Ever seen 30,000 empty wine bottles?

The truly bacchanalian proportion is justified in this case with 25,000 wine-lovers and aficionados coming into the city to participate in the Lower Mainland largest wine festival. 

Running from February 27th to March 4th, The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival will showcase over 1,700 types of wine this year.

Chile takes centre stage at this coming weekend’s extravaganza.

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.

Thirty-five Chilean wineries are participating in the tasting room.

As a condition of participating, every winery must have a winery principal (winemaker, owner, senior executive) present in the tasting room and at special events to pour and discuss his or her wine with festivalgoers.

The rock stars of BC’s vibrant culinary scene are here too. Over 60 of the province’s most celebrated restaurants and hotels participate in the fest, either by staging winery dinners or lunches, or hosting food stations at food-and-wine-pairing grazing events.

LOCATION: Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre West.

TICKETS: Tickets are priced at just $95 (inclusive of all taxes and fees) - www.PlayhouseWinefest.com or by phoning the Playhouse Box Office at 604-873-3311 or toll free at 1-877-321-3121.

 

KEY FESTIVAL FACTS

 

FESTIVAL DATES:  FEBRUARY 27TH TO MARCH 4TH

THEME REGION: WINES OF CHILE – 35 WINERIES SERVING 468 WINES

GLOBAL FOCUS: CABERNET(S) – 220 WINES

TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING WINERIES: 180

NUMBER OF COUNTRIES PARTICIPATING: 15

TOTAL NUMBER OF WINES AVAILABLE TO TRY: 1703

TOTAL NUMBER OF BOTTLES POURED DURING THE FESTIVAL: 30,000