Harry Hertscheg, director of the Playhoue International Wine Festival in Vancouver.Handout
Travel a world of wine in a single night at the International Festival Tasting Room at the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival – a 50,000 square foot viticultural nirvana for those with a taste for cabs and pinots, sauvignon blancs and chardonnays.
This year's theme region is Chile, a country that is fast outgrowing its reputation for "cheap and cheerful" wines, and is leading the charge in sustainable winemaking. The fest also features a "Life is a Cabernet" tasting station, where you can choose from over 185 cab sauvs and cab francs from B.C., Australia, South Africa, France and beyond.
But with so much wine, where to begin? Festival director Harry Hertscheg recommends you start off with a wine from Chile, then move country by country and enjoy tastes from Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Israel, Italy, Germany and more.
"I would start the evening with 15 wines from 15 different countries, because you'll get a feel for the room, and you'll get a feel for the breadth of the wine world, as opposed to saying, 'I've got to have that wine or that winery,'" he says.
"And rather than being part of a bottleneck or a long lineup, go to the tables that aren't busy. These are excellent wineries and excellent wines across the board."
Don't want the fine tastes to end? Pick up any of the wines at the on-site shop, then leave your bags in the free bottle check until it's time to make your way home.
The event is officially sold out, but an additional 50 tickets are being released at 6 p.m. – and strictly between you and me, nobody who arrives at that time will be turned away.
The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Fest's International Tasting Room happens Saturday at the Vancouver Convention Centre. For info visit playhousewinefest.com; tickets available at the door at 6 p.m. Make sure to arrange a safe ride home.
Jennifer Van Evra