It鈥檚 a sip that can take you across continents from sun-drenched California to the vineyards of Romania.
celebrates its 41st year starting Feb. 23 as it offers the chance to taste more than 700 wines spanning 16 countries.
For the first time this year, wines from Romania will be featured alongside those of Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Italy and Croatia, said Harry Hertscheg, the festival鈥檚 executive director.
The festival focuses on a different region or country every year, and the featured region this time is California.
鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of like a dance. You can鈥檛 tell someone to dance with you. You have to invite them and they have to be interested,鈥� said Hertscheg. 鈥淟ast year we were dancing with Portugal and Spain and we had a great time, and the timing just seemed right with California. It hadn鈥檛 been the theme since 2013 鈥� for six years. A lot has happened since.鈥�
The featured region has its own section in the tasting room and offers seminars, as well as food and wine events throughout the week.
British Columbia was celebrated last year when the festival shone a spotlight on Canada as it celebrated its 150th birthday.
Although both British Columbia and California share the west coast, their wines are markedly different, said Hertscheg.
While climate plays a major role in the colour and taste of wines, he said the soil is also a significant factor.
鈥淭he reason wine is so interesting and special is because it comes from a place that has a certain kind of soil, a certain kind of climate.鈥�
In B.C., the cool nights of the Okanagan don鈥檛 allow the grapes to get as ripe and sweet as they do in California, so the style of wine is a little more firm and structured, said Hertscheg.
John Skinner of Painted Rock Estate Winery in the Okanagan said the region鈥檚 cool climate gives the grapes bright acidity with crisp flavours that jump out at you.
鈥淏ecause of warm days and cool nights we get very specific nuances to what we produce,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e aim to the premium market. That鈥檚 where we compete.鈥�
The industry is young in B.C. and is just getting onto the world stage, he said.
鈥淚t isn鈥檛 just ice wine that we produce,鈥� Skinner said, adding that the province produces some of the highest quality wines in the world.
Hertscheg said the international festival, which runs to March 3, will attract about 25,000 people. More than 30,000 bottles will be sold and tasted.
Hertscheg is looking forward to trying wines from Romania, which includes some that feature Dracula in their marketing.
鈥淚鈥檓 not very familiar with Romanian wines so I鈥檓 excited to go and try them out,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey seem to like rich reds and they do have Dracula themed wines. It says Dracula on the label.鈥�
麻豆传媒映画International Wine Festival
When: Feb. 23 to March 3, 2019
Where: Festival is headquartered at the 麻豆传媒映画Convention Centre West
Cost: $40 to $450.Tickets to public events go on sale Jan. 9
