Vancouver International Wine Festival 2014
“One of the Very Best Wine Festivals in the World”
February 24 to March 2, 2014
The 36th Vancouver International Wine Festival, Canada’s top wine show is fast approaching. The fest, which is presented by The Vancouver Sun, will pour 1,750 wines from 178 wineries and 14 countries at 54 events (including 10 events for trade only).
France is the theme country this year, and the global focus is bubbly. The Acura Tasting Room, the hub of the festival, has 780 wines, organized by country. The France Bon Appétit section offers a virtual tour of nine diverse wine regions, with 206 wines from 52 French wineries. And there are more than 110 sparkling wines in the room.
What Else is New this Year?
Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction has moved to the Saturday (February 22) preceding festival week; there’s a first-ever afternoon tasting for the public (March 1, 3-5 p.m.); about 45 of the 178 participating wineries are festival first-timers; wines with a Shop the World neck tag can be ordered by the case and delivered within two weeks; and rock-star winemakers will sign their iconic bottles onsite.
Don’t Wine and Drive
And whether you’re coming from across the country or across a bridge, Don’t Wine and Drive: you can get a free tasting ticket (an $89 or $68 value) if you book a room in one of 37 downtown hotels through beVancouver.com.
All the tried and true things are back, of course, including fabulous dinners, lunches, seminars, wine minglers and more. And perhaps best of all, when you discover wines you like in the tasting room, you can buy them onsite at BC Liquor Stores’ wine shop and have them shipped for free to your nearest store.
Event Tickets are going fast (and gone, in many cases) so act now.
Net proceeds go to Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival.
Details at vanwinefest.ca.
