Today (February 25th) ‘Til March 3rd: Vancouver International Wine Fest

Wine is made all over the world, on all of the seven continents save for Antarctica. Europe, both East and West. America, both North and South. Oceania. Asia. Africa.

The list of wine-producing nations just goes on and on.

A scene from last year’s wine festival: an around-the world wine tasting marathon. (Literally.)

And, all this week, there’s a chance to taste many of them all under one festival, if not one roof.

Starting today and running until this Sunday, the Vancouver International Wine Festival (VIWF/VanWineFest) - formerly the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival – offers a series of wine tastings, dinners, seminars and events to please any global palate. (Your Hedonista attended a tasting last year as media and will do so again this year.)

This festival originated back in 1979, when it was a two-day event held at at Hycroft, the Shaughnessy mansion owned by Vancouver’s University Women’s Club and featured just one vintner – Robert Mondavi. That inaugural event hosted approximately 1,000 attendees.

Traditionally a fundraiser for the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company for 34 years (during which time this wine festival raised over $7.8 million for the Playhouse to put on over 235 theatrical productions), but in March 2012 the theatre company announced it would be ceasing its operations after 49 season.

In September 2012, the Vancouver International Wine Festival announced a new charity partnership: the Bard on the Beach Theatre Society.

This year, some 15 nations are participating, with heavy representation from the U.S. State of California. British Columbia seems to be the only province taking part from Canada, with over two dozen winery exhibitors, including some personal favo(u)rites: Averill Creek Vineyards, Ex Nihilo Vineyards & Winery, Painted Rock Estate Winery, Quails’ Gate Winery, Road 13 Vineyards, and Township 7 Vineyards & Winery. Strangely, only three Washington wineries appear as exhibitors on the VanWineFest website: Charles Smith Wines, Columbia Crest, and Long Shadows.

This event is a true vino-cultural powerhouse, with industry greats featuring unique tastes. Enticingly enophilic enjoyment, to be sure.

Festival tickets range in price; it’s best to check the festival out online and and order according to event. (NOTE: Many are already sold out, so hop to it.)

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.