2024 VIWF WINERY APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN UNTIL JUNE 23

The 45th Vancouver International Wine Festival, Canada's premier trade and consumer wine show, takes place February 24-March 3, 2024. This is your opportunity to showcase and sample your wines to British Columbia's sophisticated wine audience, including collectors, buyers, sommeliers, media, and influencers.  

New York's BizBash named the Vancouver International Wine Festival the #1 Food, Wine & Hospitality Event in Canada for eight years running. It is considered one of the best wine festivals in the world.

Key trade attendees have come from across Canada, including representatives from provincial liquor boards and top private retailers in Western Canada. 

Attending Trade Days at VanWineFest.

All selected wineries feature their products in the festival's Tasting Room, which hosts two trade-only tastings and four consumer International Festival Tastings over the course of three days. All wines exhibited in the Tasting Room are sold onsite at BC Liquor Stores' wine shop; in 2023, BCLS (Western Canada's largest wine retailer) onsite sales topped $434,000! 

Participating wineries have added opportunities to present their wines at seminars, winery dinners, wine minglers, lunches and more.

We anticipate 140-160 wineries will be selected to participate in the 2024 festival. Canada's premier wine show once again aims to attract some of the biggest wine industry names from around the world.

Note that winery applications must be submitted by a registered and active BC wine agent on behalf of suppliers they represent in the BC market. 

New to the Festival? Check out our top Reasons to Participate

The Tasting Room's six sessions are the heart of the festival, but there are many special events throughout the week, including a fundraising gala, seminars, minglers, lunches, and dinners, for which you can submit your wines.

Full details can be found in the Special Event Wine Submission Guidelines, but below is a breakdown of the planned 2024 special events (using working titles). 

Theme Events - Italy

Events with no participation fee

ITALY THEME PLENARY

Trade Seminar, Thursday, February 29

Italian wineries only

FESTIVAL TOAST /

DELTA AIR LINES SEMINAR

Wine Mingler/VIP Seminar,

Thursday, February 29, Friday, March 1,

Saturday, March 2

Italian wineries only

ITALY TRADE SEMINAR

Trade Seminar, Friday, March 1

Italian wineries only

ITALY BLOCKBUSTER SEMINAR

Wine seminar, Friday, March 1

Italian wineries only

LA DOLCE VITA

Grazing Lunch, Saturday, March 2

All Italian wineries

Events with participation fees

FESTA ITALIANA

WIne Mingler, Tuesday, February 27

$150+GST

Italian wineries only

CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE:

20th ANNUAL AWARDS LUNCH

FEATURING ITALY

Trade Lunch, Friday, March 1

$150+GST

Italian wineries only

All Other Events

Events with no participation fee

BACCHANALIA GALA DINNER + AUCTION

Fundraising Gala featuring 10 premium wines

Saturday, February 24

CALIFORNIA WINES SUN FEST

Wine Mingler, Wednesday, February 28

California wineries only

THE SHAPE OF WINE

Wine Seminar, Thursday, February 29

Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir,

Oaked Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon

THE GLOBAL CRU

Wine Seminar, Saturday, March 2

All countries - "cru" wines

Events with participation fees

PICA KITCHEN PARTY

Grazing Lunch, Sunday, March 3

$150+GST

Food-friendly wines from any country

Wine organizations are encouraged to organize Regional Tasting Stations in the Tasting Room, offering an additional showcase for wines from participating wineries. The 2023 stations included South America, Sparkling Wine, California, New Zealand, and Rioja. Learn more here.

This year, we are also accepting applications directly from agencies/wineries for tasting stations. There are no participation fees for these stations.

ITALY TASTING STATION

A selection of wines from different Italian wine regions will allow festivalgoers to discover the diversity of Italian wine. 

ITALIAN GRAPES FROM AROUND THE WORLD TASTING STATION

This tasting station will feature international wines made from Italian grapes, such as Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Aglianico, Primitivo, Trebbiano, Arneis, Vermentino, or stylistically as in Pinot Grigio. 

SPARKLING WINE TASTING STATION

Different expressions of sparkling wine are sought to provide festivalgoers with the opportunity to compare and contrast different styles.

You also have the opportunity to propose your own event, based on the Sponsored Event Proposals Guidelines. Some of the suggested events include: 

VINTAGE TASTING (Tuesday, February 27)

Vintage Tastings are designed to capture the interest of wine collectors. The featured winery principal or wine expert hosts these intimate tastings, which are often vertical tastings stretching back several decades.   

GLOBAL VINE STAR SEMINAR (Thursday, February 29 or Friday, March 1)

A wine seminar featuring an internationally-renowned wine producer/personality who has made a global impact on the wine industry and/or wine culture.   

TRADE SEMINAR / MASTERCLASS (Wednesday, February 28 or Friday, March 1)

An in-depth study and exploration of wines from a specific region, theme or topic, moderated by an expert in the area being explored.

WINE MINGLERS

An upbeat wine tasting where patrons browse from station to station in an informal and entertaining setting. Some food is served, but patrons are advised to eat ahead of time.

WINERY DINNERS (Monday, February 26, Tuesday, February 27, or Wednesday, February 28)

These multi-course meals feature participating festival wineries working in partnership with some of Vancouver’s top restaurants.

2023 Premier Sponsors

June 1-23

Winery Applications Open

February 24

Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction

February 28-March 1

Trade Days

Early October

Participating Wineries Announced

February 26-March 3

Festival Week

February 29-March 2

Tasting Room Dates

Vancouver International Wine Festival