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

Original conceived as a fund raising venture 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.  In 1987 it became a multi-national event with wineries from around the world.

Since inception, the festival has raised over $7 million 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 attracts some of the biggest names in the international wine industry and is firmly established as Canada’s, if not North America’s, premier wine event.  It is an extremely rare opportunity to meet owners, winemakers, and senior winery representatives from around the globe.

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 with water and by the weekend 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.

For more info on up-coming events, check out www.planitbc.com and look under the calendar of events.

Wine Picks:

A Gold Medal winner at the 2011 BC Wine Awards, the 2010 Moon Curser Viognier ($31.20) is a vibrant greenish gold coloured wine with a ripe, juicy ebullient mouthful of pear, peach, tangerine, honeysuckle, orange blossom, and pineapple flavours.  In spite of the delicacy of its fruit and floral elements, the wine has a fine mouth-filling, crisp yet velvety palate loaded with tropical and orchard fruit characteristics with a juicy finish that lingers for an impressively long time.

Displaying a light straw-gold colour with a green tinge, the 2010 Laughing Stock Chardonnay ($33) reveals luscious aromas of citrusy lime, pineapple, mango and papaya. The palate is rich and full with gobs of luscious tropical and orchard fruit, honeysuckle, creamery butter and crisp spicy acidity. The slight hint of nutmeg on the lush finish adds that little extra layer of complexity.  Wickedly good tasting Chard.

The 2010 Meyer Pinot Noir ($29) is a velvety, silky-smooth wine displaying ripe raspberry, cherry, strawberry and cassis fruit aromas with hints of sweet licorice, menthol, vanilla and new leather.  Delicate notes of red and black fruit, roses, violets, hints of vanilla and smoke balance a lush and rich texture.  Velvety soft acidity balanced by the medium tannins on the finish, this is a “drink-me-up” wine, not intended for aging.  Just invited some friends over and enjoy.  This is generous wine can stand up to a number of rich foods.  Try pairing it with salmon steaks or duck Confit with garlic-mashed potatoes.

One of my favourite white wines, the 2010 Black Hills Alibi ($30) is a unique blend of Sauvignon Blanc and barrel-fermented Semillon.  The straw-gold colour with dazzling hints of green showcases a powerful aroma of tropical fruits, honeysuckle and honeydew melon with flavours of lime, tropical fruits, and vibrant apricot and orange peel characters.  The acidity is fresh and clean, contributing to a crisp and persistent tropical fruit finish.