GREAT TASTES FROM THE VINE
Tomatoes, B.C. whites a perfect pairing
It’s never too soon to start planning for the upcoming 41st Vancouver International Wine Festival (Feb. 23-March 3, 2019), especially when it comes to securing tickets.
This year the festival’s theme is Dream Big: California Style, with 53 wineries and principals, all heading north from California to Vancouver to present the latest wine. The festival will host 107 other wineries from 15 countries around the world, plus several wines from South Africa that will only be available at a regional tasting station inside the tasting room.
Harry Hertscheg, VIWF executive director, tells me that more than one out of four wineries in 2019 will be new to the festival. It’s refreshing to hear that wineries not doing business in B.C. are still willing to come to a market where liquor regulations are stacked in favour of the government’s monopoly wholesale and retail chain, making business in retail wine stores impossible for all but the largest wineries in the world. But we digress.
Hertscheg was happy to talk about the festival’s early bird program offering a discount on select tasting room-related events just in time for the holidays.
With California in town, the highly popular International Festival Tastings will sell out well before the start date so why not take advantage of the current discount offers, saving $9 off the regular price of International Festival Tasting tickets (Feb. 28, March 1 and March 2). Advance tickets for evening tastings from 7 to 10 p.m., are $80 for Feb 28, $90 for March 1 and $100 for March 2. The Saturday matinee tasting from 2:30 to 5 p.m., set against the stunning backdrop of Coal Harbour, is available for the low advance price of $75.
There is a catch. Only a limited number of tickets are available at the advance rate for each of the four sessions. Once the allotted advance tickets sell out, tickets prices will revert to the full price. Don’t wait to get your tickets.
If you want to elevate your festival experience you should consider buying a Delta Air Lines Tasting Lounge pass and save $14 (advance rate $185 for March 1 and $195 for March 2). The lounge is in the Ocean Foyer in VCC West, right next to the tasting room, and is open from 5:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. Ticket holders get direct access to the main tasting room and their own personal club with comfortable seating, spectacular views, select festival wines and light bites and cheeses.
If you are looking for the ultimate tasting experience, the highly sought-after Gold Passes are on sale at $480, giving you full access to six tastings (four public IFTs and two trade tastings, as well as entry to the Delta Air Lines Tasting Lounge and the opportunity to attend the Festival Toast VIP reception. If you were to purchased all those events as individual tickets it would cost you $749.
One of the festival’s best kept secrets, and a super deal, is the save, sip, and stay safe program. If you book a room through stayvancouverhotels.com (there are 37 downtown Vancouver hotels participating), you receive a free International Festival Tasting ticket ($84 to $109 at regular rates) to the session of your choice. The offer is available until Feb. 14 or until the allocations last, so book early to taste for free and, more important, not drink and drive.
Anything to do with California wine has perennially tended to sell out quickly, so whether you are contemplating tickets for yourself or perhaps as Christmas gifts, don’t wait too long. Advance tickets will be available until Dec. 15, or until they are all gone.
Look for them online at vanwinefest.ca, or call 604-873-3311, toll free 1-877-321-3121 (Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.), or in person at 202-162 West 1st Avenue, Vancouver (Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.).
Tickets to the wide ranging and various public dinners and oneoff tastings go on sale Jan. 9 at 9:30 a.m. They, too, will not last long. See you there.