Tickets are on sale now for the 41st annual Vancouver International Wine Festival. This year’s feature region is California, with 53 wineries representing the state. All told, 160 wineries from 15 countries will be pouring.
For some highlights, and what to expect at the festival, see below. The festival takes place at the Vancouver Convention Centre (and some local restaurants) Feb. 23 – March 3.
Tasting Room – The biggest and most accessible event, the Tasting Room—which takes place on three consecutive nights, as well as one afternoon (Feb. 28-March 2)—brings casual tasters and experts together. Winemakers, proprietors, and senior execs from all the wineries will pour and discuss their wines with festival-goers. (These “vine stars” are identifiable by his or her royal blue lanyard.) Come for the wine, leave with some knowledge. The tasting room also has a wine shop, where you can purchase your favourites. Don’t wait, though—they might sell out. (You can keep your purchases in the bottle-check and grab on the way out.)
Dinners – Voyager Estate, Stina, and Culmina Family Estate are just some of the wineries partnering with local restaurants like Vij’s Rangoli (with special guest chef Josip Etorovic from Croatia), Provence Marinaside, Wildebeast and more for one-of-a-kind evenings of food-and-wine pairings.
Minglers – For a more casual food-and-wine pairing experience, try a mingler. There are two this year: California Crush (Feb. 26) at Waterview (1661 Granville St.) and Just Chill (Feb. 27) at The Loft at Earl’s Yaletown. The latter features bubbles, rosés and bright whites.
Lunches and Brunches – Taking place March 2 & 3, these events give oenophiles an early start on the last weekend of the festival. There’s a lunch at Lift Bar Grill View (333 Menchions Mews), Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts (101-1505 W. 2nd Ave), and La Terrazza (1088 Cambie St.). There’s also a Festive California lunch (March 2) and the annual Vintner’s Brunch to close out the festival on March 3, both at the Convention Centre.
As well, the festival is presenting its usual Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction (Feb. 23) as well as seminars. For ticket and schedule info, visit VanWineFest.ca.
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