{"id":2132,"date":"2020-04-03T14:12:25","date_gmt":"2020-04-03T21:12:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vanwinefest.ca\/tradedays\/?page_id=2132"},"modified":"2020-07-28T17:28:24","modified_gmt":"2020-07-29T00:28:24","slug":"2020-seminar-recaps","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vanwinefest.ca\/tradedays\/2020-seminar-recaps\/","title":{"rendered":"2020 Seminar Recaps"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]Keynote Speaker: Andrew Jefford<\/a><\/p>\n

Climate Change Symposium (to come)<\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]Languedoc with G\u00e9rard Bertrand<\/a><\/p>\n

BC: No Place Like It<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]Vin Tour de France<\/a><\/p>\n

Emilia-Romagna’s Native Grapes<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]\n

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Andrew Jefford: Keynote Speaker
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Monday, February 24-Friday, February 28, 2020<\/p>\n

Recap by Sid Cross<\/strong><\/p>\n

The one week 42nd annual Vancouver International Wine Festival (VIWF) spotlighting 162 participating wineries of which 42 represented theme country France concluded on March 1, 2020. Another amazing success story with 57 festival events highlighted this year by outstanding keynote speaker Andrew Jefford (AJ). AJ & family live in a small town in Southern France a part of the Montpellier district of the Languedoc-Roussillon wine region. He is a highly respected journalist with multiple awards for his many books (including The New France<\/em>) and is contributing editor for The World of Fine Wine<\/em> & Decanter<\/em> plus Academic Advisor for Wine Scholar Guild. AJ joins a long list of top educators over many years at VIWF that started with Michael Mondavi in February 1979. So many have followed over the decades including early on Robert Balzer at the California Wine Festival, March 1981, Hugh Johnson for the sixth American Wine Festival, March 1984 and even this scribe who has been actively involved in some capacity for all 42 festivals. This tradition has carried on with AJ brilliant this year raising the level so high with his astute topical most intellectual comments delivered at these following seven events. You had to be there to savour the wonderful flavour of his delivery but here are a few concise educational notes:<\/p>\n

Official #VIWF Opening reception<\/strong>
\nFebruary 24 at Joey Bentall One<\/p>\n

With the introduction of AJ and announcement that Bacchanalia Gala Auction at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver February 22 had raised $256,000 for charitable partner Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival.<\/p>\n

Industry Networking Lunch<\/strong>
\nFebruary 25 at Terminal City Club<\/p>\n

AJ debated whether it was mainly \u201cnature or nurture\u201d that has resulted in France becoming such a diverse respected land mass for vines at varying latitudes, temperatures, north and south winds, alkaline & limestone soils that those vines really like. AJ also offered up that there are three things that the French people do better than anyone else \u2013<\/p>\n

(a) \u201cDivine Dissatisfaction\u201d of never being happy to sit on their laurels but always arriving on Monday morning with a frown trying to do even better!
\n(b) \u201cFundamentally Modest\u201d so noble vine varieties are based on origin and not with an emphasis on marketability resulting in consumers being the beneficiaries of all this.
\n(c) \u201cHigh Level of French Cuisine \u2013 Vive La France Gastronomique!\u201d<\/p>\n

Keynote Speaker Lunch<\/strong>
\nFebruary 26 on French Lessons in a Warming World<\/p>\n

AJ started by referring to recent wild weather with high temperatures in France that broke the 2003 record of 111F with 115F or 46C but no wine region is immune. It is affecting all vineyards with higher alcohol and the old balanced classicism of style is under duress. Not all losers though and some Northern vineyards are being helped and even Bordeaux is riper since 1982. It has not reached the critical point of change or life threatening yet but may arrive. Bordeaux suggesting new grape varieties be planted but lots of rules & regulations mean you can\u2019t move the Chambertin vineyard boundary. AJ suggests four unwritten rules as most important:<\/p>\n

(a) Know Your Vineyard with attention to detail \u2013 used the example that in 2050 it may be too hot for Romanee-Conti Pinot Noir but replanted with Grenache that may be very good but not the sublime R-C as we know it that can never be replaced.
\n(b) Respect The Natural (not natural wine) of the seasons and style of the vintage overlaying the terroir.
\n(c) Difference Is Everything \u2013 your response to climate change may be a step backwards.
\n(d) Embrace Climate Change in a Positive Way \u2013 like they did with phylloxers before the cactus takes over the grape vine. Embrace change in Canada and other New World wineries. Topical that the new Master of Wine from Canada Ross Wise MW Winemaker of Black Hills Estate Winery did his Research Paper on \u201cHow will climate change be influencing viticulture in British Columbia\u2019s Okanagan Valley by the 2050s?<\/p>\n

Read Andrew Jefford’s full keynote speech here.<\/a><\/p>\n

The Plenary Session<\/strong>
\nFebruary 27<\/p>\n

Featured not only AJ but co-moderator Jon Bonne (delightful 2019 Keynote speaker) on a vinous journey around the special wine regions of France serving top \u201cCru\u201d representative wines.<\/p>\n

Celebrating Excellence at 17th Annual Awards Lunch<\/strong>
\nFebruary 28<\/p>\n

AJ knows there are \u201crock star\u201d wine writers out there but the knowledgeable enthusiastic sommeliers are on the front line of service and so good at food\/wine matchings. Sommeliers are teachers and ultimate custodians of both young & old wines that bring a lot of happiness for people going to restaurants. Toast to the Sommeliers of the World!<\/p>\n

Many thanks Andrew Jefford for your most memorable learned contributions to the 42nd VIWF.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_separator][vc_single_image image=”2133″ img_size=”medium”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]\n

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Climate Change Symposium<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Wednesday, February 26, 9:30-11:45 a.m.<\/p>\n

Claudia Laroye<\/strong> of Vacay.ca<\/a> attended the Climate Change Symposium and shared her experience and learnings from the panelists:<\/p>\n

In BC, wine industry talks climate change challenges and solutions<\/a><\/p>\n

Moderator<\/strong>: Michelle Bouffard
\nPanelists:\u00a0<\/strong>Richard Angove, Felicity Carter, Pierre Corvisier, Michael Fagin, Katie Jackson, Lenz Moser[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_separator][vc_single_image image=”2140″ img_size=”medium”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]\n

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\nLanguedoc with G\u00e9rard Bertrand <\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Thursday, February 28, 10-11:45 a.m.<\/p>\n

Recap by Christine Campbell, girlsgogrape.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Peace, Love and Harmony<\/strong><\/p>\n

G\u00e9rard Bertrand was the highly anticipated guest of the first Vancouver International Wine Festival masterclass held Wednesday morning. Bertrand brought 10 exquisite wines to taste, including \u201cthe most iconic ros\u00e9 on earth\u201d that retails for over $200 a bottle. The wines Bertrand shared were nothing shy of superb, \u201cI want to deliver the \u2018character\u2019 of a place. I want my wines to \u2018taste\u2019 of somewhere.\u201d He was quick to add that he never makes the same blend year after year, but instead uses intuition to reach the perfect balance for the wines he wants to make and enjoy.<\/p>\n

At the age of 10, Bertrand was introduced to his fathers\u2019 cellar after spending his childhood summer vacations helping out in the vineyards, \u201cMy father believed in the possibility of crafting great wines from the Languedoc at a time when the region was not known for its quality. For me, I am on a mission to promote the Languedoc region – I need to do this to pay tribute to my roots, where I have come from, to the people who worked this land before me.\u201d His father imparted in him a lifelong passion for wine and a vision of excellence for the Languedoc region.<\/p>\n

At the heart of Bertrand\u2019s message was his absolute belief in and practice of biodynamic viticulture, \u201cYou cannot reveal a great wine if your soil is more or less dead. In biodynamic farming, everything is alive, including and most importantly, the soil and subsoil.\u201d Bertrand is a fervent believer that we have to be excellent ambassadors of the earth, \u201cThe wine industry must be an example for agriculture. It is important to respect the planet and it is our journey is to take care of the soil, subsoil and our water sources.\u201d All of Bertrand\u2019s 2,500 acres of vineyards laid out over 16 different estate sites are all biodynamic.<\/p>\n

Moderator<\/strong>: Anthony Gismonid
\nPanelists<\/strong>: G\u00e9rard Bertrand[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_separator][vc_single_image image=”2136″ img_size=”medium”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]\n

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BC: No Place Like It<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n

Wednesday, February 26, 3:45-5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Recap by Jennifer Matli, wineacumen.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

This session was artfully facilitated by Barbara Phillip, who selected 10 lovely wines representing the diversity of styles, varietals, and terroir across British Columbia. The tasting began with bubbly (as most good things do!), worked its way through Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay before making its way into Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, a classic blend, and finishing with a Syrah.<\/p>\n

The Okanagan Valley Geographic Indication (GI) produces 85% of Okanagan wines, grows a large variety of varietals, and gets two hours more sunlight per day than Napa. The following wines were presented:<\/p>\n