Trade Tasting THU

The Trade Tasting, presented by ContainerWorld, is the best opportunity to explore the Tasting Room with your industry peers. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet wine producers from around the world, to taste rare wines, and perhaps to discover the next big thing in the industry. 

Presented by  

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TASTING ROOM

Vive la France!
This year, the festival is shining a spotlight on France with a special section of the Tasting Room dedicated to participating French wineries, tasting stations, and a French wine bar.

Vine Stars
The stars of the global wine scene – winemakers, proprietors, senior execs – come to Vancouver every year to pour and discuss their wines with festivalgoers. That’s what makes this festival special. Many wineries will be represented in the room by a principal, someone closely involved in the wine-production process, there to share their wines and knowledge. You’re quite likely to find that the person serving your wine has their name on the bottle. Identify the vine star by his or her royal blue lanyard. Chat them up!

Free bottle check and wine delivery
All wines served at the winery tables are available for purchase at the BCLIQUOR Festival Wine Shop in the Tasting Room, but some are in VERY limited supply. When you discover a wine that you want to enjoy at home, don’t wait until the end of the session to buy it as it might be sold out – put it in the handy bottle check, and then continue your tasting session. Repeat as necessary. When you’re ready to leave, check out your wines. And if you live in British Columbia, whether you’ve bought one bottle or several cases, your wine can be shipped free of charge to your nearest BCLIQUOR store. Very convenient!

Please note: the entrance to the Festival Wine Shop is in the Tasting Room and is only accessible to International Festival Tasting ticketholders during their tasting session.

Words to the wise
Pace yourself. Have a game plan – you can’t taste every wine in the room. And don’t swallow everything that’s poured into your glass. Pick up a spit cup with your wine glass. When you try a wine, use the spit cup or the rinse stations to dump your wine. Rinse your glass, then repeat. You'll be able to enjoy the unique characteristics of each wine better. We offer four tasting sessions over three days, so you don't need to try everything in one day!

Please don’t wear fragrance! All the noses and palates in the room will thank you.

This is a wine tasting, not a food event. Be sure to have a meal before you arrive. That said, food samples are available to enhance your tasting experience.

The California section of the Tasting Room is graciously co-hosted by the U.S. Consulate General Vancouver. 

Must be 19 or older (No Minors) to attend Vancouver International Wine Festival events. Two pieces of ID (one containing photo & birthdate) are required. Infants and children are not permitted.

Ticket prices are inclusive of wine, food (as applicable), gratuities, charges, and taxes—what you see is what you pay! 

Don’t Wine and Drive!
Don’t even think about bringing your car or bike.

• Take transit. BCLIQUOR offers a free transit ticket at their Get Home Safe booth in the onsite Festival Wine Shop.
• Assign a designated driver
• Take a cab or limo
• Walk