The Vancouver International Wine Festival is pleased to announce the winery lineup for the 41st annual festival, which takes place February 23-March 3, 2019. The eight-day wine and food extravaganza will showcase 160 wineries from 15 countries, including 53 wineries from California, this year's featured region. They'll be joined by 107 wineries from around the world, pouring 1,500+ wines at 54 events. Each participating winery will be represented by a winery principal – our vine stars – who come to Vancouver every year to share and discuss their wines with festivalgoers.
“VIWF 2019 will welcome 160 different producers from 15 countries, 53 of them from the theme region of California,” says David Hopgood, chair of the Winery Selection Committee. “Eighteen of these wineries are based in Napa, so you can expect spectacular Cabernet Sauvignons in the Tasting Room and at special events throughout festival week, but California will be showcasing its diversity and varieties through wineries from all over the state.
The festival is headquartered at the Vancouver Convention Centre; in addition, more than 20 other restaurants and venues around the city will host winery dinners, lunches, seminars and wine minglers. The sumptuous Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction, benefiting Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival, kicks off the festival on Saturday, February 23 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver; tickets and tables are on sale now. The heart of the festival is the Tasting Room, where all 160 wineries will gather for four International Festival Tastings. Discounted advance tickets for the International Festival Tastings go on sale Thursday, November 1 at 9:30 a.m. Festivalgoers can get a free ticket if they book one of 37 downtown hotels via StayVancouverHotels.com from November 1 to February 14, while supplies last.
Dream Big: California Style
Forty years after Robert Mondavi Winery was the sole winery at the first VanWineFest, we’re celebrating California wines once again, with 53 wineries from the Golden State (including Robert Mondavi Winery).
Festival week will feature 20 California events, including vine star seminars, vintage tastings, winery dinners, a wine party to kick off the week, and a spectacular Saturday lunch featuring all 53 wineries. California wine industry power couple Gina Gallo, Vice President, Winemaking - Estate Wines, E&J Gallo Winery, and Jean-Charles Boisset, Proprietor, Boisset Collection, will be present as California wine ambassadors, speaking at a number of key events during the week.
Trade Days Conference
The Trade Days Conference, which runs February 27 to March 1, features 12 events, including two Trade Tastings, presented by ContainerWorld, masterclasses and seminars, and three trade lunches: the Keynote Speaker Lunch; Principals Welcome Lunch, presented by JF Hillebrand; and Celebrating Excellence: 16th Annual Awards Lunch Featuring California Wines, presented by ContainerWorld.
Save the Dates
Advance tickets go on sale Thursday, November 1 at 9:30 a.m.
All public events go on sale Wednesday, January 9 at 9:30 a.m.
All trade events go on sale Wednesday, January 23 at 9:30 a.m.
For more information about the Vancouver International Wine Festival go to VanWineFest.ca.