Bacchanalia Gala Auction Highlights
FEATURES COLLECTIBLE WINE LOTS AND UNIQUE EXPERIENCES
VANCOUVER, BC (February 19, 2025) — The Vancouver International Wine Festival is pleased to announce auction highlights of this year’s Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction, presented by National Bank Private Banking 1859. The live auction is held during the Gala on February 22, at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, and features hundreds of
different wines from around the world, as well as experiences aimed at the discerning oenophile.
Auction Chair Tim Ellison and his team have assembled an impressive collection of celebrated wines. Highlights of the live auction include the celebrated 1999 Petrus, valued at $6,625, and six bottles of the 2006 Château Palmer, valued at $4,980. Unique experiences include a dinner for 10 onstage at Bard on the Beach, and an exclusive tour and tasting at Signorello Estate.
Don’t have a ticket to the Gala? The silent auction is now open online for bidding until Saturday, February 22 at 9 p.m. You don’t need to be at the gala in person to bid on these lots, but you do need to be able to pick them up on Sunday, February 23, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.
The Bacchanalia Gala wine auction is the province’s premier opportunity for wine collectors to obtain rare and older vintage wines. The auction is a charitable fundraising event; since 2013, the Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction has helped raise $2.2 million for the Bard on the Beach Theatre Society.
SILENT AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS
RARE & UNIQUE WINES
The live auction isn’t the only way to take home storied wines from top international vineyards.
1953 Château Margaux
Estimated Value: $2,675
Château Margaux is one of Bordeaux’s most famous wine estates, located just east of Margaux itself in the Médoc, and rated as a first growth in the original 1855 Bordeaux Classification of the Médoc.
Premier Cru Duet
Estimated Value: $3,815
One bottle each of 1989 Domaine Leflaive Les Pucelles and 1999 Domaine Denis Mortet Lavaux Saint-Jacques. Domaine Leflaive, based in Puligny-Montrachet, is one of the most important producers in the Côte de Beaune, focusing almost entirely on white wines made from Chardonnay. Domaine Denis Mortet is a producer from the village of Gevrey-Chambertin in the Côte de Nuits of northern Burgundy, known for its high-quality wines made from Pinot Noir.
Two Decades of Château Haut-Brion
Estimated Value: $2,880
One bottle each of 1982 Château Haut-Brion and 1992 Château Haut-Brion. Château Haut-Brion, located in the Pessac-Léognan appellation, is the oldest of Bordeaux’s five first growths, and one of the most famous wines in the world.
2003 Majella “The Malleea” Cabernet-Shiraz
Estimated Value: $2,025
Six bottles of 2003 “The Malleea” from festival favourite Majella, a spectacular example of the great Australian tradition of Cabernet/Shiraz blends.
Fort Berens Double Vertical 2010-2017, Cabernet Franc & Meritage
Estimated Value: $950
Stock your cellar with this carefully curated selection of Fort Berens Meritage and Cabernet Franc, for unique vertical tastings or simply your own enjoyment. One each of Fort Berens Estate Winery Cabernet Franc: 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2016 Reserve, 2017, 2017 Reserve. And one each of Fort Berens Estate Winery Meritage – 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2015 Reserve, 2015 Red Gold, 2016, 2016 Reserve, 2017. Fort Berens is in Lillooet, BC, on the sagebrush benchlands of the Fraser River, creating warm, dry growing conditions.
EXPERIENCES
Elevated tastings, weekend getaways, and other adventures await the successful bidder.
Magnolia Hotel & Spa and The Courtney Room, plus Collector Tasting and Lunch at Unsworth Vineyards
Estimated Value: $1,250
Enjoy a two-night stay at the Magnolia Hotel & Spa, a 4-Diamond, MICHELIN 1 Key boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Victoria. Dine at the award-winning restaurant, The Courtney Room, with a $200 dining credit. Then journey to Unsworth Vineyards for a Collector Tasting, followed by a meal at The Restaurant at Unsworth Vineyards thoughtfully prepared by Chef Dan Bain and his talented culinary team.
Quails’ Gate Winery Experience: Two Night Stay at The Bazett House & Dinner for Four
Estimated value: $1,300
Escape to the vineyard with a two-night stay at The Bazett House at Quails’ Gate Estate Winery, conveniently located on the estate property. Enjoy strolling the winery grounds with a wine expert on a private tour, followed by a tasting of the Quails’ Gate range of wines and a culinary experience for four at Old Vines Restaurant.
Salt Spring Artisan Trail Tour for Two & Two-Night Stay at Lightwater Cove
Estimated value: $1,330
Explore the Salt Spring Island “Artisan Trail” with stops including Garry Oaks Estate Winery, Salt Spring Island Cheese, Sacred Mountain Lavender farm, Ciderworks Tasting Room & Orchard, Salt Spring Brewing Co, Ganges Village Market. Then enjoy a two-night stay at Lightwater Cove, offering breathtaking views and luxurious accommodations, including island-crafted king beds with organic bedding.
Bacchanalia Gala also offers a raffle with a one-in-400 chance to win two business class tickets anywhere Delta Air Lines flies, to a maximum value of $34,000 USD. Secondary prizes include premium season passes to Bard on the Beach and Delta Air Lines vouchers. Tickets are only $100 and are available online. You do not need to attend gala to win. All proceeds go to Bard on the Beach.
Bacchanalia Gala guests will enjoy nine exceptional West Coast wines and a spectacular five-course menu, followed by live music and dancing.
HOW TO PURCHASE VIWF TICKETS
Online: VanWineFest.ca 24/7
Phone: 604-873-3311, toll free 1-877-321-3121 (Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)
Ticket prices include wine, food, gratuities, taxes and service charge.
STAY IN TOUCH
For more information about the Vancouver International Wine Festival go to VanWineFest.ca and read our Quick Facts. For a snapshot of event availability, click on the Festival at a Glance. Information regarding the U.S. tariff situation can be found here.
X: Follow @VanWineFest for announcements, including e-news, festival updates & media releases. Join the conversation at #VIWF.
Facebook / Instagram: @VanWineFest
Youtube: @Playhousewine – watch the 2025 Gala video
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/vancouver-international-wine-festival
ABOUT VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL WINE FESTIVAL
Canada’s premier wine show will mark its 46th edition of pairing wine, food and the performing arts from February 22- March 2, 2025. The festival will showcase 120 wineries from 15 countries, featured in 43 events over eight days. The Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction, presented by National Bank Private Banking 1859, is the main fundraising event of the festival and kicks off the festival on Saturday, February 22 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Trade Days takes place Wednesday, February 26-Friday, February 28. The festival is consistently ranked the #1 Food, Wine & Hospitality Event in Canada by New York’s BizBash and was named one of the world’s top 10 wine trade shows by Wine International Association. 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 more than $10.2 million for the performing arts. Major sponsors are Delta Air Lines and The Vancouver Sun; major industry partners are the BC Liquor Distribution Branch, BCLIQUOR, 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 is one of Canada’s largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare festivals, presented on the waterfront at Sen?á?w/Vanier Park. The festival offers Shakespeare plays, related dramas, and popular special events in two performance tents every June through September. Over 2 million patrons have experienced Bard since its inception, growing to annual attendance close to 100,000. Next year’s festival runs June to September 2025, and scheduled plays include Much Ado About Nothing, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again], and The Dark Lady. Bard also offers a range of education programs for learners from eight to 80. Full details and education program information are at bardonthebeach.org.
