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Vancouver, BC (June 23, 2006) - Two important industry deadlines for the 2007 Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, which takes place March 26 to April 1, are approaching.
Wineries, agents and wine region associations are reminded that winery applications and special event proposals (with the exception of winery dinner proposals) must be submitted online at www.playhousewinefest.com by Friday, June 30.
Winery dinners have a later deadline. Agents and restaurants may submit winery dinner proposals online from July 31 to August 17. Many of Vancouver’s premier restaurants participate in the Playhouse Winefest, offering wine and food lovers a unique opportunity to sample some of the world’s top wines paired with food by some of the city’s most celebrated chefs.
The festival typically receives applications from some 300 wineries from around the world; last year 186 wineries from 15 countries were selected.
Each winery selected to the festival is required to sample four of its wines at all five sessions (two for trade and three for the public) in the International Festival Tasting room. The trade sessions, which are reserved exclusively for members of the hospitality and wine industry, including buyers, retailers, sommeliers, chefs and educators, take place the afternoons of March 29 and 30. Vancouver’s wine-savvy public gets its chance to sample the world of wine at three evening sessions in the tasting room, March 29 to 31.
In addition to tasting room wine commitments, all selected wineries are required to send a principal of the company, such as the owner, family member, winemaker or export director, to the festival. The principal must be present in the tasting room during all sessions to pour and discuss the company’s wines with festival-goers.
Wineries selected to the weeklong festival have additional opportunity to showcase other wines at special events ranging from premium “boardroom tastings”, the exclusive Bacchanalia Gala Dinner and Auction, regional lunches, Sunday brunches, vertical tastings to educational seminars. The wines served at special events usually are not available in the tasting room. In 2006, the festival featured 52 events (47 special events and five tasting room events) and served 1,320 wines. Of these, 750 were poured in the tasting room and another 570 were served at special events.
Once applications are received, they are reviewed over the summer months by a winery selection committee chaired by wine journalist and author John Schreiner. Other members of the committee include festival vice chair Tony Beatty; wine consultant Brian Berry; Mark Davidson, one of North America’s top wine educators; David Hopgood, senior portfolio manager at the BC Liquor Distribution Branch; James Robertson, wine consultant; and David Scholefield, wine consultant. The winery selection committee will announce its choices early in October.
More …
The theme the 29th Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival is Australian Wine: A World of Difference and the varietal focus is Riesling. The festival is headquartered at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre and the International Festival Tasting Room, seminars and trade events are located there. Other special events take place at leading restaurants, hotels and other venues throughout the city.
Early bird tickets to selected events go on sale November 14 and tickets to all events go on sale January 22.
The festival is a key fundraising event for the Playhouse Theatre Company, British Columbia’s leading theatre company. It is sponsored by Chubb Insurance Company of Canada.
Wine industry contact:
Visnja Vukelich
Festival Administrator
Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival
604-872-6622 x 269