THE WINE BUSINESS IS HERE

Leading wine producers, educators and media from around the world will gather in Vancouver for the 38th Vancouver International Wine Festival, February 20 to 28. The festival features a three-day, 10-event Trade Days Conference, presented by Sysco, (February 24 to 26) that will shed light on the trends, tastes and topics that affect the business of wine. With wine experts and principals from around the world pouring their products and sharing their trade secrets in person, this is the preeminent opportunity in Canada to meet the men and women behind the wines. For the last three consecutive years, Trade Days has been voted the “#1 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event in Canada” by New York’s BizBash Top 100 Events.

With Italy as the 2016 theme country, the Trade Days focus is on the grapes, wines, and personalities that have made Italy a leader in the wine world. In 2015, Italy surpassed France to become the world’s largest wine producer, according to figures released by the European Union, and Italian wine is second only to the United States in the value of import wine sales in British Columbia (as of March 2015).

The conference features Dr. Ian D’Agata, an international expert on Italian wines, as keynote speaker. Dr. D’Agata is a wine writer based in Rome, whose Native Wine Grapes of Italy won the 2015 Louis Roederer International Wine Awards Book of the Year prize. Dr. D’Agata is contributing editor of Decanter magazine, staff wine writer at Vinous and has twice been named Italy’s “best wine journalist” by the Comitato Grandi Cru. He is the Scientific Advisor of Vinitaly International and Scientific Director of the Vinitaly International Academy. Canadian-born and multilingual (English, French, Italian), Dr. D’Agata’s interests stretch beyond wine: he is a pediatric physician practicing in Rome.

“Italian wine is fascinating but highly complex,” says Dr. D’Agata.”At the VinItaly International Academy, I aim to forge true Italian wine experts with an in-depth, certified knowledge of Italian wines so that the multifaceted world of Italy's wines will be easier to appreciate by all.”

“But while Italy is the theme country in 2016,” says VIWF executive director Harry Hertscheg, “the festival is a truly international experience: members of the trade will taste wines from around the world that will add excitement to their customers’ glasses.”

Trade Days events go on sale Tuesday, January 26 at 9:30 a.m. Events include two afternoon Trade Tastings, presented by ContainerWorld, two masterclasses, two networking lunches, a Thursday theme plenary, and three educational seminars on Friday.

ENGAGING AND INFORMING SEMINARS

Wednesday, February 24:
Two masterclasses sponsored by Vinitaly International Academy: Italy’s Indigenous Whites (10 a.m.-12 p.m.) and Italy’s Autochthonous Reds (1:30-3:30 p.m.). Italy is home to the largest number of wine grapes in the world and these masterclasses will explore a selection of those grapes and the wines they produce.

Thursday, February 25:
The theme plenary, Italy’s Great Wines: Evolution North to South, sponsored by Vinitaly International Academy (9:30-11:30 a.m.), will demonstrate how Italians have learned to use tradition and innovation to make some of the world’s greatest and most unique wines.

Friday, February 26:
Three concurrent seminars (9:30-11:15 a.m.): a tutored tasting of Braida’s Barbera wines in the Barbera Variations; a panel of leading Italian winemakers discuss their wines in Made in Italy: Italian Winemakers Forum; and five wine experts share 10 wines from around the world that caught their attention at Excitement in a Glass.

NETWORKING LUNCHES

Thursday, February 25:
The Principals Welcome Lunch, presented by JF Hillebrand (11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m.) brings together the principals from all 155 participating wineries for an opportunity to connect with colleagues from around the world.

Friday, February 26:
Celebrating Excellence: 13th Annual Awards Lunch Featuring Italian DOCG Wines, presented by ContainerWorld (11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m.) shines the spotlight on Italy’s top classification of wines, as well as the winners of the Wine Program Excellence, presented by Vancouver Magazine, Sommelier of the Year and Spirited Industry Professional (SIP) awards.

ACURA TASTING ROOM

Thursday, February 25 and Friday, February 26, 1:30-5 p.m.:
The Trade Tastings, presented by ContainerWorld, features all 155 participating wineries and offer 146 wines of unique or special interest exclusive to the trade sessions; these are in addition to the 700+ wines served at both trade and public tastings. The first hour in the room (1:30-2:30 p.m.) is reserved for trade buyers and executive chefs only, providing the time and freedom to taste wines and connect with wine industry personalities away from the crowds.

LEADING WINE EXPERTS

Italian wine expert, writer and educator Dr. Ian D’Agata joins the festival as the keynote speaker at Italy’s Indigenous Whites, Italy’s Autochthonous Reds, and Italy’s Great Wines.

Says Dr. D’Agata: “Italian wine is fascinating but highly complex. For instance, both professional wine experts and every day wine lovers the world over still regularly refer to ‘Trebbiano’ and ‘Malvasia’ generically not realizing that there are seven of the former and seventeen of the latter varieties growing in Italy, each giving very different wines of variable quality levels. So speaking of ‘Trebbiano’ generically makes no sense, it's wrong and does very little to forward the cause of Italian wines. For example, ‘Malvasia’ wines in Italy, depending which variety they are made with, can be white, red or pink, dry or sweet, still or bubbly. With VIA, I aim to forge true Italian wine experts with an in-depth, certified knowledge of Italian wines so that the multifaceted world of Italy's wines will be easier to appreciate by all.”

Other featured speakers include:

Gurvinder Bhatia, wine editor for Quench, wine columnist for Edmonton Journal and Global TV Edmonton
Tina Gellie, associate editor of Decanter magazine
Michaela Morris, Vinitaly International Academy Italian wine ambassador, wine columnist forWestender
Rhys Pender MW, owner Wine Plus+, educator and consultant
Barbara Philip MW, category manager, BC Liquor Stores
Terry Threlfall, sommelier and consultant, Festival Sommelier
Jason Yamasaki, 2015 VIWF Sommelier of the Year, Chambar

ITALIAN VINE STARS
The following winemakers and owners will be featured on the Made in Italy forum, hosted by Mark de Vere MW, director, Constellation Academy of Wine:

• Stefano Benini, international export director; family member of Marchesi de' Frescobaldi
• Michele Bernetti, owner of Umani Ronchi
• Raffaele Boscaini, commercial director and tech group coordinator of Masi Agricola
• Pio Boffa, owner of Pio Cesare
• Luca Currado, owner/winemaker of Vietti
• Francesco Ricasoli, 32nd Baron of Brolio, president of Barone Ricasoli
• Gabriele Tacconi, chief winemaker of Ruffino
• Pierangelo Tommasi, owner of Tommasi Viticoltori
• Sergio Zingarelli, owner/proprietor of Rocca delle Macìe
• Francesco Zonin, executive vice-president/family member of Zonin 1821

Dr. Norbert Reinisch, director of exports for Braida di Bologna Giacomo and an expert in Piedmont and Barbera wines, will lead the Barbera Variations seminar.

TRADE DAYS TICKETS
Individual Trade Days events go on sale Tuesday, January 26 at 9:30 a.m.

How to Purchase Tickets:
Online: VanWineFest.ca
Phone: 604-873-3311, toll free 1-877-321-3121 (Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.)
In person: 305–456 West Broadway, Vancouver (Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.)
Email (info only): boxoffice@vanwinefest.ca