Vancouver International Wine Festival 2017
Another successful Vancouver International Wine Festival took place this past weekend February 11th – 19th. Canada was the host country in honour of its 150th birthday this year. Nestled in among decorations of faux trees, complete with bark and deep green leaves, were wineries from across Canada.
The True North
Of special interest to me were the wines of the Ontario and Nova Scotia regions, which as a Vancouverite, I have never been able to experience before. The sometimes difficult Nova Scotian climate means the wineries there must grow a variety of grapes that I have never heard of before. They proved very interesting, but in my mind (and I fully admit to my home grown bias) BC was the real stand out. With three times as many wineries present as the rest of Canada, it was hard to find a wine I didn’t like. Special mention to Tight Rope wineries Pinot Noir, which for my money was one of the top BC wines of the night.
An International Affair
Of course you couldn’t call this an “international” wine festival without including wines from across the globe! France of course, offered an incredible array of wines, some of the best Bordeaux’s I have had the privilege of tasting. I was, however, a little surprised and disappointed by the lack of Burgundy wines in attendance, as they are some of the best France has to offer. Some surprises for me included some absolutely amazing wines from Argentina and Chile. I truly believe, especially for Chile, that over the next few years these will be the wines to watch.
The wine festival is always an amazing event. Whether you’re a master sommelier or a novice wine drinker more interested in price than the “bouquet”, it’s always a fun experience and even the French make wine tasting approachable for all. The ability to try wines from around the globe in one room is rare and can really take your understanding, enjoyment, and knowledge of wine to the next level in a fun and engaging way.
Like a fine wine, the Vancouver International Wine Festival gets a little better with each passing year and everyone will experience it a little differently, but always with the same effect… a healthy buzz.
For more information:
Vancouver International Wine Festival
BMO Theatre Centre
Suite #202-162 West 1st Ave
Vancouver, BC
V5Y 0H6
