 p.m.
Truffles & Barolo will celebrate Piedmont through the wines of Mirafiore and a truffle-inspired menu created by Chef and Partner Alex Chen, Executive Chef Derek Bendig and the Wild Blue culinary team.
The evening’s wine selection will explore the character and diversity of the historic Piedmont producer before culminating in a special focus on Barolo, with several expressions poured throughout the dinner. Andrea Vescovi of Mirafiore will join Wine Director Ryan Hayes to guide guests through the winery, region and wines that have helped establish Piedmont as one of Italy’s most celebrated culinary destinations.
SUNTORY PRESENTS THE LISTENING LOUNGE
Friday, November 13, 2026 | 9 p.m. to midnight
Inspired by the intimate listening bars of Japan, Wild Blue will transform after dark for a sophisticated late-night experience combining Japanese-inspired cocktails, vinyl music and vintage style.
Presented by Suntory, The Listening Lounge will feature a curated vinyl soundtrack and a cocktail-driven format designed as a distinctive Cornucopia after-dinner destination. Black tie and vintage eveningwear will set the tone for an evening rooted in Japanese inspiration, vinyl culture and Wild Blue hospitality.
A TASTE OF FRANCE
Saturday, November 14, 2026 | 6 to 10 p.m.
Wild Blue will conclude its Cornucopia series with a culinary journey through France, exploring the diversity and traditions of Burgundy, Bordeaux and the Rhône.
A selection of French wines will be paired with a regionally inspired menu from Chef and Partner Alex Chen, Executive Chef Derek Bendig and the Wild Blue culinary team. Jeff Curry of The Wine Syndicate will join Wine Director Ryan Hayes to guide guests through the featured wines and regions, bringing their histories and individual character to life through French food and wine.
Further information about Wild Blue’s Cornucopia events and the 2026 festival program is available at whistlercornucopia.com.###