International Wine Festival in Vancouver is an annual event where wine and food lovers meet each year.
The first one took place in the year 1979, and we are waiting for the 2020 festival. It’s slotted to take place between February 22nd to March 1st.
It’s one of the significant and oldest events where people from across the world can converge at Vancouver for the wine show.
The event hosts the best winemakers in the world. Wine collectors would have a difficult time selecting the best for their collection. Participants meet and interact with wine drinkers of all levels.
The event which took place in 2019, had winery principles from 160 winemakers located in 15 different countries. They were able to interact and share with their competitors for the eight days they were in the event.
There were over 25,000 participants who came to experience the developments in the wine industry.
Events Which Take Place at the International Wine Festival
The festival focuses on one country or region each year. The country which hosts the most wine events in a year and has more wineries get to host the event.
In 2019, The wine festival featured California. 2020 the event will be in France where winemakers will have a chance to showcase what they have.
The event is held at the Vancouver Conventional Center. The critical part of the festival is the International Festival Tasting.
There are 725 wines available for sampling. The event also offers 145 wines for trade tasting for their visitors. The selected country or region has a secluded and exclusive segment.
In the section, they can showcase their wines, production styles, and also offer samples for people to taste. The room or part also features industrial exhibitors and food suppliers.
There are also more than 550 different wines to be tasted during special events. You can join in for the gala dinner, or wine auction.
There are also wine seminars and trade events where you can enjoy these wines. In the different hotels in Vancouver, visitors may enjoy wine pairing during their stay.
The BC liquor store is usually in the event, and anyone can purchase their favorite wine from the onsite store. The wine is delivered to the nearest BC Liquor Store.
They don’t charge a buyer for the deliveries to where they can easily collect their merchandise. Once you purchase a ticket to the event, you are allowed at the onsite BC Liquor Store.
During the festival, there is a trade day conference. There are usually around twelve wine events. Only members from the wine and hospitality industry are allowed to participate.
There are two trade tastings on Thursday and Friday during the trade conference.
Event Location
The event is held in Vancouver, Canada. The wine festival takes place in around 25 venues around the city. However, the headquarter is at Vancouver Conventional Center. Most of the seminars and trade day conference are held at the hall.
Ticket Prices
If you need to participate in the event, you need to purchase a ticket. The prices for a single ticket ranges from $40 to $450.
The cost of the tickets is usually inclusive of food, wine, service charges, and gratuities. If you need to get the tickets at a discount, there are set days you can get them at a low price, before the event.
For the year 2020, tickets will be on a discount from November 1st to December 15th. When purchasing tickets, you can get gate passes at a discount.
Make sure you buy a ticket in advance to avoid the last-minute rush. The price varies depending on the events that you select. They are available on the Event organizer’s website.
Gala Dinner (Bachanalia) and Auction
The dinner and auction is the center of attraction for the whole event. The night event offers incredible food and wine pairing.
Participants will have the opportunity to replenish their wine cellar with the most exceptional bottles. The 2019 Gala dinner and auction began at 6 pm and was presented by Blakes.
Participants enjoyed nine wine pairings with a five-course meal. The culinary team from Fairmount Hotel Vancouver prepared the dinner. The gala events usually begin with a sparkling wine reception.
It’s all about fun, music, and dancing throughout the evening.
The auction hall is silent and only rare wine bottles are available for sale. If you are a wine collector, this festival should be on your to-do list.
During the gala, there is a raffle where there is a price for two lucky winners. They get a business-class trip offered by Delta Air Lines.
That’s it for the International Wine Festival in Vancouver. We hope to see you there at the next event in 2020!