Vancouver Wine Fest Lives On!

The sad news that the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company was closing was shortly followed by happy news for BC wine lovers that the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival will live on. Run as a separate business entity, the wine fest may undergo some re-branding before next year's event but we can expect the same efficiency and attention to detail that makes our home market wine fest one of the most respected and best attended in the world.

From the winery principals I spoke to, including Brian Lynn, the proprietor of Majella Wines in Coonawarra, I heard rave reviews on how the festival is run behind-the-scenes where small things like a properly communicated schedule go a long way to making our international visitors feel welcomed. Lynn also mentioned the amazing volunteers who he credited most for making the Vancouver festival a must-attend event for their small winery.

Next year's theme region has already been announced as California and the global focus is Chardonnay. Hopefully, this will mean a higher attendance of wineries from Burgundy, a famed region for Chardonnay that was under represented at the 2012 festival.

Keep an eye on the festival website for more information on next year's event: www.playhousewinefest.com