2023 Participating Wineries
148 Wineries from 17 Countries, Featuring South America
Vancouver, B.C. (December 1, 2022): The Vancouver International Wine Festival is excited to announce the winery line-up for the 44th annual festival, which takes place April 22-30, 2023. This spring wine and food extravaganza returns to the Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC) and other venues, with 148 wineries from 17 countries, featured at 36 events over eight days. The festival will feature South America as the 2023 theme region, with a global spotlight on sparkling wine.
CELEBRATING SOUTH AMERICA
The festival is featuring a specific region of the wine world for the first time since 2020, with South America in the spotlight for 2023. Forty-four wineries from four countries – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay – will be sharing their wines and their stories with festivalgoers in the Tasting Room and at special events throughout festival week.
The festival is pleased to welcome Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein, president of Full Circle Wine Solutions and Master the World, and a renowned wine writer and educator, as this year’s keynote speaker.
“It is so exciting to be coming to the 2023 VIWF to lead the charge for and excitement over the featured theme of South America and her wines,” says Goldstein. “No continent outside western Europe has as pronounced and broad an impact on the world of wine as South America and her 10 wine producing nations. From Carmenere to Malbec, Torrontés to Tannat, the festival will offer up an array of selections supported by seminars and tastings extolling their collective virtues.”
The festival is also hosting Patricio Tapia, author, critic, and Decanter Magazine’s South America expert, who will share his knowledge with consumers and members of the trade throughout festival week.
THE WINE WORLD IS COMING
VanWineFest 2023 will welcome 152 different producers from 17 countries, more than 25% of them attending the festival for the first time.
“In addition to the four countries and 44 wineries from South America, we have a strong contingent travelling from Europe,” says Mark Taylor, co-chair of the VIWF Winery Selection Committee. “Italy leads the way with 26 wineries, but France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Portugal, and Spain are also well represented. The New World is out in force, with Canada and the US combining for 48 wineries in attendance, and returning favourites travelling from Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. In total, there will be more than 800 wines in the Tasting Room to discover, marking a return to pre-pandemic numbers.
“As well, our global spotlight, sparkling wine, will bring the best bubbles from around the wine world, with Champagne and Crémant from France, Cava from Spain, Prosecco from Italy, and other superb sparklers featured in events throughout festival week and in the Tasting Room.”
The festival is headquartered at the Vancouver Convention Centre; in addition, restaurants and venues around the city will host winery dinners, lunches, seminars, and wine minglers. The sumptuous Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction, presented by National Bank Private Banking 1859, and benefiting Bard on the Beach, will take place on Saturday, April 22 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. The heart of the festival is the Tasting Room in VCC East, where all 152 wineries will gather for four International Festival Tastings and two Trade Tastings on Thursday, April 27, Friday, April 28, and Saturday, April 29.
SAVE ON ADVANCE TICKETS
Advance tickets go on sale Wednesday, December 14 at 9:30 a.m. in time for holiday gift giving. In the spirit of savings, festivalgoers can save $6 off the regular price of tickets to the International Festival Tastings and $30 off the Super Pass. “We’re delighted to offer holiday savings for festivalgoers on the 2023 Tasting Room,” said Harry Hertscheg, VIWF executive director. “Tickets make a great gift for the wine lover on your list, and you can easily buy them online. Best of all, the ticket price you see is the amount you pay. No extra charges or surprises upon check out!”
International Festival Tastings (IFT)
Advance tickets for evening tastings, 7 to 10 p.m., are $109 for Thursday, $119 for Friday and $129 for Saturday. The Saturday matinee tasting from 2:30 to 5 p.m. is available for the advance price of $109. Only a limited number of tickets are available at the advance rate for each of the four sessions. Once the advance allotment sells out, tickets may be purchased at regular prices.
Super Pass
For those wanting the full tasting experience, Super Passes also go on sale December 14 at the advance rate of only $460 (regular price $490). Super Passes include access to all six tastings (four public IFTs and two Trade Tastings, presented by ContainerWorld) and the exclusive Festival Toast VIP reception. Purchased individually, the Super Pass events are valued at $689.
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL TASTINGS HIGHLIGHTS
The Tasting Room at the Vancouver Convention Centre is where all 152 participating wineries gather to pour ~740 select wines. Discover exciting new wines, or return to old favourites, sipping from premium wine glasses. The room will also feature dozens of wines at regional tasting stations from around the world, plus a sparkling wine booth. You can find wine-friendly food and beverage exhibitors offering tasting samples, including ARC Iberico Imports, Caffè Umbria, D’Oro Gelato e Caffè, FIJI Water, La Grotta del Formaggio, Rishi Tea & Botanicals, and Terra International Foods. Festivalgoers, however, are encouraged to have a meal before attending as food quantities are limited.
More Room, Smaller Crowds
Both the Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon sessions are guaranteed to have a lower capacity than Friday and Saturday evening, offering more room and more time to interact with winery principals.
BC Liquor Stores Festival Wine Shop
Included in the price of each IFT ticket is the opportunity to shop at the onsite BC Liquor Store where wines from all participating wineries will be available for purchase. Look for the blue dot denoting Festival Exclusive wines. Whether you buy one bottle or 100, your wine purchases can be shipped at no cost to your nearest BC Liquor Store anywhere in the province. BC Liquor Stores offers a free transit ticket at their Get Home Safe booth as you exit, so you can get home safe.
Vine Stars
What makes VanWineFest specialis the presence of global “vine stars” – winemakers, proprietors, senior executives – who come to Vancouver every year to pour and discuss their wines with festivalgoers. Each winery will be represented in the room by a principal, a senior representative from the winery. Seek out the royal blue lanyards at tastings and special events to meet our vine stars face-to-face.
BOOK A HOTEL, GET A FREE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL TASTING TICKET!
Save, sip, and stay safe! Book a stay at one of StayVancouverHotels.com’s 42 downtown hotels and receive a free International Festival Tasting ticket (a $115 to $135 value at regular rates) to the session of your choice. This offer is only available from December 14 until April 13 or while allocations last, so book early to taste for free. The StayVancouverHotels.com initiative is an important cornerstone of the festival’s Don’t Wine and Drive program.
HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS
Online: VanWineFest.ca
Phone: 604-873-3311, toll free 1-877-321-3121 (Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)
All ticket prices include wine, food (if a food event), gratuities, taxes and service charge.
TRADE DAYS
Trade Days, which run April 26-28, will feature 10 events, including two Trade Tastings, presented by ContainerWorld, seminars and masterclasses, and three trade lunches: a Keynote Speaker Lunch featuring Evan Goldstein MS; Principals Welcome Lunch, presented by HillebrandGori; and Celebrating Excellence: 19th Annual Awards Lunch, presented by ContainerWorld. The Trade Days Pass, which includes a selection of events on the Thursday and Friday of Trade Days, goes on sale February 1, while individual trade events go on sale March 15.
STAY IN TOUCH
For more information about the Vancouver International Wine Festival go to VanWineFest.ca.
Twitter: Follow @VanWineFest for announcements, including e-news, festival updates & media releases. Join the conversation at #VIWF.
Facebook / Instagram: @VanWineFest
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/vancouver-international-wine-festival
SAVE THE DATES
• Advance tickets, Super Pass, and StayVancouverHotels deal goes on sale Wednesday, December 14 at 9:30 a.m.
• Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction tickets go on sale Wednesday, January 18 at 9:30 a.m.
• Trade Days Pass goes on sale Wednesday, February 1 at 9:30 a.m.
• Winery dinners go on sale Wednesday, March 1 at 9:30 a.m.
• All remaining public events go on sale Wednesday, March 8 at 9:30 a.m.
• All trade events go on sale Wednesday, March 15 at 9:30 a.m.
ABOUT VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL WINE FESTIVAL
Canada’s premier wine show will mark its 44th edition of pairing wine, food and the performing arts from April 22-30, 2023. The festival will showcase 152 wineries from 17 countries, featured in 36 events over eight days. The Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction is the main fundraising event of the festival and kicks off the festival on Saturday, April 22 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Trade Days takes place Wednesday, April 26-Friday, April 28. The festival is consistently ranked the #1 Food, Wine & Hospitality Event in Canada by New York’s BizBash. 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 nearly $9.9 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 Vancouver International Wine Festival gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.
ABOUT BARD ON THE BEACH
Bard on the Beach was established in 1990 with a mandate to provide Vancouver residents and tourists with affordable, accessible Shakespearean productions of the finest quality. Begun as an Equity Co-op, Bard is now a fully professional company engaging hundreds of talented artists, artisans, technicians and year-round administrators. Bard’s primary focus is its annual festival in Vanier Park/Sen?á?w, which annually attracts over 100,000 people. Bard’s other key elements include education and training initiatives for both the artistic community and the general community at large.
###
Media Contact:
Ruby Gillett, Milk Creative Communications
ruby@thinkmilk.ca
Photo galleries: Contact Milk for hi-res images
Edited February 13
