Gio Bespoke Wine Experiences
October 20, 2026
Words by Laura Oakley | Images by Michelle Doucette
Recently we visited Gio to learn about the bespoke wine and food experiences that the restaurant offers. If you’re not familiar, Gio is the award-winning restaurant inside the Prince George Hotel in downtown Halifax. It’s a stylish space that Michelle and I have both extensively covered in our work for Curated Food & Drink Magazine and beyond. The hotel and restaurant’s executive chef, Gregory Burns, works closely with sommelier Molly Noakes and food & beverage director, Shawn Lewis to craft wine and food pairings that work in a variety of ways – with the restaurant’s current menu, or specially created for the tastes of a specific group or event.
Heirloom Tomato Salad (Local Heirloom Tomatoes, Poached Tomatoes, Marinated Tomatoes,,Whipped Goat Cheese, Basil, Candied Walnuts, Jalapeno dressing)
Benjamin Bridge Non-Alcoholic Wine Nova Zero
“We definitely don't want to make it a big, scary, intimidating thing. It's meant to be a little bit more fun and flirty,” says Molly. All levels of wine knowledge (including zero) are welcome, and if someone in the group isn’t into wine, a substitution of beer or even cocktails can take its place. “The intention is to deliver experiences that are unique but accessible to all kinds of diners,” adds Shawn. And although Gio is an elegant, thoughtful space with some of the best service in Halifax, the wine experiences can be scaled up or down in group size, budget, and the type of dishes and wines that are served. “We aim to be fun, approachable and not necessarily expensive,” says Shawn. “We’ve recently served vegetarian, pescatarian, and our traditional menu (small plates) for tastings/pairings.”
Beef Short Rib (Braised Beef Short Rib, Veal Jus, Eggplant, Sea Buckthorn Mustardo, Zucchini Puree)
Libre Salvaje Paco El Feo 2020 (Spain)
Dishes left to right:
Vegetable far left (House Made Borek Stuffed with Caramelized Onions, Sweet potatoes, Spinach. Tahani Beet Root Puree, Yogurt, Paprika Oil, Chick Pea Salad with Onions, Tomatoes, Sweet Peppers, Sumac), Beef Short Rib bottom left (Braised Beef Short Rib, Veal Jus, Eggplant, Sea Buckthorn Mustardo, Zucchini Puree), Scallop on a Half Shell middle left (Seared Scallop, White Wine Cream Sauce, Mussel Foam), Grilled Vegetables top left, Trout top middle (Seared Trout, Potato Pancake, Mustard Dill Aioli, Salmon Roe, Pickled Fennel),
Duck bottom middle (Seared Duck Breast, Wild Rice, Celery, Mostardo, Apple, Seasonal Vegetable, Veal Jus), Green Tomato Toast top right (Fried Green Tomatoes, Garlic Confit, Grated Tomato, Sourdough Bread, Pickled Chanterelles, Basil Aoili), Heirloom Tomato Salad bottom right (Local Heirloom Tomatoes, Poached Tomatoes, Marinated Tomatoes, Whipped Goat Cheese, Basil, Candied Walnuts, Jalapeno dressing)
Wine: Gaspereau Tidal Bay 2025, Saint Roch Côtes du Roussillon Corbarol 2024, Benjamin Bridge Nova Zero, Quails Gate Pinot Noir 2022
These bespoke wine experiences are suitable for groups from two to 50 people. Think anniversary dinners, bridal showers, double date nights, reunions, or just because. Whether you request familiar wines or let Molly (or another wine-trained professional) choose your adventure for pairings, the whole point is to have fun, and hopefully discover some new favourites. Spoken like a true wine nerd, Molly says: “What we also take pride in is making those pairings that are a little out of left field, and a bit more: ‘This is strange, but trust me.’” From my experience, those are usually the most fun!
Strawberries In Fields 4-Ever (Belgium Remix) (Belgium Chocolate Mousse Cake, Strawberry Fluid Gel, Strawberry Curd, Cocoa Soil, Strawberry Sorbet, Cocoa Nib Tuille, Fresh Strawberries)
Domaine de Grand Pré Vidal Icewine 2019
The Tart & The Tartan (NS Blueberry & Kalamansi Tart, NS Blueberry Sauce, Kalamansi Cream, Almond Brittle, NS Blueberry Gelee, Fresh Blueberries, Kalamansi Sherbert)
Taylor Fladgate 20-year Tawny Port
While wine pairings can be requested for most evenings – even if you pop in without a reservation – for a more uniquely crafted experience, email gioreservations@princegeorgehotel.com. The best wine experiences start with a conversation – whether that’s in advance via email or phone, or in person. One thing we can guarantee you is that the evening won’t lack personality or professionalism. “Our goal is not to be too serious but rather relaxed. The goal of the evening is to leave you better than you arrived, smiling and with memories of flavours. Then we have done our job,” adds Shawn.
We had a blast capturing some dishes and wines at Gio to help illustrate the vibes the space offers for wine and food pairings. This team is one of the most impressive at what they do in Halifax – but they also have a lot of laughs.
