The 35th Annual Vancouver International Wine Festival pours into Vancouver on February 25th and runs until March 3th, 2013.  This is North America’s premier wine event featuring 176 wineries from 15 countries pouring 1,850 wines at 55 events to a projected audience of 25,000.  As with every year, there is a regional theme and this year the spotlight is on California with a global varietal focus on Chardonnay.

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 and by the ninth year had enlarged to include wineries from six other countries.

Since its inception, the festival had raised over $7 million for the Playhouse, which made 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.

However, last year the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company announced that the Company would come to an end after 49 years.  In September, The Bard on the Beach Theatre Society was announced as the charity.

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 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 (February 28, March 1 and 2) 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 here and brochures are also available at signature BC Liquor Stores and selected private stores. Tickets can also be purchased on-line here or by phone at 1-877-321-3121 or 604-873-3311.

Weekend Wine Picks:

Always a BC favourite, the 2011 Quails Gate Gewurztraminer does not disappoint.  This is one of the best from Quails’ Gate that I have tasted in years.  With heady aromas of grapefruit, pineapple, lychee nut and rose petal on the nose, the texture on the palate is almost liqueur-like because of the viscosity.  The flavours are loaded with vibrant tropical and orchard fruit, hints of lychee, orange blossom and a great whack of spicy acidity on the finish.  Very little is available for retail stores so grab some before it is all gone.  This vintage can actually age for another 3-4 years.  Try it – you’ll like it.

The 2009 Kettle Valley ‘Old Main Red’ is a classic left bank, Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with a small amount of Petit Verdot and Malbec. A stunning display of rich, juicy blackberry, plum, and cassis fruit followed by spicy licorice, vanilla, and toast, the palate is superb with its black fruit character, spicy French oak (20 months), soft acidity, and a good grip of tannin. This wine is still in its infancy and will age for another decade at least. Buy it now and leave it alone for 6-12 months.

The 2011 Desert Hills Gamay is not your average Gamay.  The gang at Desert Hills on the Black Sage Road have taken this grape to the next level, producing a lush, concentrated wine, with intense aromas of ripe black cherry, black raspberry, cassis, vanilla, cedar, sweet licorice with clove and black pepper spice.  The texture on the palate is soft, round and supple with spicy clove, roasted meat, black cherry with coffee and chocolate flavours.  One of the best Gamay’s in the valley.