For West Coast wine enthusiasts, there is no better time of year than late winter, when the Vancouver International Wine Festival typically takes place. One of the largest in North America, this year’s wine festival is set for February 22 through March 2. Each year the festival celebrates a region, and this year it will focus on the Pacific Coast, with 50 wineries from California, Washington and Oregon in attendance.
In addition to the Pacific Coast wineries, more than 70 additional wineries will participate in what is considered the crown jewel of the festival, the International Festival Tasting Room. With Vancouver’s snow-capped North Shore Mountains as a backdrop, festival-goers will discover it’s not only about what’s in the bottles, but who’s behind the tables as well. Principals from each winery will be on site, such as Leah Adint (Erath), Wayne Donaldson (Josh Cellars), Justin Seidenfeld (Rodney Strong Wine Estates), and Raymond Signorello (Signorello Estates). Looking for a bit of an educational pursuit? Keep an eye out for two dedicated tasting stations, one from Taste USA, and another that drills down on California wines.
Beyond the grand tasting, there are casual wine parties happening around town, like California Cruising, a wine mingler hosted by California Wines, which will take place in The Loft at Earls Yaletown featuring Francis Ford Coppola Winery and Talbott Vineyards. A weekend lunch called Taste of America will be a grazing affair with live music, where wineries such as Orin Swift Cellars, Lingua Franca, and Stags’ Leap Winery will be on hand.
There are a myriad of winery dinners happening at Vancouver’s best restaurants, too — whether you’re hoping to Discover Paso Robles at the Michelin-recommended L’Abattoir in Gastown, or Uncorking California at The Victor. Want to fill your day with wine-fueled cheer? There are plenty of daytime events going down as well. The West Coast Pairing Luncheon at Vancouver Community College, for instance, features the best of the West, from Vancouver Island Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, all the way down to expressions of those varieties from Carneros and the Russian River Valley.
Wanting to take a bit more of an academic approach? There are seminars on offer like West Coast Wine Allstars, where moderator and Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein will take attendees through the best of the best like Gloria Ferrer’s Royal Cuvée 2014, Ridge Vineyards Estate Monte Bello Cabernet 2021, and many more illustrious bottles. Learning has never been so decadent!
For those in the restaurant and retail trade, the festival’s Trade Days program runs February 26-28 with forums, seminars and lunches, which will include talks from notable industry icons like Elaine Chukan Brown. Think chats on engaging future wine consumers, sustainability and wine business solutions. While the topics can run from fun to formal, there are some juicy, acclaimed sessions on tap as well, like a Napa Cabernet Retrospective and more.
Of course any visit to Vancouver must include many tastes of locally crafted British Columbian wines, and wine fans can look forward to 20 wineries from the Okanagan Valley, Vancouver Island and beyond. Those making the trip won’t want to miss the pristine offerings by Phantom Creek Estates featuring wines by Olivier Humbrecht MW of Alsace, and the storied Cabernets and Syrahs of Poplar Grove Winery, perched on the Okanagan Valley’s idyllic Naramata Bench.
Nothing quite matches the energy and exuberance of the wine-soaked week in Vancouver, darting around from seminars, to dinners, to grand tastings, rubbing elbows with internationally acclaimed winemakers all the way through.
Those booking their trip through StayVancouverHotels.com can also nab free tickets to the festival just by reserving on the platform. These events do sell out, so book your stay and events before it’s too late, and let those corks start popping!
For more information and to purchase tickets visit vanwinefest.ca
Follow updates at @vanwinefest
In partnership with the Vancouver International Wine Festival
