See my latest video on my YouTube channel on the Diversity of Beaujolais seminar I attended at @vanwinefest 2026. Cru Beaujolais is something that consumers should really buy up before prices escalate @vins_beaujolais #crubeaujolais #beaujolaisnouvellegeneration
Happy birthday, William Shakespeare! Celebrate the Bard's 462nd birthday by securing your tickets to @bardonthebeach 's 2026 season, running June 9 to September 19 at Sen̓áḵw/Vanier Park. Choose from four fantastic plays: The Merry Wives of Windsor and Macbeth on the BMO Mainstage and Goblin:Oedipus and Antigone in the Douglas Campbell Theatre.
#VIWF is the proud charitable partner of Bard.
#bard #theatre #shakespeare
Select festival wines are now available at select BCLIQUOR stores. Purchase your favourite #VIWF exclusive bottles, many at a reduced price. Don't miss out! They're only available while supplies last.
39th & Cambie
Alberni & Bute
Caulfeild
Dunbar
Fort Street
Highgate Village
Kamloops Columbia Pl
Kelowna Orchard Pk
Lynn Valley
Park Royal
Penticton Plaza
Richmond Brighouse
Westwood Centre
#VIWF2026 #wineoclock
A pleasure to welcome back author and Wine Australia’s North America educator, Mark Davidson, to present the Trade Days seminar Classic and Contemporary Australia on March 13.
Sid Cross described the themes of the seminar: “Mark spoke about nine excellent representative wines from different regions of Australia, showcasing their amazing versatility in style with four whites and five reds… He started with the history from the Pioneer Era (late 1700s–1800s), the Fortified Era (1900-1940s), the continuing Vineyard Changes made on Ancient Soils (including Bush Vines), and the new style Current Era with an Accent on Freshness.”
Wine featured:
Pewsey Vale Vineyard The Contours Riesling 5 Year Museum Reserve 2017
Tyrell’s Vat 1 Semillon 2017
Hugh Hamilton Wines The Loose Cannon Fiano 2025
Giant Steps Circle of Fifths Chardonnay 2024
Bindi Dixon Pinot Noir 2023
Hither & Yon Sand Road Grenache 2024
Clonakilla Wines Shiraz Viognier 2022
Henschke Keyneton Euphonium 2021
Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard Trueman Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Join us in raising a glass to excellence.🍷
At this year’s @VanWineFest , our team brought home Gold, awarded Best Premier Wine List and Best Wine Program in a Contemporary Restaurant, along with Bronze in the Wine Program Excellence of the Year category.
Led by Wine Director Chris Rielly, @VancouverMagazine ’s Sommelier of the Year (2025), and Assistant Wine Director Tara Viola, our wine program features over 200 thoughtfully curated labels.
Discover local hidden gems or international favourites, and let our Wine Team bring the list to life at your table.✨
#RoséAllDay: Cherry blossoms are in full bloom across Vancouver just in time for the Easter long weekend. The perfect excuse to chill a bottle of rosé!
Why not celebrate the season with a BC wine from #VanWineFest? The Tasting Room featured a dozen rosé wines from Cowichan Valley, the Gulf Islands, Lake Country, Naramata Bench, and the Okanagan Valley:
🌸Bench 1775, Glow Rosé 2022
🌱Bordertown Vineyards and Estate Winery, Rosé 2023
✨Church & State Wines, Gris de Noir, Sparkling Rosé 2021
🌸Da Silva Vineyards, Cor da Rosa 2023
🌱Gray Monk Estate Winery, Rosé Brut 2020
✨JoieFarm Winery, JoieFarm Rosé 2024 🌸Otter Trail Winery, Otter Trail Rosé 2022 🌱Quails’ Gate Winery, Field & Flight Rosé 2024
✨Sage Hayward Vineyards, Estate Rosé 2023
🌸Stoneboat Vineyards, Rosé Brut 2024
🌱Tightrope Winery, Rosé 2025
✨Unsworth Vineyards, Charme de l’Île Rosé NV
#DrinkPink #EasterSips #BCWines
Photograph: @christine__mcavoy
Our #VIWF Trade Days seminar, Committed to Biodynamics, featured a compelling conversation between Gérard Bertrand and Anthony Gismondi at the Vancouver Club on Friday, March 13.
For Gérard, biodynamics is more than a farming method—it’s a holistic philosophy for living. He began this journey in 2002, eventually applying biodynamic principles across all his Languedoc-Roussillon’s estates in the southern coastal region of France.
As Gérard explained, “You need to understand the land before you can create great wine. You need to put life into the soil—not take it away.” His passion lies in inspiring a greater appreciation for biodynamics and wine culture, while working toward a future where the planet is left healthier for generations to come.
Wines tasted:
Domaine de l’Aigle Pinot Noir 2023
Domaine de L’Aigle Chardonnay 2023
Château la Sauvageonne 2022
La Forge 2023 Cigalus Blanc 2022
Cigalus Rouge 2022
Villa Soleilla 2022
Clos d’Ora 2020
Photography: @marjowright
#VanWineFest is proud to present the Wine Program Excellence Awards to honour the expertise of wine directors, sommeliers, and servers who curate exceptional wine lists to complement their acclaimed cuisines.
This year, the Wine Program Excellence Awards returned with a new vision, new awards, and new ways to recognize excellence in the restaurant community.
The award categories have been reimagined to celebrate the diversity, creativity, and culture of the restaurant community in Western Canada, to recognize industry leaders, and to inspire continuing excellence.
Learn more in Mia Stainsby column in today’s Vancouver Sun.
Presented in association with Vancouver Magazine.
It was a pleasure to wrap up our final #VanWineFest Saturday alongside our new partners at LaSalle College for the Taste of France 🇫🇷 lunch on March 14.
The main floor of their new, high-tech campus in East Vancouver provided an ideal setting to showcase 19 French wineries from seven regions, beautifully paired with classic bistro fare.
A big thank you to the participating wineries, Chef Julian & Mandy, the culinary students and team at LaSalle for such a memorable and delicious grazing lunch.
Photography: @christine__mcavoy
Opening our #VIWF Trade Days program, France: Terroir & Trends wine seminar was held on Thursday, March 12 with a stellar panel of French vine stars.
“Eight French wines from six regions were tasted to discover their terroir or “sense of place,” on a panel well moderated by Arnica Rowan with knowledgeable comments from winery principals. The presentation was inspired by Andrew Jefford for his ideas plus illustrations created using generative AI (ChatGPT) with a reference to TerroirWine.ca.” - Sid Cross, IW&FS
Thanks to Arnica and panelists: Marielene Auclair, Charles Bouthillier, Romain Chevrolat, Marie Pinceloup, Nicholas Villalon, and Rebecca Yates-Campbell.
Photography: @christine__mcavoy
Relive the Tasting Room experience with @bcfwradio ’s latest podcast, recorded live at #VanWineFest.
Anthony Gismondi chats with Riccardo Cugini of Ruffino about the historic Riserva Ducale Oro, a benchmark Chianti Classico first produced in 1947.
Plus, the show continues with an all B.C. lineup of guests: Kailee Frasch of Quails’ Gate on the 2023 Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay and 2022 Pinot Noir; Justin Hall of Nk’Mip Cellars on the 2022 Qwam Qwmt Syrah and Chardonnay; and Richard Da Silva of Da Silva Vineyards, who shares his 2022 Fumé Blanc and Pinot Noir.
Anthony and his team will be featuring more #VIWF Vine Star interviews in upcoming weeks!
