Introducing the 2018 Wineries
2018 VanWineFest Announces 173 Wineries from 15 Countries,
Features Wines from Spain and Portugal
Vancouver, B.C. (September 26, 2017) – The Vancouver International Wine Festival is pleased to announce the winery lineup for the 40th annual festival, taking place February 24-March 4, 2018. The eight-day wine and food extravaganza will showcase 173 wineries from 15 countries, including 38 wineries from Spain and 20 wineries from Portugal, this year’s featured countries. They’ll be joined by 115 wineries from around the world, pouring 1,450+ wines at 51 events.
View the winery list here.
“This year, we are thrilled to welcome 58 vintners from Spain and Portugal, celebrating the incredible diversity of these storied wine regions,” says David Hopgood, chair of the Winery Selection Committee. “It will be fascinating to explore the wines from these Iberian neighbours, with their distinct styles and grapes, and rich traditions of winemaking. The exceptional roster for 2018 also includes wines from 13 other countries, including 43 wineries from old world producers and 69 new world wineries, plus sake-makers from Japan, Oregon and Canada. In all, one-third of all the participating wineries are festival first-timers, providing many opportunities to discover new wines and producers.”
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 24 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver; tickets and tables are on sale now. The heart of the festival is the Tasting Room, where all 173 wineries will gather for four International Festival Tastings. Discounted advance tickets for the International Festival Tastings go on sale Tuesday, November 1 at 9:30 a.m.
Discover Wines from Spain and Portugal
Spain and Portugal are two very distinct nations with their own rich histories and cultures. They share the Iberian Peninsula, however, so this festival will provide a fascinating opportunity to see how their winemaking and viniculture have developed in divergent and convergent paths over the centuries. More than two dozen owners and winemakers from Portugal and Spain will be in attendance, as well as other top executives representing their wineries and wines.
“This year marks the largest gathering of wineries from Spain and Portugal in festival history,” says Harry Hertscheg, VIWF executive director. “We look forward to sharing the stories, passion and history of these wineries and their principals through a series of events that explore Spain and Portugal’s unique varietals, styles, regions and producers. We’re honoured to be part of a dedicated community, proudly building a vibrant wine and food culture over the past 40 years.”
Festival week will feature 21 Spanish and Portuguese events, including vine star seminars, vintage tastings, winery dinners, a Spanish wine party to kick off the week, and a spectacular Saturday lunch featuring all 58 wineries.
Trade Days Conference
The Trade Days Conference, which runs February 28 to March 2, includes two Trade Tastings, presented by ContainerWorld, masterclasses and seminars, and two trade lunches: Principals Welcome Lunch, presented by JF Hillebrand, and Celebrating Excellence: 15th Annual Awards Lunch Featuring Wines from Spain & Portugal, presented by ContainerWorld.
Save the Dates
Advance tickets go on sale Wednesday, November 1 at 9:30 a.m.
All public events go on sale Wednesday, January 10 at 9:30 a.m.
All trade events go on sale Wednesday, January 17 at 9:30 a.m.
For more information about the Vancouver International Wine Festival go to VanWineFest.ca.
ABOUT VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL WINE FESTIVAL
Canada’s premier wine show will mark its 40th edition of pairing wine, food and the performing arts from February 24 to March 4, 2018. The festival features Wines from Spain and Portugal and will showcase 173 wineries from 15 countries (including 38 wineries from Spain and 20 from Portugal) pouring a projected 1,450+ wines at 51 events to a projected 25,000 admissions. The Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction opens the festival on Saturday, February 24 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. The festival is produced by the Vancouver International Wine Festival Society, which has three mandates: provide an informative, educational and entertaining wine experience for public and trade; be a premier marketing opportunity for the wine industry and festival partners; and raise funds for the Bard on the Beach Theatre Society. Since inception in 1979, the festival has raised $9 million for the performing arts. Major sponsors are Delta Air Lines and the Vancouver Sun; major industry partners are the BC Liquor Distribution Branch, BC Liquor Stores, and the Import Vintners & Spirits Association. The festival is made possible through the gracious support of our participating countries’ consulates and embassies.
ABOUT BARD ON THE BEACH SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
Celebrating its 29th season in 2018, Bard on the Beach is one of Canada’s largest not-for-profit professional Shakespeare festivals. It is presented on the waterfront in Kitsilano’s Vanier Park, adjacent to Vancouver’s downtown core. Bard on the Beach offers Shakespeare plays, related dramas and popular special events in two performance tents every June through September. In 2017, attendance was over 100,000 and more than 1.6 million patrons have experienced Bard since 1990. Next year’s festival dates are June 6 to September 22, 2018, and the lineup includes As You Like It, Macbeth, Timon of Athens and a new Bard-commissioned adaptation of the Greek classic Lysistrata.
Bard also offers a range of education programs, including Young Shakespeareans Workshops for 8-18 year-olds at its Vanier Park site during the summer, and Riotous Youth for 19 to 24-year-olds. During the school term, Bard also offers workshops for educators and youth in schools and community centres throughout BC’s Lower Mainland, as well as at its administrative home, the BMO Theatre Centre (162 West 1st Avenue). Full details and education program information are at bardonthebeach.org.
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Media Contact: Betty Verkuil, Sponsorship & Marketing Director
