Thinking about going to the 2018 Vancouver International Wine Festival? There’s no better time to make plans than right now.
Discounts for the International Festival Tasting, the Delta Air Lines Tasting Lounge and the Gold Pass are available until Dec. 15, or while supplies last. For more details on these events, see below. Tickets for other events, including dinners and seminars, go on sale Jan. 10. Hotel packages, which include a ticket to the International Tasting, go on sale in early January.
Here’s a brief look the festival, which takes place Feb. 24-March 4.
This year’s spotlight countries are Spain and Portugal. Thirty-eight wineries from Spain and 24 from Portugal are coming to the city. This marks the largest gathering of Iberian Peninsula wineries in festival history, nearly half of them festival first-timers.
Vancouver International Wine Festival 2017
In total, VIWF2018 features 177 wineries from 15 countries. Overall, one out of three wineries is new to the 2018 festival.
It’s the 40th edition of the annual celebration. Some of the most popular events each year are the International Festival Tastings at the Vancouver Convention Centre, March 1-3 The Tasting Room features all 177 participating wineries pouring 700+ select wines. The room will also feature four regional tasting stations from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Spain.
Wine-friendly food and beverage exhibitors, many of whom offer tasting samples, including Nesters Market, Caffè Umbria, FIJI Water, Terra International Foods, D’Oro Gelato e Caffè and Terra Breads, are also on hand.
Festivalgoers can save $4-$9 off the regular price of International Festival Tasting tickets (Thursday, March 1, Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3). Advance tickets for evening tastings, 7 to 10 p.m., are $80 for Thursday, $90 for Friday and $95 for Saturday. The Saturday matinee tasting from 2:30 to 5 p.m., set against the backdrop of Coal Harbour, is available for the advance price of $70. Only a limited number of tickets are available at this rate for each of the four sessions. Once the advance allotment sells out, tickets may be purchased at regular prices.
Delta Air Lines Tasting Lounge offers an enhanced International Festival Tasting experience. The exclusive Friday and Saturday evening Delta Air Lines Tasting Lounge is located in the Ocean Foyer in VCC West, next to the Tasting Room. The lounge is open 5:45 to 9 p.m. and offers easy access to the corresponding International Festival Tasting. Enjoy a respite from the Tasting Room with comfortable seating and spectacular views. Select wines, light bites and cheeses are served. Save $10 (advance rate $180 for Friday and $185 for Saturday) until Dec. 15.
For those wanting the full tasting experience, Gold Passes include access to six tastings (four public IFTs and two Trade Tastings, presented by ContainerWorld), the Delta Air Lines Tasting Lounge and the exclusive Festival Toast VIP reception. Purchased individually, the Gold Pass events are valued at $721. Regular price is $495. They are on sale now for only $480, a $15 savings.
Purchase advance tickets now until Dec. 15 at vanwinefest.ca/tickets, or call 604-873-3311, toll free 1-877-321-3121 (Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.). You can also purchase tickets at 202-162 West 1st Avenue, Vancouver (Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.).
All ticket prices include wine, food (if a food event), gratuities, taxes and service charge. All public events go on sale Wednesday, January 10 at 9:30 a.m.
The free ticket with hotel booking packages go on sale early January. Festivalgoers get one free International Festival Tasting ticket for booking a downtown hotel via Vancouver Hotel Destination Association. Details will be announced via e-news and social media.
Follow the Vancouver International Wine Festival:
Facebook & Instagram: /VanWineFest
Twitter: follow @VanWineFest for news on tickets and sold-out events. Hashtag: #VIWF.
