A total of 1,700 wines from 16 countries will be there.
As the theme country, Canadian wineries from B.C., Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia will obviously be there.
And 20 dinners, lunches, and brunches spanning eight days in February pairing wine with the dishes will be there.
Will you?
If that’s not enough reason to join the 39th Annual Vancouver Wine Festival, here are more juicy reasons to twist your arm to go.
You don’t just taste wine or have it with gourmet food. The wine world is at your fingertips. As a result, you get to talk to the vine stars: the wine maker or the owner of the winery.
If you love California wines, drop by Geyser Peak’s table and chat chardonnay with wine maker Ondine Chattan.
If German wine is your passion, reach out for some Riesling and reconnoiter with Nik Weis, owner and wine maker of St. Urban’s Hof.
And if you want to find out more about the popular Black Hills Estate Winery in the Okanagan, Graham Pierce will be on hand to explain how he makes Notre Bene so delicious and irresistible.
And once you find a winner or two, you can go to the on site BC Liquor Store and buy them. They will even ship it for free to your local BCLDB store.
If you find the crowds at the festival tasting room overwhelming, consider attending one of the six wine seminars.
Explore issues, trends, regions and varietals in a dynamic educational setting.
Experts will guide you through the tasting (often there are eight or more wines to taste) and winery principals will speak to their wines.
Discover Ontario’s Cool is one such seminar, which explores Canada’s largest wine region.
Enjoy the cool climate varietals including Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and sparkling and ice wine.
Feel like something a bit more light and easy? Wine minglers are your cup of tea, or glass of wine!
Browse from table to table in an informal and hip setting. Learn about wine in a fun and relaxed way.
One popular mingler is the 25 under $25, hosted by James Nevison, the author of the Had a Glass wine guide.
You can also make a weekend out of the wine fest. Book a downtown hotel online through BeVancouver.com and get one free festival tasting room ticket, a $95 value.
Remember to pace yourself at the wine festival. You can sip and spit; just remember to aim for the bucket!
Or, if you are swallowing, you don’t have to finish everything in your glass. Unless it’s a dinner, lunch, or brunch, you should have a meal before you go.
And don’t forget to pick up your free transit ticket on the way out. Don’t wine and drive.
Besides all of these amazing attractions, another reason for attending the Vancouver Wine Festival is a charitable one. The festival is the main fundraiser for Bard on the Beach.
Raise a glass to toast your contribution to this important Shakespearean festival.
Check it out online at VanWineFest.ca for all the juicy details.
See you there!
Eric Hanson is a retired teacher and wine educator. Reach him at: [email protected]
