The 34th Annual Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival pours into Vancouver on February 27^th and runs until March 4th, 2012.  This is North America’s premier wine event with 181 wineries pouring over 1700 wines from 15 countries.  As with every year, there is a regional theme and this year it is the Wines of Chile as the regional theme and Cabernet(s) as the global focus.

Original conceived as a fund-raiser for the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company in 1979, the first year featured only one winery and winemaker, Robert Mondavi and saw approximately 1,000 people attend a two day event at Hycroft House, a Shaughnessy mansion owned by Vancouver’s University Women’s Club.

In the second year, it was again a one-winery festival but by the fourth year, the festival had grown to 45 wineries, all from California and by the ninth year had enlarged to include wineries from six other countries.

Since that first festival, over $7 million has been raised for the Playhouse, making it possible for the Playhouse to produce their theatrical productions and to create educational and community outreach programs.  Last year, the Bacchanalia Gala Dinner and Auction raised over $250,000 alone.

Today the festival draws some of the biggest names in the international wine industry from around the world and is recognized as North America’s, if not the world’s premier wine event.

Throughout the week, there will be an astounding 64 events happening all over Vancouver, from wine tastings, gourmet dinners, luncheons, the Gala Dinner and Auction, educational seminars and culinary competitions to the crown jewel of the Playhouse Festival, the International Festival Tasting room.

Definitely the highlight of the festival for the novice or serious wine taster, the International Wine Festival Tasting room (March 1, 2 and 3,) at the Vancouver Trade & Convention Centre is a massive tasting event where almost 800 wines will be poured and one will have the rare opportunity to meet the owners, winemakers, and senior representatives from wineries from around the world.  You never know if you will run into the Baroness Rothschild or one of the members of the Gallo family and it is a chance to taste some of rarest and greatest wines on the planet.  If you attend only one event at the festival, make it this one.

As with any wine tasting of this magnitude, a little planning can go a long way in enhancing your Festival experience.  Here are a few key things to remember while attended the festival.

• Have dinner before attending.  There is the usual supply of bread, cheese, and maybe some sausage but this will not counter the effects of any alcohol consumption.
•  It is a wise suggestion to spit the wine after tasting it.  You may be tempted to consume your money’s worth but this is not recommended.  Start practicing now with water and by the time the festival rolls around people will think you are a pro.  Plus, you will be able to taste more and stay on your feet longer.
•  It is a good idea to wear darker coloured clothes.  Wine and especially red wine, seems to be attracted to light coloured clothes and with all the jostling and spitting going on, you might find yourself taking home wine you do not want.
•  Do not wear aftershave, perfume, or any scented body lotions as this interferes with other taster’s sensory abilities.
• Have a game plan before you attend.  The tasting room can be quite overwhelming so it is best to prepare ahead of time what you want to taste, whether it is all Chardonnay or Riesling or Cabernet.  Try tasting whites before reds, lighter wines before heavier ones and save the ports and dessert wines for the end.

Veterans of the Festival know that the highly coveted events may sell out quickly.  Ticket sales will be very robust so it’s best to purchase early.  A PDF of the festival brochure can be downloaded from www.playhousewinefest.com and brochures are also available at signature BC Liquor Stores and selected private stores. Tickets can also be purchased through Playhouse Audience Services at 604-873-3311.

Weekend Wine Picks:

The 2009 d’Arenberg Stump Jump GSM ($16) is the Australian version of Châteauneuf- du-Pape with its huge aroma of blackberry and mulberry fruit, plum, dark cherry fruits, Asian spice and hints of vanillin that carries right through onto the palate.  A blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre, the name relates to the old Stump Jump plough named for its ability to ride over stumps and gnarled Eucalyptus roots and snags, saving valuable time and resources by not stopping the draught horse.  The palate is savoury and bone-dry, balanced with lovely sweet black fruit and subtle tannins and acidity that already make the wine a pleasure to drink now or cellar well for 2-3 years.  Try this with char-grilled meat or paired with pâté, game, venison and grilled sausages.

The 2010 Orofino Riesling ($25) is sourced from the winery’s old vines, a neighbours vineyard and a one acre Riesling planting just south of Cawston.  A great tasting Riesling, look for buckets of fresh green apple, lime, white peach, pear, nectarine with hints of honey, clover, orange and mango while the palate and texture is lush and juicy with intense orchard and tropical fruit.  A tart and crisp finish makes this a perfect wine to pair with spicy Asian dishes or Indian curries.

A delicious, great value wine, the 2009 Viña Chocalán Syrah ($16 ) boasts a deep black cherry colour, aromas of dried mint tea leaf, cassis, blueberry cola, strawberry and creamy vanilla.  A soft, supple entry leads to a dry-yet-fruity medium body of red and black fruits with fresh tobacco leaf, grilled sausage, smoked bacon and black pepper.  The finish has good complexity and richness, very fresh and vibrant with good structure and balance.  A fantastic buy for $, this is a great B-B-Q wine and a nice QPR (quality-to-price ratio).

The 2009 Quails Gate Chardonnay ($23) is a Chardonnay for those who are fed up with the over-oaked style of wine that is prevalent. While the wine is 50% tank fermented and 50% barrel fermented in 20% new French and American oak, the oak is not over-powering.  Displaying rich tropical and orchard fruit such as mango, pineapple and grapefruit with pear and red apple, the flavour mirrors the aroma with its fruit-dominated character with buttery, creamy vanilla and subtle oak finish.  Soft and creamy on the palate with refreshingly crisp acidity, this is a perfect wine to serve with chilled lobster.