The Vancouver International Wine Festival (VIWF) has selected Canada to be the theme country for 2017, providing consumers and the entire trade with an opportunity to experience Canadian wines from coast-to-coast.
“We are thrilled that Canada will be theme country for 2017,” remarked Dan Paszkowski, President and CEO of the Canadian Vintners Association. “Showcasing pride in our great Canadian wines from coast-to -coast, is a great way to launch the celebrations for Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation.”
The 39th annual Festival will take place Feb. 11-19, 2017, celebrating Wines of Canada at one of North America’s largest wine shows. The weeklong celebration of wine and food attracts over 25,000 wine fans and connoisseurs from around the world to enjoy wines from a projected 170 international wineries from 15 countries.
Although the list of actual participants is not yet known, we’ll very likely see playful wines like Stoneboat Stone’d White (875740) $17.99 and Stoneboat Stone’d Red (850412) $22.79 make an appearance.
Stone’d White is a lusciously off-dry blend of Pinot Blanc, Kerner, Muller Thurgau, Viognier and Schonberger. Stone’d Red is a clever and unusual blend of Pinotage and Pinot Noir that truly needs to be tasted to appreciate the balance and complexity.
“It has been 20 years since Canada has been our theme country and our nation’s wine culture has evolved greatly over this time,” said Harry Hertscheg, VIWF Executive Director. “This will be the largest showcase of Canadian wines ever assembled at an international wine festival and we’re looking forward to telling the Wines of Canada story to wine enthusiasts throughout the Pacific Northwest, trade professionals across Canada, and the wine industry globally.”
While we wait to discover the wines of Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia that will be poured we can sip Gold Hill Viognier (570952) $20.05 from British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. This wine sparkles with sexy aromas of passion fruit, pineapple and honeysuckle and apple blossom.
Wines of Canada is a collaborative initiative of the Canadian Vintners Association and regional wine associations – British Columbia Wine Institute, Wine Marketing Association of Ontario, Vignerons indépendants du Québec and the Winery Association of Nova Scotia – to bring the country’s best wines with the world.
Here in British Columbia we are already blessed with multi-award winning reds like C.C. Jentsch Cellars Syrah (524868) $31.20. This stunning red exudes dusty blackberry black fruits with a touch of toasty wood, cloves and cinnamon all swirling over a rich and peppery finish.
While this is the second time Canada is the theme country at the VIWF, in 2009, British Columbia was theme region of the year and the provincial industry well recognizes the exceptional benefit the Festival attention provides.
From educational seminars, wine tastings and minglers, to wine and food grazing events, lunches, winery dinners and the ever-popular Vintners Brunch, everyone will be sure to find a Canadian wine to please their palate at the 2017 Vancouver International Wine Festival.
Meanwhile, Canadian wineries from British Columbia, Ontario and Nova Scotia have joined together to exhibit under the brand of Wines of Canada at ProWein International Trade Fair for Wines and Spirits, March 13 – 15, 2016 in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Over three days, 22 wineries from Canada’s wine growing regions will exhibit together within this national booth, showcasing the Wines of Canada to the world.
Trade and media from throughout the EEC will be invited to meet winemakers and sample Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Pinot and Syrah.
Featured among them will be cultish little gems like Bench 1775 Cabernet Franc-Malbec (645580) $23.05 from Naramata. Just a touch austere when opened, with a breath of airing it shows off dried leaf, cassis, and licorice. Tannins are subtle, soft and balanced and the finish, features herbal and anise notes that are reminiscent of sturdy reds from Bordeaux, France.
Sure to dazzle, Church & State Quintessential (35469) $55.65 is arguably one of the very best red wines being made in British Columbia – a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot grown in Church & State’s estate vineyards on the Black Sage Bench in the Oliver-Osoyoos corridor. Luxurious and intense, it overflow with blackcurrant, cedar and sagebrush notes that continually change in the glass and on the tongue.
Reach WineWise by emailing douglas_sloan@yahoo.com.
