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10 Things You Shouldn’t Miss At The Vancouver International Wine Fest

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There’s something for everyone with an affection for the grape at the 36th Annual Vancouver International Wine Festival. Running from February 24th to March 2nd, the highly anticipated festival is one of the largest and most important wine events in North America. It brings together the far-flung community of the world’s producers of wine, further establishes Vancouver’s allure as a destination for oenophiles and gastronauts, and allows the local food and drink trade an opportunity to raise a glass (and celebrate its contents) together. What’s more, the festival is vital to this city’s cultural landscape, raising $8.1 million to date for the performing arts. Founded as a fundraiser for the late Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company, since 2012 the fest raises money for the annual celebration of Shakespeare that we know and love as Bard On The Beach.

Each year, the festival chooses one of its participating countries as theme country or region. In addition, there’s a “global focus” that allows all countries to show off a particular varietal. In 2014, the wine region is France and the global focus is Bubbly, which means the 23,000+ attendees can anticipate more French wines than any other, not to mention plenty of France-themed events. They can also expect winery principals representing 178 selected wineries from 14 countries pouring and discussing some 780 wines in the epicentre of it all: the International Festival Tasting Room at the Vancouver Convention Centre (another 169 wines available at the trade tasting).

A further 800 wines are served at 54 special events that surround the tasting room in some 29 different venues. These include the gala auction, a deep list of wine seminars, a battery of trade events (always fun), and a lengthy itinerary of winery dinners, lunches and brunches at over 50 of Vancouver’s top restaurants and hotels.

All told, there will be over 30,000 bottles of wine opened during the course of the festival, and we say cheers to the delicious mathematics of that! As per usual, tickets are selling out fast, with many of the events already booked solid. Check after the leap for the 10 events that we have our eyes on…

DON’T MISS EVENTS FOR 2014

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FRANCE BUBBLY PARTY | Tuesday, February 25
Ginger 62 | 1219 Granville Street
9pm-11pm | $65 | Buy tickets | 604-873-3311

“Three little words to make your heart sing: France. Bubbly. Party. Nine wine producers from throughout France serving 18 sparkling wines, including Champagnes and Crémants. Food stations featuring charcuterie and cheeses, oysters and lobster rolls, tuna tartare, crab cakes and more. And Faubourg French pastries for dessert. Yum! And did we mention DJ Tyson Villeneuve, a swinging lounge atmosphere, the Eiffel Tower (no, not the real one) and a photo booth where you can tweet your bubbly selfies? Oh, and bacon and caramel popcorn! #FranceBubblyParty.”

BLIND TASTING CHALLENGE | Wednesday, February 26
Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts | 1505 West 2nd Avenue
10am-12:30pm | $30 | Buy tickets | 604-873-3311

“Got a great palate? Prove it! Blind-taste seven wines and identify them using the WSET method. The challenge is open to wine trade, culinarians and consumers seeking to nurture their inner wine geek. At the end, there’s great excitement when the wines are unveiled by the wine producers themselves. A celebratory reception follows the grand reveal, and there’s plenty of delicious food catered by PICA. Winners receive bragging rights, VanWineFest passes, and will be feted at the 11th Annual Awards Lunch, Featuring Rhône Valley Wines on Feb 28.”

PRINCIPALS WELCOME LUNCH (Trade only) | Thursday, February 27
VCC East, Ballroom B | 999 Canada Place
11:30a.m.-1:15p.m. | Register and buy tickets. | $75

“Thursday is opening day of the Trade Days Conference. If you have tickets to the theme region plenary WINE TOUR DE FRANCE (now sold out) and if you’re heading to Thursday’s TRADE TASTING (below), do take in this lunch. All 177 participating winery principals attend and they share their wine selections with you. This grazing style lunch, created by VCC’s executive chef Blair Rasmussen, is a perfect way to interact with those in the business of wine. Preview a selection of wines from the Acura Tasting Room, grouped by wine agency, catch up with friends and colleagues, make new business contacts, and then head to the afternoon Trade Tasting.”

TRADE TASTING (Trade only) | Thursday, February 27 and Friday, February 28, 2014
VCC West, Ballroom D | 1055 Canada Place
2:30pm-5:00pm | $45 | Register and buy tickets | 604-873-3311

“The Trade Tasting is the best opportunity to explore the Acura International Festival Tasting Room with your industry peers. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet wine producers from around the world, to taste rare wines, and perhaps to discover the next big thing in the industry. The Trade Tastings are not only an excellent opportunity to network and taste away from the evening crowds, but also a chance to sample 169 wines that are unique or new to the British Columbia market; these are in addition to the 780 served at both trade and public tastings. A winery principal, identified by a royal blue lanyard, is a senior member of the winery, intimately involved in the wine-producing process as a winemaker, proprietor or senior executive. Feel free to ask questions – this is the best opportunity to find out more about each wine.”

SERVING IT UP (Trade only) | Friday, February 28
VCC West, meeting room 118 | 1055 Canada Place
9:30-11:15 am | $45 | Register and buy tickets.

“Are you serving it up? Getting customers through the door is great, but what can you do to make sure you’re tapping into their full purchasing power? Join a panel of seasoned industry professionals to explore ways to generate more sales, get customers to trade up their price points, and build repeat trade for your establishment. Note: No wine is served at this event.”

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL TASTING
Thursday and Friday, February 28 and 29 | 7pm-10pm | $89
NEW Saturday afternoon, March 1 | 3-5pm | $68
VCC West | 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC
Buy tickets. | 604-873-3311

Note that Saturday night has sold out, and both Thursday and Friday nights are on the “Going Fast” list. The new Saturday afternoon tasting (deets below) has capacity, but if you want evening tastings, act with alacrity.

“The Vancouver International Wine Festival is widely regarded as the best consumer wine show on the continent, and the Acura International Festival Tasting Room is the heart of it. You’ll find 780+ wines organized by 14 countries, starting with featured country France. The Wine World is Here.

France Bon Appétit
Your wine world tour begins in France, this year’s theme country. France serves up 200+ wines from 52 wineries (more than one third of which are festival first-timers), representing its diverse wine regions: Alsace, Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Champagne, Loire, Rhône, South of France and Southwest of France. Three regional tasting stations – Alsace, Rhône and the Languedoc-Roussillon – showcase their unique wine styles.

Bubbly!
There are more than 110 expressions of sparkling wine in the room, including Champagnes, Crémants, Sekts, Proseccos and Cavas. Bubbly can be your best friend while you’re tasting. Switching from a full-bodied red to a light white? Refresh your taste buds first with a sip of sparkling. For a comprehensive comparative tasting of Bubbly from around the world, head directly to the Bubbly Tasting Station, where experts from the International Sommelier Guild will be your guides.

NEW afternoon tasting
Saturday, March 1, 3-5 p.m. $68
Want a great view with your wine? The inaugural afternoon International Festival Tasting features all wines that are poured during the regular evening session. Plus you get the added bonus of the stunning daytime backdrop of Coal Harbour, Stanley Park and the North Shore mountains. This two-hour tasting (the low price reflects the shorter session) is the perfect introduction to the Acura Tasting Room – or a great way to taste those wines you miss at evening tastings. Another thought – do the tasting, then go for dinner for a perfect Saturday festival experience.

Please remember that this is a wine tasting, not a food event. Be sure to have a meal before setting out. That said, you will find small food samples to enhance your tasting experience. Be sure to visit Nesters for light bites as well as the All You Need is Cheese for samples of fine Canadian cheeses.”

LIFE OF (AUSSIE) PIE | Saturday, March 1
Loungeworks | 130 West 4th Avenue
12-2 p.m. | $69

“The traditional Aussie festival lunch has forsaken the barbie and embraced the oven. Take your taste buds on a trip Down Under with Australia’s favourite exports: wine and pie! Sample the delights of a national food staple, the hearty meat pie (and vegetarian too!) from none other than Vancouver’s legendary Aussie Pie Guy. Pair your pies with 24 of Australia’s top drops. Expect a healthy dose of Aussie humour from wine personalities while they keep your glass full.”

MEYER FAMILY FEAST | Tuesday, February 25 (SOLD OUT)
Brix Restaurant & Bar | 1138 Homer Street
6:30pm-10pm | $140 | 604-873-3311

“Taste the Okanagan (and beyond) in every bite as Meyer Family Vineyards pairs up with Chris Bisaro’s take on modern Canadian cuisine at Brix. In traditional Burgundian style, Meyer Family Vineyards focuses on small lots of excellent wine, expressive of their unique place of origin, such as the platinum award-winning 2011 McLean Creek Rd Vineyard Chardonnay.”

DELIZIE E VINO | Wednesday, February 26 (SOLD OUT)
Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill | 1133 Hamilton Street
6:30pm-10pm | $225 | 604-873-3311
“Join us in the heart of Yaletown as Chef Pino Posteraro brings your palate to life with creative dishes crafted from the freshest ingredients, while Filippo Pulisci of Antinori Estates, Italy’s most historic wine family, guides you through a legendary range of Tuscan and Umbrian wines. A perfect pairing, exemplifying pride of place and unwavering respect for history. Salute!”

TASTE THE WORLD | Sunday, March 02 (SOLD OUT)
Black + Blue | 1032 Alberni Street
6:30pm-10pm | $145 | 604-873-3311

“Travel to three continents while dining on “The Roof” at the classic steakhouse-inspired Black + Blue restaurant, and explore the wine terroir of Australia, California and South Africa. Experience fine wines such as the legendary Peter Lehmann 1999 Stonewell, Hess Collection 2009 Napa 19 Block Cuvée and Glen Carlou Quartz Stone Chardonnay. Definitely a dinner not to be missed!”

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event-transparentThis post is a Special Event Ad. Scout only publishes these when we feel like the subject matter is right in our readership’s wheelhouse. Past Special Event Ad clients have included IDSWest, Dine Out Vancouver, Whistler’s Cornucopia, and Brewery & The Beast. If you are interested in arranging a Special Event Ad to promote your festival or function, send an email outlining your interest to mitsumi [at] scoutmagazine.ca.

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