Last Updated on February 10, 2020 by Cody Livingston
Celebrating its 42nd anniversary, the Vancouver International Wine Festival 2020 runs from February 22 to March 1. It features wine from 15 countries and over 160 different wineries. This year, the focus is on France and about 42 wineries from 10 different wine-growing regions are participating in the festival and the spotlight is on rose wine. The key attraction at the Vancouver International Wine Festival being held at Vancouver Convention Centre is the Tasting Room, which features over 750 wines and food.
About the Wine Festival
One of the oldest and largest wine events in the world, the VanWineFest is a coveted annual wine affair that brings together wine enthusiasts and experienced sommeliers from all over the world. Voted the ‘#1 Food, Wine & Hospitality Event in Canada’ since the last five years in a row by New York’s BizBash, it offers wine experiences, promote the wine industry and raise funds for Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Theatre.
From humble beginnings in 1979, the festival has grown to become Canada’s best and most prestigious wine show. The festival features some 50 events each year, of which about 40 are open to the public and another dozen or so for people in wine-related and hospitality industries. Around 150+ wineries serve over 1,500 types of wines throughout the festival. To give an idea about the scale of the festival, about 45,000 wine bottles are opened and/or purchased annually at the event.
With a striking slogan – ‘The Wine World is Here’, each year the festival focuses on various wine-growing regions in the world. In 2017, it was Canada, in 2018, the featured region was the Iberian Peninsula and in 2019, it was California. In 2020, the year is for France.
2020 Festival Wines & Wineries
Countries participating in this Wine Festival include:
France (43), Canada (33), Italy (24), USA (17), Spain (9), Australia (7), Portugal (6), New Zealand (5), Argentina (4), Croatia (4), Germany (4), Chile (3), Romania (2) and Uruguay (1).
Moreover, a few Sake (rice wine) makers from Japan are also participating this year.
Admission Prices
Tickets to events are on sale and the Vancouver International Wine Festival ticket price ranges from about $40 to $450. Prices include wine and food during the event. Additionally, tips, taxes and service charges are also included in the price.
Other Events at the Festival
The 9-day wine festival features several events including the grand Bacchanalia Dinner, Trade Days Seminar, International Tastings, wine parties & dinners and much more.
Seven out of the nine days of the festival are open to the general public. All nine days, including the first two, are open to participants in the wine and hospitality industry.
Relish a fancy 5-course dinner with wine, live music and dancing.
Venue: Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, Canada
How to reach:
Board Skytrain Train – 980 – Canada Line Skytrain at the platform sign ‘Canada Line To Waterfront’. Deboard at Waterfront Station Northbound. Head northwest on W Cordova Station toward Howe Station. Turn right at Howe Station. The Vancouver Convention Centre is straight ahead at 1055 Canada Place.
The dates for the other events are:
Bacchanalia Dinner + Auction – February 22, 2020
Trade Days Seminar – February 26 to 28, 2020
The Tasting Room – February 27 to February 29, 2020
Temperature:
The average temperature you’ll face in February would be between -11.0°C and -2.2°C. So, make sure you’re warm enough to tackle the cold.
Presently, the Vancouver Wine Festival draws some of the iconic industries from all over the globe and is strongly distinguished as the continent’s primary wine event and among the oldest and best wine festivals in the world.
This is a wonderful prospect to meet and greet sommeliers, winemakers, owners and senior representatives from wineries around the globe. For either the proficient wine lover or the beginner, the grand festival has something to please every taste and wallet.