Public25: International Festival Tasting THU

Sip, Stay, and Save

Book a hotel room through StayVancouverHotels.com and receive a free International Festival tasting ticket. Available November 13 to February 13, while supplies last.

The Wine World is Here

If you attend only one of the festival’s events, make it an International Festival Tasting. The Tasting Room at the Vancouver Convention Centre is the heart of the festival, where all 121 participating wineries and their principals gather to pour their select wines. Discover exciting new wines, or return to your favourites, sipping from premium wine glasses. The room will also feature wine and food-related exhibitors, Regional Tasting Stations featuring wines from California, Oregon, Washington, and New Zealand, and wine bars featuring themed wines from around the world.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TASTING ROOM

West Coast U.S. Wines
In 2025, the festival is turning the spotlight on the United States, with 50 wineries from California, Oregon, and Washington travelling north to share their wines and their stories. From Sonoma to Santa Barbara, Walla Walla to Willamette, West Coast U.S. wines reflect the terroir and climate of each distinct region, from sun-drenched valleys to the cooler coast. Take a wine journey along the West Coast in a special section of the Tasting Room.

Vine Stars
The stars of the global wine scene – winemakers, proprietors, senior execs – come to Vancouver every year to pour and discuss their wines with festivalgoers. That’s what makes this festival special. Each winery will be represented in the room by a principal, someone closely involved in the wine-production process, there to share their wines and knowledge. You’re quite likely to find that the person serving your wine has their name on the bottle. Identify the vine star by his or her royal blue lanyard. Chat them up!

Free bottle check and wine delivery
All wines served at the winery tables are available for purchase at the BCLIQUOR Festival Wine Shop in the Tasting Room, but some are in VERY limited supply. When you discover a wine that you want to enjoy at home, don’t wait until the end of the session to buy it as it might be sold out – put it in the handy bottle check, and then continue your tasting session. Repeat as necessary. When you’re ready to leave, check out your wines. And if you live in British Columbia, whether you’ve bought one bottle or several cases, your wine can be shipped free of charge to your nearest BCLIQUOR store. Very convenient!

Please note: the entrance to the Festival Wine Shop is in the Tasting Room and is only accessible to International Festival Tasting ticketholders during their tasting session.

Words to the wise
Pace yourself. Have a game plan – you can’t taste every wine in the room. And don’t swallow everything that’s poured into your glass. Pick up a spit cup with your wine glass. When you try a wine, use the spit cup or the rinse stations to dump your wine. Rinse your glass, then repeat. You'll be able to enjoy the unique characteristics of each wine better. We offer four tasting sessions over three days, so you don't need to try everything in one day!

Please don’t wear fragrance! All the noses and palates in the room will thank you.

This is a wine tasting, not a food event. Be sure to have a meal before you arrive. That said, food samples are available to enhance your tasting experience.

Must be 19 or older (No Minors) to attend Vancouver International Wine Festival events. Two pieces of ID (one containing photo & birthdate) are required. Infants and children are not permitted.

Don’t Wine and Drive!
Don’t even think about bringing your car or bike.

• Take transit. BCLIQUOR offers a free transit ticket at their Get Home Safe booth in the onsite Festival Wine Shop.
• Assign a designated driver
• Take a cab or limo
• Walk