The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival announced this year’s trade competition winners at the 9th Annual Awards Lunch on Friday, March 2nd, 2012. The Celebrating Excellence Awards Lunch gives the Festival a chance to honour and celebrate those professionals who have contributed to our region’s exceptional wine and food culture. In honour of the awards, guests enjoyed lunch prepared by culinary talent Blair Rasmussen, Executive Chef to the VCC, and toasted winners with wines from Chile, this year’s Festival theme region.

SPIRITED INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL (SIP) AWARD
The Spirited Industry Professional Award annually honours an individual who has made a significant contribution to the sales, service or promotion of wine in British Columbia. The seventh annual SIP Award goes to Richard Carras, Vice President Western Canada of Authentic Wine & Spirits Merchants. For over 25 years, Carras has been a leader in the wine industry. In the early 1980’s he set up and ran western Canada’s first Wine Bar in Kitsilano and in 1997, he became the first Canadian employee for Robert Mondavi, where he worked his way up to become the Export Sales Director for Asia & the Americas. In 2006 he helped to establish the Western division of Authentic Wine & Spirits Merchants, which now has employees and offices throughout Western Canada. Inducted into the BC Restaurant and Food Services Association Hall of Fame in 2011, Carras is also a past president of the International Society of Wine Educators, and is a “Certified Wine Educator”, a certification held by only around 250 people worldwide.

SOMMELIER OF THE YEAR AWARD
The 12th annual Sommelier of the Year Award recognizes outstanding wine knowledge and wine service. This year’s award goes to Terry Threlfall. Threlfall is the renowned Sommelier and Wine Director at Vancouver’s Hawksworth Restaurant. His expertise stems from over a decade spent working as Head Sommelier and Wine Buyer at London’s Michelin-starred restaurant, Chez Bruce. Furthermore, Threlfall is certified by the International Sommelier Guild and was the first Canadian Sommelier to become a regular panelist for Decanter magazine. The Sommelier of the Year is awarded based on votes by key members in the industry and is also included in the May Restaurant Awards issue of Vancouver Magazine.

WINE LIST AWARDS
Celebrating the best food and wine pairings in the business, restaurants throughout British Columbia and Alberta have been recognized for creating wine lists that complement their establishment’s unique menu and concept. Candidates submitted their wine and menu lists, and were then visited by judges who reviewed their programs. The top restaurants were awarded Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze, or commended with an Honourable Mention. The Wine List Awards are sponsored by Vancouver Magazine.

METRO VANCOUVER

Platinum:
Blue Water Café & Raw Bar
Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill & Enoteca
Hawksworth Restaurant
West

Gold:
Brix Restaurant & Wine Bar
CinCin Ristorante & Bar
Fraiche
L’Abattoir
MARKET by Jean-Georges
Nicli Antica Pizzeria
Salt Tasting Room
Wine Room at Joey Bentall One

Silver:
C Restaurant
Chambar
Cork & Fin
Edible Canada at the Market
Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House
Lift Bar Grill View
Maenam
Tableau Bar Bistro
The Observatory
YEW restaurant + bar
Zest Japanese Cuisine

Bronze:
Raincity Grill
The Salmon House

Honourable Mention:
Al Porto Ristorante
Gramercy Grill
The Beach House Restaurant
WHET kitchen bar patio

WHISTLER

Gold:
Araxi Restaurant & Bar
Rimrock Café

Honourable Mention:
Ric’s Grill Whistler
The Grill Room at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler

VANCOUVER ISLAND AND GULF ISLANDS

Silver:
Galiano Inn (Galiano Island)
Nautical Nellies (Victoria)
The Pacific Restaurant (Victoria)
Vis à Vis Wine & Charcuterie Bar (Victoria)

Honourable Mention:
Ric’s Grill Victoria
The Landing West Coast Grill (Victoria)
Mix by Ric’s (Sooke)
Zambri’s (Victoria)

OTHER BC

Silver:
The Restaurant at Painted Boat (Madeira Park)

Bronze:
La Bussola Restaurant (Kelowna)
Local Lounge + Grille (Summerland)

Honourable Mention:
Whitetooth Mountain Bistro (Golden)

ALBERTA

Platinum:
Divino Wine & Cheese Bistro (Calgary)
Vin Room (Calgary)

Gold:
Catch Restaurant and Oyster Bar (Calgary)
Cilantro (Calgary)
Emerald Lake Lodge (Calgary)
RUSH (Calgary)
The Ranche Restaurant (Calgary)

Honourable Mention:
Ric’s Grill Downtown Calgary
Ric’s Grill Grande Prairie

THE ART INSTITUTE OF VANCOUVER WINE PROFESSIONAL CHALLENGE
Sommeliers and wine professionals vied for the chance to win The Art Institute of Vancouver Wine Professional Challenge, now in its seventh year. Competitors were required to rotate around 5 judging stations and speak for 3 minutes on a specified wine-related topic. This year, the challenge winner presented with the coveted Puddifoot Award by Mr. John Puddifoot was Adrien Boisvert from Black + Blue.

BLIND TASTING CHALLENGE
On Wednesday February 29th, 2012 wine trade and service professionals, culinarians, and non-professional connoisseurs alike competed in the Blind Tasting Challenge. They blind tasted seven wines and identified them using the Wine and Spirit Education Trust’s Systematic Approach to Tasting. This year the Blind Tasting Challenge winners were Brian Glaum (consumer) Leah Gamache of Chambar (culinary) and Lesley Anne Saito of Legacy Liquor Store (trade).

ABOUT THE PLAYHOUSE WINE FESTIVAL
The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, Canada’s premier wine show, runs from February 27th to March 4th, 2012. The Playhouse Wine Festival is one of the biggest and oldest wine festival events in the world. In 2012, the theme region is Chile, while the global focus is Cabernet(s). The Festival features a week of special events including the Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction, wine seminars, wine minglers, winery dinners, and lunches and brunches at fine restaurants and hotels. The Playhouse Wine Festival is produced by the Vancouver Playhouse 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 Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company. Since its inception in 1979, the Festival has raised over $7.2 million to enable Western Canada’s leading theatre company to mount 223 productions and develop extensive community outreach and educational programs.

This week we chat about the upcoming Playhouse International Wine Festival that starts on Monday and runs throughout the week (Feb 27- Mar 4), and get the scoop on what events are worthy and still have tickets left.  This year the theme country is Chile and the grape Cabernet.  We also have some beer events coming up too, so fear not if beer is your choice of libation.

The wine festival is a fundraiser for the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company and arguably one of the most important wine events in North America, this year’s event will bring 180 participating wineries from 15 countries. Expected to entertain some 25,000 oeno-enthusiasts at 64 events, the Festival will offer seven days of tastings, seminars, and wine focused minglers hosted at the Vancouver Convention Centre West and top Vancouver restaurants, hotels and venues.

California Cruising – Wednesday Feb. 29 at Caymus Lounge

Get your groove on – California Style – and celebrate the wines of the Golden State at trendy Canvas Lounge in Gastown. Sip, nosh and socialize with stylish wine lovers and enjoy the cool, California vibe. Twenty-one California wineries will be on-hand to share with you their liquid sunshine in a glass paired with some small bites from Chef Dobrosav Kovacevic. Don’t miss wines from La Crema, Truchard, Paul Hobbs, Hahn and Nine North Wine Company.

International Festival Tasting – Thursday Mar. 1 – Saturday Mar. 3

The Tasting Room offers a unique opportunity to taste rare bottles and discover new treasures as you visit with renowned winery principals from around the globe. At each booth you will find a winery principal, identified by his or her royal blue lanyard. This person is a senior member of the winery, intimately involved in the wine-producing process as a winemaker, proprietor or senior executive. Nowhere else in the world will you find a gathering of these talented men and women pouring wine and answering questions under one roof. Take the opportunity to ask questions and learn from the experts about your favourite wine.

BC Paired – Indulge Your Senses – Wine Lunch at Provence

Indulge your senses with the best wine and food BC has to offer at Yaletown’s famed Provence Marinaside! Taste award-winning BC VQA wines from 18 top BC wineries perfectly paired with locally inspired cuisine from Executive Chef Jean-Francis Quaglia. Meet the charismatic winemakers and proprietors behind the wines and discover what makes the Wines of British Columbia truly unique.

Sherry Renaissance – Sherry Seminar

Join the Sherry renaissance movement as certified Sherry educators and local oenophiles Kurtis Kolt and Mireille Sauvé lead a tutored tasting of the region’s most treasured gems. Participants will experience a full spectrum of Sherry styles, each specifically paired with some of the signature ingredients they best enhance. Prepare to make Sherry your next food and wine pairing inspiration!

Beer Lover Don’t Dispair – Rogue Women in Beer Pairing

• 8 Fabulous BC Beers brought to you by….
• 8 Charismatic BC Women in Beer from….
• 8 BC Breweries paired with…..
• 8 Perfectly Paired Creations by Rogue Chef Cory Chapman!
• Sponsored by Pink Pints!
•  ….Yes Boys, you are welcome to come!!

Three nights, three unique experiences, one incredible room of wine

The heart of the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, the International Festival Tasting Room (or IFT) offers three nights of unparalleled tasting opportunities from March 1st to 3rd. With tickets priced at just $95 (inclusive of all taxes and fees) the IFT is a unique chance to taste rare bottles and discover new treasures as you visit with renowned winery principals from around the globe. For the first time the International Festival Tasting will face out onto the majestic North Shore Mountains, the perfect backdrop for North America’s largest consumer wine event. This year’s IFT will also be the largest to date with a whopping 54,782 sqft of space – 39% larger than any other IFT in Festival history.

Playing out over three consecutive evenings, each night of the IFT is unique. On Thursday capacity is guaranteed to be 25% lower, offering an excellent opportunity for wine aficionados to interact with some of the world’s top winery principals. Friday evening’s session is perfect for groups and the after-work crowd looking kick off the weekend in style, while Saturday night is ideal for couples and friends eager to enjoy a night on the town. Looking for a VIP experience? Amplify your evening in the Tasting  Room with premium wines and light bites at the Gold Pass Tasting Lounge on Friday and Saturday evenings. Make a full night of it by enjoying an evening with one of the Festival’s hotel partners. Tickets to Gold Pass Tasting Lounge and IFT are still available by visiting www.playhousewinefest.com

This year, Chile takes centre stage as the Theme Region at the 2012 Playhouse Wine Festival. While in the Tasting Room make sure to check out the Wines of Chile Focus Stations, where three different varietals from Chile – Sauvignon Blanc, Carmenere, and Cabernet Sauvignon – will be presented by sommeliers who can answer your questions at three different tasting bars. If you’re interested in how Chile is leading the charge in sustainability in winemaking you can learn more about Wines of Chile’s Certified Sustainability program, then stick around for an informative and energetic video that brings more of Chile right into the room.

A true viticultural Eden, Chile’s appellation system is made up of four major D.O. regions from north to south: Coquimbo, Aconcagua, Central Valley and the Southern Region. Each of these has several sub-regions, each with distinct climatic features and terroir. The IFT will see 35 participating Chilean wineries. Taste them all!

While in the IFT, don’t miss the “Life is a Cabernet” Tasting Station. As this year’s Global Focus there are more than 185 different Cabernet(s) in the Tasting Room. Experts from the International Sommelier Guild will be your guides through a tasting-tour of this impressive and diverse varietal.

Along with the “Life is a Cabernet” Tasting Station, the IFT will also feature five Regional Tasting Stations. Grab your glass and embark on a wine tour of Australia, British Columbia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the South of France as you sample the specialties of each region.

Find something you love? Look for it in the BC Liquor Stores Festival Wine Shop, located onsite in the International Festival Tasting. For three nights only, the shop will carry all tasting room wines, some of which are not regularly available in the market. The shop is accessible with a corresponding Tasting Room ticket stub. And don’t worry if you don’t feel like carrying your wine haul home. For your convenience, the BC Liquor Stores Festival Wine Shop offers a free bottle check service. Buy early in the evening to avoid disappointment and have your purchases set aside for you to pick up when you leave. For added convenience, purchases can be shipped free of charge to your local BC Liquor Store. After the tasting, visit the BC Liquor Stores Get Home Safe booth, located outside the Festival Wine Shop, and pick up a complimentary single zone transit ticket. The ride’s on us!

Have an iPhone? Navigate the Festival this year with the new winefest app, where you can locate events, learn about speakers, and the wines you’ve tasted and make notes on what you want to buy. Now available for free download from the iTunes store: http://bit.ly/wNt3nM

ABOUT THE PLAYHOUSE WINE FESTIVAL

The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, Canada’s premier wine show, will run from February 27th to March 4th, 2012. The Playhouse Wine Festival is one of the biggest and oldest wine festival events in the world. In 2012, the Theme Region will be Chile and the Global Focus, Cabernet(s). The Festival features a week of special events including the Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction, wine seminars, wine minglers, winery dinners, and lunches and brunches at fine restaurants and hotels. The Playhouse Wine Festival is produced by the Vancouver Playhouse 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 Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company. Since its inception in 1979, the Festival has raised over $7.5 million to enable Western Canada’s leading theatre company to mount 229 productions and develop extensive community outreach and educational programs. For more information visit www.playhousewinefest.com.

The Spirited Industry Professional Award annually honours an individual who has made a significant contribution to the sales, service or promotion of wine in British Columbia. The sixth annual SIP Award goes to internationally acclaimed food and wine critic, Jurgen Gothe. Gothe has seen his columns run in over 100 publications over the past few decades, and is currently the weekly wine columnist for the Georgia Straight. After 23 years hosting CBC Radio Two’s DiscDrive, Gothe retired as the station’s only double-gold-medal winning program host. Today, he does weekly spots for CBC on everything oenophilic, and can also be found on The Peak FM airwaves commenting on BC’s local flavours.

SOMMELIER OF THE YEAR AWARD

The 11th annual Sommelier of the Year Award recognizes outstanding wine knowledge and wine service. This year’s award goes to Owen Knowlton for his 500+ wine list at West restaurant, which also took one of the most coveted accolades in the trade competition: the Platinum Wine List Award. Driven to provide West guests wine that is high in value and quality (with a splash of boutique bottles and sommelier favorites), Knowlton has been sipping, spitting, and perfecting his wine knowledge over the last decade. The Sommelier of the Year is awarded based on votes by key members in the industry and is also included in the May Restaurant issue of Vancouver Magazine.
WINE PROFESSIONAL CHALLENGE

The Wine Professional Challenge gives sommeliers and wine professionals a chance to compete for the coveted Puddifoot Award. Currently in its sixth year, competitors were required to rotate around 5 judging stations and speak for 3 minutes on topics related to technical and varietal distinctions, flight tasting and customer service. This year, the challenge winner was Jay Whiteley of Hawksworth Restaurant. The Wine Professional Challenge is sponsored by Puddifoot.

FETZER GREAT BEGINNINGS WINE & APPETIZER CHALLENGE

Vancouver’s top chefs vied for gold on Wednesday night at Fetzer Great Beginnings, Flavours of the City. Chefs from Bearfoot Bistro, One Hundred Nights at OPUS Hotel Vancouver, Cibo Trattoria, DiVino Wine Bar, Sandbar, Diva at the Met, Prestons, Terminal City Club, and Uli’s Restaurant all vied for top prize from a panel of judges that included the city’s top food and wine journalists. This year’s award for best food and wine pairing went to Diva at the Met Executive Sous Chef Jeff Kang.

QUADY DESSERT COMPETITION

The Quady Winery of Madera California hosted the 23rd Annual Quady Dessert Competition, inviting British Columbia’s top pastry chefs, cooks and students to complement their orange muscat dessert wine, Essensia. At stake was a Grand Prize trip for two to California, as well as Silver and Bronze Prizes and Certificates of Merit for the top 10 competitors. First Place went to Lisa Ip of the Four Seasons Hotel, Second Place and Top Student from the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts went to Maria Darquier, while Michael Gelinas of Thomas Haas Fine Chocolates & Patisserie took Third. Competitors were judged on taste, wine pairing with Essensia, technique, presentation, and practicality by a respected panel of pastry chefs, executive chefs, sommeliers and food and wine media.

WINE LIST AWARDS
Celebrating the best food and wine pairings in the business, restaurants in Metro Vancouver, Whistler, Vancouver Island, the Interior and Alberta have all been recognized for creating wine lists that complement their establishment’s unique menu and concept. Candidates submitted their wine and menu lists, and were then visited by judges who reviewed their programs. The top restaurants were awarded Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze, or commended with an Honourable Mention. The Wine List Awards are sponsored by Vancouver Magazine.

METRO VANCOUVER

Platinum
Blue Water Café + raw bar
West Restaurant
Gold
C Restaurant
Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill & Enoteca
CinCin
Wine Room at Joey Bentall One
L’Abattoir
Au Petit Chavignol
Salt Tasting Room

Silver
Cactus Club Cafe
Provence Marinaside
The Observatory
The Salmon House
Zest Japanese Cuisine
Chambar

Bronze
ShuRaku Sake Bar & Bistro
Poor Italian Ristorante
Lift Bar Grill View
Yew Restaurant + Bar
Raincity Grill
Joe Fortes Seafood and Chop House

Honourable Mention
Goldfish Pacific Kitchen
Gramercy Grill
Joey Restaurants
Hart House Restaurant (Burnaby)

WHISTLER

Gold
RimRock Cafe Whistler

Silver
Araxi Restaurant + Bar

Honourable Mention
Ric’s Grill

VANCOUVER ISLAND AND GULF ISLANDS

Silver
The Pacific Restaurant (Victoria)

Bronze
Nautical Nellies Restaurant (Victoria)
Stage Small Plates Wine Bar (Victoria)
Veneto (Victoria)

Honourable Mention
The Landing West Coast Grill (Nanoose Bay)
The Marina Restaurant (Victoria)

BC INTERIOR

Silver
La Bussola (Kelowna)

Honourable Mention
Emerald Lake Lodge (Field)
Local Lounge . Grille (Summerland)
The Restaurant at Painted Boat (Madiera Park)
Whitetooth Mountain Bistro (Golden)

ALBERTA

Gold
Divino Wine & Cheese Bistro (Calgary)
River Café (Calgary)
Vin Room (Calgary)

Silver
Cilantro (Calgary)

Bronze
The Ranche Restaurant (Calgary)
Ric’s Lounge and Grill (Calgary)

Honourable Mention
Taste (Calgary)
Ric’s Grill Steakhouse (Grande Prairie)

ABOUT THE PLAYHOUSE WINE FESTIVAL

The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, Canada’s premier wine show, runs from March 28th to April 3rd, 2011. The Playhouse Wine Festival is one of the biggest and oldest wine festival events in the world. In 2011, the theme region will be Spain and the global focus, Fortified Wine. The Festival features a week of special events including the Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction, wine seminars, wine minglers, winery dinners, and lunches and brunches at fine restaurants and hotels. The Playhouse Wine Festival is produced by the Vancouver Playhouse 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 Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company. Since its inception in 1979, the Festival has raised over $7.2 million to enable Western Canada’s leading theatre company to mount 223 productions and develop extensive community outreach and educational programs.

The Shore Club generously presents the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival.

To mark its 33^rd year the 2011 Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival will welcome some of the most progressive winemakers and winery leaders in the world. From pouring at the International Festival Tasting to hosting events, these vin-pioneers are set to satisfy curious neophytes and seasoned oenophiles with personal, one-on-one meet and greets. Appearances from the following wine world celebrities are just a few reasons to partake in the weeklong festivities.

DIVA(S) AT THE MET

What’s it like to be a woman in the grape trade? Vancouver-based sommelier and Playhouse Wine Festival host Daenna Van Mulligen (alias WineDiva), who has a decade-long list of wine tasting critiques in her purse, will be introducing an international group of female winemakers, proprietors and industry headmistresses at Diva(s) at the Met. Speakers include Ann Sperling, of British Columbia’s 86-year-old Sperling Vineyards; Mary Ann Yewen, Director of Freixenet, one of the top selling sparkling wines on the planet; and Mariola Varona, the North American Export Director of the multi-award-winning Bodegas Martín Códax, specializing in the Albariño grape. Among other dignitaries, these wine queens will dish on the coveted wines they represent, as well as the stories behind their successes as principal businesswomen in a traditionally male dominated industry.

With direction from the biggest wine diva of them all, attendees will also enjoy a selection of small bites prepared by Diva at the Met’s Executive Chef Quang Dang. Join this inspirational group of women on Tuesday, March 29^th at the Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver, 645 Howe Street, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.

THE LEGACY OF A SPANISH VISIONARY: MIGUEL TORRES

When it comes to describing Spanish wine icon Miguel A. Torres, “legendary” is an understatement. Arguably one of the most important families in the history of Spanish wine, Legacy of a Visionary is the pièce de résistance of Festival week. Miguel is the fourth generation of Torres to preside over the acclaimed and centuries-old Miguel Torres Winery, a published author several times over, Decanter magazine’s 2002 Man of the Year and Wine International magazine’s 2005 Personality of the Year.

Moderator Anthony Gismondi will be discussing Miguel’s influence and the Penedès region winery, while guests are guided through a rare and diverse selection of wines from the Torres wineries in Spain, Chile and California.

One of the most anticipated events of the Festival, Legacy of a Visionary will held on Thursday, March 31^st at VCC East, meeting room 8, 999 Canada Place Way, from 5:00 – 6:45 pm.

GOOD GRACIOUS GRENACHE!

Join house wine’s Michelle Bouffard and Michaela Morris as they explore the grandeur and the many guises of Grenache. This lesser known, but surprisingly common grape, was baptized as “Garnacha” by the Spaniards and has ties to cheerful rosés, fuller-bodied reds (think: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Priorato and Rioja), and lusciously sweet elixirs. Prepare to taste some of its finest expressions hailing from Spain, France, California and Australia. Good Gracious Grenache! will be held on Saturday, April 2^nd, at VCC East, meeting room 1, 999 Canada Place Way, from 3:00 – 4:45 pm.

MEET YOUR MATCH

Finding the perfect wine is like finding the perfect partner, it takes the right introduction at the right time. Oeno-enthusiasts are promised that proverbial “spark” at this year’s much anticipated, Meet Your Match event. Chaperoned by master wine matchmaker and acclaimed wine writer, Anthony Gismondi, sippers will be invited to get up close and personal with the vinestars of the wine biz. These fascinating international winery principals are set to lead tasters first-hand through the intimate secrets of some of the world’s most outstanding wines and wineries. Presented in a format that allows small groups direct and personal interaction with Festival celebrities, each group will have about 6 minutes to taste the producer’s wine, hear their story and ask questions.

Included in the VIP list is proprietor Telmo Rodriguez, one of Spain’s most celebrated and animated winemakers. Telmo sought out forgotten vineyards for the purpose of recovery and cultivation of abandoned indigenous vines to rave reviews, consistently scoring 90+ points. Alvaro Palacios, widely considered to be propelling Spanish wine into the modern era, acquired his first vineyard, Finca Dofí, in 1990, and will be pouring cellared wines for Meet Your Match guests.

Known for his outstanding Syrahs and Cabernets, South African winemaker Marc Kent of Boekenhoutskloof will be returning to the Festival with his much lauded The Journeyman Franschhoek 2005. David Guimaraens, a sixth generation to Portugal’s Taylor Fladgate and Fonseca, is considered something of a winemaking genius at the international table. In December 2010, David released one of the world’s oldest ports, SCION, to a limited group of collectors and connoisseurs, which at 155 years old, may be one of the only wines to have survived the pre-Phylloxera era.

If these wine experts haven’t already satiated your taste buds, the event will also see Stefano Leone, International Export Director of Antinori; Louis Moreau, owner and winemaker of France’s Domaine Louis Moreau; British Colombia’s own Anthony von Mandl of Mission Hill Family Estate; Cristiano Van Zeller of Portugal’s Quinta do Vale Dona Maria; Californian winemaker Rick Sayre of Rodney Strong; Rupert Symington, Joint Managing Director of Symington Graham’s Port; and David Paterson of BC’s Tantalus Vineyards. Meet Your Match is scheduled on Saturday, April 2^nd at VCC East, meeting room 8, 999 Canada Place Way, from 5:00 – 6:45 pm.

ABOUT THE PLAYHOUSE WINE FESTIVAL

The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, Canada’s premier wine show, runs from March 28^th to April 3^rd, 2011. The Playhouse Wine Festival is one of the biggest and oldest wine festival events in the world. In 2011, the theme region will be Spain and the global focus, Fortified Wine. The Festival features a week of special events including the Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction, wine seminars, wine minglers, winery dinners, and lunches and brunches at fine restaurants and hotels. The Playhouse Wine Festival is produced by the Vancouver Playhouse 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 Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company. Since its inception in 1979, the Festival has raised over $7.2 million to enable Western Canada’s leading theatre company to mount 223 productions and develop extensive community outreach and educational programs.

The Shore Club generously presents the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival.

Beginning at 9:30AM on January 25^th, 2011, tickets to the Playhouse Wine Festival can be purchased online at http://playhousewinefest.com/ or by phoning the Playhouse Box office at 604-873-3311 or toll free at 1-877-321-3121. The full Festival brochure can be viewed online at http://playhousewinefest.com/page220.htm. Follow the Wine Festival on Twitter for up to the minute information on remaining tickets and sold out events: http://twitter.com/PlayhouseWine. 

THEME REGION: WINES FROM SPAIN

Wines from Spain take centre stage as the Theme Region at the 2011 Playhouse Wine Festival. As the country with the world’s largest area of vine cultivation, Spain has emerged internationally as a producer of an extraordinary range of wines of quality and character. This is your opportunity to explore the regions and varietals and discover great value and exceptional wines. 

A TASTE OF THIS YEAR’S SPANISH WINE EVENTS

SPAIN – Everything Under the Sun

Vancouver Art Gallery

750 Hornby Street

Tuesday, April 29^th, 8:00pm -10:00pm

$65/$55 each for groups of 8+until February 28

Wines from Spain are in the spotlight at this lively event at the Vancouver Art Gallery’s fully enclosed elegant Rooftop Pavilion. Overlook the bustle of downtown Vancouver as you sip on a varied selection of wines, nibble on Mediterranean-inspired tapas and meet the winemakers behind the bottles that make Spain a global leader. 

Vega Sicilia Vertical Tasting

Vancouver Art Gallery

Heritage Courtroom 301

750 Hornby Street

Wednesday, March 30^th, 3:30pm – 5:00pm

$325

One of the wine world’s rarest events is here: an opportunity to experience a vertical tasting of wines from Vega Sicilia, Spain’s legendary and world famous winery. Vega Sicilia proprietor Pablo Álvarez will conduct this stellar tasting, which will cover the past five decades and highlight the winery’s iconic Único label. Note: There is a limit of one ticket per order.

Spanish Legend

An Evening with Miguel Torres

Boneta

12 Water Street

Wednesday, March 30^th, 7:00pm -10:00pm

$175

Miguel Torres is one of the most important names in Spanish winemaking. Both the man and the wine are synonymous with quality, innovation and lasting legacy. Chef Jeremie Bastien will prepare an exquisite dinner at the acclaimed Boneta Restaurant, paired with a remarkable selection of Torres wines. The true delight of the evening will be your host, the venerable icon himself, Mr. Miguel A. Torres.

Caballeros del Vino

VCC East, meeting room 11

999 Canada Place Way

Friday, April 1^st, 5:00pm – 6:45pm

$60

Take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet the proprietors, CEOs and Winemakers of 10 of Spain’s iconic wineries. Taste their magnificent wines while getting a glimpse into the driving forces behind the new Spanish wine industry. Participants will include Bodegas Alvear’s Fernando Alvear, Bodegas Hidalgo’s Javier Hidalgo, Iberwine’s Javier Delgado-Aurteneche, Bodegas Piqueras’ Juan Pablo Bonete, Cavas Parés Baltà’s Joan Cusine, Gonzáles Byass’ Felipe González-Gordon, Alvaro Palacios’ Alvaro Palacios, Telmo Rodriguez’ Telmo Rodriguez, Grupo Freixenet’s Pedro Ferrer, and Juan Gil’s Loren Gil. Moderated by Wines from Spain Ambassador Roger Randolph.

GLOBAL FOCUS: FORTIFIED WINE

With this year’s Global Focus on Fortified Wine, you can expect to find a variety of Sherry, Port and Madeira to sample. Guests will find 42 different Fortified Wines in the Tasting Room, produced in a wide variety of styles. For a comprehensive comparative tasting of Fortified Wine from around the world, head directly to the Fortified Wine Tasting Station in the IFT, where experts from the International Sommelier Guild will be your guides. 

A TASTE OF THIS YEAR’S FORTIFIED WINE EVENTS

A Whammy of Umami

Pairing Artisanal Spanish

Cheeses with Spain’s

Famed Fortifieds

VCC East, meeting room 11

999 Canada Place Way

Thursday, March 31^st, 5:00pm – 6:45pm

$50

Sherry and Montilla are the wines in the spotlight as participants embark on a guided journey to learn the art of pairing these established Fortified Wines with artisanal cheeses of Spain. From the delicate to the intense, taste Spain’s iconic fortifieds and judge for yourself how a perfect synergy of wine and food can enhance the natural, inherent umami of these unique wines and fine cheeses to a whole new mouth-watering level. Presented by Cesar Saldaña, Director General of The Regulating Council of Jerez, and Allison Spurrell, owner of Les Amis du Fromage.

The Fladgate Partnership

VCC East, meeting room 8

999 Canada Place Way

Friday, April 1^st, 5:00pm – 6:45pm

$150

The Fladgate Partnership invites you to taste an unparalleled vertical selection of Taylor, Fonseca and Croft vintage ports spanning four decades of the partnership’s history, including the benchmark 1994 vintage. Join chief winemaker David Guimaraens, CEO Adrian Bridge and Anthony Gismondi as they extol the virtuous history of the Douro Valley and the partnership’s wines during this rare and extraordinary seminar.

ABOUT THE PLAYHOUSE WINE FESTIVAL

The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, Canada’s premier wine show, runs from March 28^th to April 3^rd, 2011. The Playhouse Wine Festival is one of the biggest and oldest wine festival events in the world. In 2011, the theme region will be Spain and the global focus Fortified Wine. The Festival features a week of special events including the Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction, wine seminars, wine minglers, winery dinners, and lunches and brunches at fine restaurants and hotels. The Playhouse Wine Festival is produced by the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine 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 Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company. Since its inception in 1979, the Festival has raised over $7.2 million to enable Western Canada’s leading theatre company to mount 223 productions and develop extensive community outreach and educational programs. 

The Shore Club generously presents the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival.

ADVANCE TICKETS FOR NORTH AMERICA’S LEADING WINE FESTIVAL ON SALE NOVEMBER 30^TH

Take advantage of reduced prices for IFT, Gold Pass and the Celebrate Spain Pack

The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival will release 1000 advance tickets to the 2011 Festival. The tickets will offer wine-savvy consumers an opportunity to purchase discounted Festival packages and International Festival Tasting tickets in advance of the official ticket release date, scheduled for January 25^th, 2011.

Wines from Spain will take centre stage as the Theme Region at the 2011 Festival.  As the country with the world’s largest area of vine cultivation, Spain has emerged internationally as a producer of an extraordinary range of wines with quality and character. Coming off a FIFA World Cup win there’s no doubt that this is one country that is at the top of its game right now both in the vineyard, and on the field. 

Of the 1000 advance tickets that will be released, 30 will be Gold Passes and 30 Celebrate Spain Packs, with the balance to the International Festival Tasting Room. This year’s Festival is expected to entertain and educate 25,000 thirsty wine enthusiasts.

AVAILABLE ADVANCE TICKETS:
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL TASTING

Housed in the Vancouver Convention Centre East, this year’s International Festival Tasting will feature 702 wines from 176 producers spanning 14 countries. Centre stage will be the remarkable winemakers from the 2011 theme region of Spain and this year’s global focus, Fortified Wine. This year’s International Festival Tasting will be organized by country, allowing oenophiles easy access to wines of the world.

Advance ticket price $85

Regular ticket price    $95
HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE 2011 IFT include a Sherry Caseta where visitors will enjoy the sound of Spanish guitar as they explore the unique characteristics and diversity of extraordinary wines from the Sherry Triangle in Southern Spain. The Fortified Wine Tasting Station will engage with connoisseurs and the curious thanks to samplings of various Sherries, Ports, Madeiras and other Fortifieds from around the world, poured by experts from the International Sommelier Guild who will demonstrate why people should not be mortified about fortified. And the Regional Tasting Stations will take visitors through a series of expert-assisted wine flights highlighting the unique regional terroirs of Alsace, Austria, Argentina, British Columbia and New Zealand.

Enjoy VIP treatment with the Festival Gold Pass, which offers incredible access to the Festival. This pass includes three evenings in the International Festival Tasting Room (with priority access), two afternoons at the Trade Tasting sessions where you’ll rub elbows with Vancouver’s top sommeliers and restaurant owners, admission to the exclusive Curtain Raiser VIP reception and weekend entry to the exclusive Gold Pass Tasting Lounge.

Advance ticket price $395

Regular ticket price    $425

CELEBRATE SPAIN PACK
Spain: Everything Under the Sun

Experience the spectrum of wines that have poised Spain as a global leader within the wine world. Housed in the Vancouver Art Gallery’s enclosed rooftop pavilion overlooking Vancouver’s bustling downtown core, this event will play host to a myriad of Spanish winemakers with a diverse selection of wines alongside Mediterranean-inspired tapas.

España: Savour the Flavours

Explore the unique culture of Spain with an afternoon of live music, Spanish bites and wines from more than thirty Spanish wineries. Overlooking beautiful Coal Harbour, this event will have guests rubbing elbows with Spanish winemakers while enjoying the warm hospitality the country is known for.

International Festival Tasting

Also included in the price of the Celebrate Spain Pack is an evening session in either the Thursday, Friday or Saturday International Festival Tasting.

Advance ticket price $225

Regular ticket price    $255

The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival will open on Monday, March 28^th, 2011 and will feature 176 wineries participating in 63 events to a projected 25,000 attendees. Advance tickets to the Festival will be on sale November 30. For more information visit www.playhousewinefest.com.

About the Playhouse Wine Festival

The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, Canada’s premier wine show, runs from March 28^th to April 3^rd, 2011. The Playhouse Wine Festival is one of the biggest and oldest wine festival events in the world. In 2011, the theme region will be Spain and the global focus Fortified Wine. The Festival features a week of special events including the Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction, wine seminars, wine minglers, winery dinners, and lunches and brunches at fine restaurants and hotels. The Playhouse Wine Festival is produced by the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine 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 Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company. Since its inception in 1979, the Festival has raised over $7.2 million to enable Western Canada’s leading theatre company to mount 223 productions and develop extensive community outreach and educational programs.

The Shore Club generously presents the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival.

PLAYHOUSE WINE FESTIVAL WILL BRING WORLD’S TOP WINE PRODUCERS & PERSONALITIES

Meet the industry’s international young guns and master vintners

Vancouver, BC, March 25, 2010 – The 2010 Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival will open its doors to some of the most progressive winemakers and winery principals in the world. These trailblazers will be at various Festival tastings and events, offering both wine neophytes and serious oenophiles alike the unique opportunity to meet and chat with them one-on-one.

LEADING LADIES

Joining from theme region Argentina and representing Bodega Catena Zapata is Laura Catena, Winery President and daughter of iconic proprietor and Decanter’s Man of the Year 2009, Nicolas Catena. As the leader of the research and development initiatives for the winery, Laura focuses on Malbec-specific site selection and blending from different altitudes – a practice that is unique to Argentina. In addition to her trendsetting in Mendoza, Laura lives part-time in San Francisco, where she works both as an emergency room doctor as well as an educator in emergency medicine. At the Festival, Laura will lead an intimate tasting of two choice verticals including all three Super Malbecs at the Bodega Catena Zapata: Now and For All Time event held at the Terminal City Club, Ceperley-Walker Room, 837 West Hastings Street, on Thursday, April 22^nd from 5:15 – 6:45 pm.

Recently crowned German Wine Queen Sonja Christ is a 25-year-old MBA graduate and winemaker’s daughter from the Mosel region. Sonja will be joining the Festival this year as an ambassador for German winegrowers. The Wine Queen is selected via a national competition that pits wine savvy women against each other for a title that bears the unique responsibility of educating the public domain on all things German wine. One of her 250 international appearances this year will include a celebration of Germans wines alongside bites by Chef Rob Belcham and beats from DJ Leanne at this year’s German Zest Fest being held at Campagnolo Restaurant, 1020 Main Street, Tuesday, April 20^th from 9:00 – 11:00 pm.

MASTER MAKERS

From pioneering single-vineyard wines in California, to crafting unfiltered, unfined wines with native yeasts, Paul Hobbs has established a reputation that reaches far beyond the sunny regions of Napa and Sonoma. His love of old-world techniques and forging into unknown territory has seen him playing an integral role in determining the direction of the winemaking revolution in the Festival’s co-theme region, Argentina. Lecturing on worldwide regional variations in both viticulture and vinification, Global Winemaking with Paul Hobbs takes place at VCC West, meeting room 110, 1055 Canada Place on Thursday, April 22nd from 5:00 – 6:45 pm.

Venerated sommelier and Gerant of Rubicon Estate, Larry Stone will be in Vancouver to lead a boardroom tasting of hand selected vintages from the legendary winery. Mr. Stone is the only American to have earned the title of French Master Sommelier from the Union de la Sommelerie in France, is a two-time recipient of the James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine Service, and sits on the Board of Directors of the Court of Master Sommeliers. His fascination with the grape has led to becoming actively involved in winemaking, and Stone creates Napa Valley Cabernet, Cabernet Franc and Merlot for Rubicon under his own Sirita label, named for his daughter. The Rubicon Estate: Rutherford Dust & Larry Stone event will take place at the Terminal City Club’s Ceperley-Walker Room at 837 West Hastings Street on April 21^st from 4:00 – 5:30pm but is SOLD OUT, however Larry Stone is also scheduled to attend Laura Catena’s Boardroom Tasting.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Known for his outstanding Syrahs and Cabernets, South African winemaker Marc Kent joins the Festival representing his winery Boekenhoutskloof. A former server who tasted his way through several vintages of all the first-growths including wines from DRC, Petrus, and the Mosel – by the age of 22 – Marc went on to produce wine for Boekenhoutskloof (the only SA winery to be rated “Outstanding” by Robert Parker) and the first and only winery at which he has ever worked, producing 500 cases in his first vintage in 1996. Marc is considered by his peers to be a rising star in the arena of young, energetic winemakers producing quality small lots out of South Africa. Mark will be speaking at the South Africa Treasure, North Shore Gem winemakers dinner at Moustache Cafe, 129 West 2^nd Street, North Vancouver on April 20^th from 6:30 – 9:30pm.

An outstanding group of international wine stars will gather for the Festival’s first Meet your Match: Speed Dating Meets Wine Tasting event. Guests will have a very unique opportunity to personally ask questions of each attending principal, including New Zealand’s Matua Valley winery founder, Bill Spence, the man responsible for the first plantings of sauvignon blanc and subsequently spearheading a country-wide movement. Also attending will be Kendall-Jackson Winemaster and Chief Operating Officer, Randy Ullom who is charged with the direction of vineyards in California and Argentina, and is one of the few winemakers in the world to work two harvests a year in two different hemispheres.  Guests will also have a chance to chat with Okanagan wine aficionado and internationally recognized winemaker Anthony Von Mandl; the young and dynamic Chianti Classico estate man, Sergio Zingarelli; Trapiche trailblazer Daniel Pi; and Beaucastel’s Thomas Perrin to name a few. Each of these prolific personalities will be clad with wine and ready to answer questions about their lives, their love of wine, and more at VCC West, 1055 Canada Place on Saturday, April 24^th from 5:00-6:45 pm.

About the Playhouse Wine Festival

The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, Canada’s premier wine show, runs from April 19 to 25, 2010. The Playhouse Wine Festival is one of the biggest and oldest wine festival events in the world. The featured theme regions for 2010 will be Argentina and New Zealand with the global focus of rosé. The festival features a week of special events including a gala auction, wine seminars, wine minglers, winery dinners, lunches and brunches at fine restaurants and hotels. The Playhouse Wine Festival is produced by the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Society, which has three mandates: provide an informative, educational and entertaining wine experience for consumers and trade; be a premier marketing opportunity for the wine industry and festival partners; and raise funds for the Playhouse Theatre Company. Since its inception in 1979, the festival has raised over $6.8 million to enable Western Canada’s leading theatre company to mount 209 productions and develop extensive community outreach and educational programs.

The Shore Club generously presents the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival.

Throughout April of 2010, BC Liquor Stores will celebrate the quality and value of wines from Argentina.  The month-long promotion will include a consumer tasting at the 39^th & Cambie Signature Store on Friday, April 9^th.  Guests at the event will enjoy Argentine wines paired with South American cuisine from Baru Latino Restaurante and will be treated to a demonstration of tango dance moves.

Argentina has made a huge splash on the international scene in recent years.  International sales of Argentine wine have increased an astounding 700% over the past 6 years.  Wine lovers around the world have come to rely on Argentina’s winemakers for bottles that consistently deliver value for the money.

Throughout April, Argentina’s success will be celebrated with displays in 60 BC Liquor Stores.  Some of Argentina’s best bottles will be featured, including the following:

At the Cambie & 39^th consumer tasting, the wines listed above will be paired with bites from Baru Latino Restaurante.  Guests at the event will also enjoy a demonstration of passionate tango dancing.

In conjunction with the promotion, Wines of Argentina is also offering a prize package that has all the makings for a spectacular night out.  The prize consists of dinner for 8 at Baru, where the winners will enjoy outstanding cuisine paired with top-quality wines from Argentina.  Limo service to and from the restaurant is included.

BARU’s Latin driven cuisine is the focus of this award winning, neighbourhood restaurant located in the Point Grey / Kitsilano area.  Here, responsibly caught seafood and organic meats are served with classic and original drinks in a warm and welcoming environment.

To enter the draw, please visit www.winesofargentina.ca.

Wines of Argentina Consumer Tasting

Friday, April 9, 2010
3:00 – 7:00 pm
BCLDB 39th Cambie Signature Liquor Store
5555 Cambie Street, Vancouver

www.winesofargentina.ca  
www.baru.ca