Its springtime in Vancouver, the time of year when we start to see an increase of cruise ships in the harbour, parking at Granville Island becomes impossible, and Im more than likely to slip on a pile of mucky cherry blossoms after a good rain. Its also a busy time of year for local wine enthusiasts, with many seminars, events and fairs filling up the calendar. Since the best way to learn about wine is to get out there and taste as much as possible, hitting these upcoming events will both turn you into a social butterfly and increase your personal inventory of favourite drops.
Malbec World Day | Tues. April 17 | Various Locations | Free! |
The price is right with this one! Celebrating the charismatic, ultra-purple grape grown from France to Argentina and all points in between, there are plenty of free tastings going on beforehand to get you prepared and on the day of so you can celebrate! On Saturday, April 14, Marquis Wine Cellar will be busting open at least a half-dozen different bottles for your sampling pleasure, with Legacy Liquor Store doing the same the following Sunday. On Malbec World Day itself, Tuesday, April 17, the BC Liquor Store at 39th and Cambie will have a dozen different Malbecs and blends pouring freely with the added bonus of empanadas from House of Empanadas as the perfect pairing. Follow the #MalbecWorldDay hashtag on Twitter to share in the days festivities around the world.
California Wine Fair | Weds. April 18 at 7 pm | VCC East | $75 |
An annual fundraiser for Vancouvers beloved Arts Club Theatre Company, the swanky affair offers wines from over 100 wineries across the Golden State, including those from both Napa and Sonoma Valleys, the Central Coast and more. They break out the good stuff at this one year after year, and not only is it added fun to go with a big group, buying six or more tickets at once knocks ten bucks off of the price!
New Zealand Wine Fair | Tues. May 1 at 7 pm | Roundhouse Community Centre | $60 |
New Zealands really been floatin my boat these days, and not just because of their citrusy, lively Sauvignon Blancs. Sure, the Syrahs out of Hawkes Bay carry some lovely, bright complexity but its the Rieslings and Pinot Noirs of Central Otago where youll find yourself bumping elbows with the most excitable wine geeks of the room. A chance to meet many of the globally respected, progressively minded winemakers of the country without dropping a couple grand on a flight!
Regional Crush | Fri. May 11 at 7 pm | Harrison Galleries | $39/$49 |
Back in November, I spent nine days touring almost 40 Australian wineries in eight different regions stretched out over 2,500 kilometres. A tough slog, but the reward of experiencing the vast wine-style differences across such a wide array of regions made it well worth the endless hours on the highway. The girls at HouseWine.ca are doing the same journey virtually, for your drinking pleasure, sharing their favourite Clare Valley Rieslings, Coonawarra Cabernets and more. Tired of Barossa Shiraz? With over 75 wines in the room, you can try dozens and dozens of wines without going near the stuff! Grabbing your tickets before April 10 gets you a $10 discount from the regular $49 price.
Get more details and links for all of the above at .
