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.
