Vancouver International Wine Festival

The Vancouver International Wine Festival (formerly known as the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival) grew from humble roots as a fundraising initiative of then Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company board member John E. Levine. The inaugural festival in 1979 featured one vintner - Robert Mondavi - and saw approximately 1,000 people attend the two-day event at Hycroft, the Shaughnessy mansion owned by Vancouver's University Women's Club.

In its second year, VanWineFest was also a one-winery show, but had grown by its fourth year to attract 45 California wineries, becoming known as the California Wine Festival. The ninth festival in 1987 was the first multi-national event, with wineries from six more countries joining to showcase their wines. After outgrowing several different venues, the Wine Festival moved to the Vancouver Convention Centre in 1988, where the main Tasting Room sessions have been held for the past 25 years.

In 1996, VanWineFest began shining the spotlight on specific wine regions by featuring a new theme region each year, with the French wine region Bordeaux being the inaugural theme. In 2007, the regional theme is California Wines, harking back to the Festival’s roots. Starting in 2004, VanWineFest highlighted an annual global focus, with Syrah/Shiraz that year, and Chardonnay this year.

The newly named Vancouver International Wine Festival announced in September 2012 that its new charitable partner will be Bard on the Beach Theatre Society.

Today VanWineFest attracts some of the biggest industry names from around the world and is firmly established as the continent's premier wine event and among the biggest, best and oldest wine events in the world. It features wine tastings and pairings, gourmet dinners and luncheons, educational seminars and culinary competitions.

This is a rare opportunity to meet owners, winemakers and senior representatives from wineries around the globe. For either the experienced wine lover or the novice, the festival has something to please every palate and pocketbook.

Vancouver International Wine Festival is a fundraiser for Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival.