Advance tickets are now on sale for the Vancouver International Wine Festival. Save $6 off International Festival Tasting (IFT) tickets for the 45th Vancouver International Wine Festival, or taste it all and save $30 on the Super Pass. Want to taste for free? Book one of 43 downtown hotels available through StayVancouverHotels.com and receive an IFT ticket, a saving of up to $135.
The 2024 festival runs from February 24 to March 3 and welcomes 149 wineries from around the wine world. All participating wineries and their principals gather in the Tasting Room (February 29-March 2) to showcase their wines. Advance-price tickets are limited and savings are in effect while quantities last. After that, tickets are available at regular rates. The StayVancouverHotels free ticket offer is available through February 15, or while quantities last.
This year, the festival’s theme is Discover Italy, with 71 wineries and their principals from Italy travelling to Vancouver to share wines from their storied terroirs. They’re joined by 78 wineries from 11 additional countries. Overall, more than one out of four wineries are making their festival debut in 2024.
“The Tasting Room is the heart of the festival, and with the holiday season coming up, we’re delighted to offer festivalgoers the opportunity to save on their evening or afternoon of tasting,” said Harry Hertscheg, VIWF Executive Director. “Tickets make a great gift for the wine lover on your list, and you can buy them online or by phone. Best of all, the ticket price you see is the amount you pay. No surprises upon check out!” The advance sale offers savings on International Festival Tasting tickets and associated packages. See details below.
ADVANCE SALE OFFERS
International Festival Tastings
Festivalgoers save $6 off the regular price of International Festival Tasting tickets (Thursday, February 29, Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2). Advance tickets for evening tastings, 7 to 10 p.m., are $109 for Thursday, $119 for Friday and $129 for Saturday. The Saturday matinee tasting from 2:30 to 5 p.m., set against the stunning backdrop of Coal Harbour, is available for the advance price of $119. Only a limited number of tickets are available at the advance rate for each of the four sessions. Once the advance allotment sells out, tickets may be purchased at regular prices.
Super Pass
For those wanting the full tasting experience, Super Passes go on sale for only $460, a $30 savings. Super Passes include access to six tastings (four public IFTs and two Trade Tastings, presented by ContainerWorld) and the exclusive Festival Toast VIP reception. Purchased individually, the Super Pass events are valued at nearly $700.
BOOK A HOTEL, GET A FREE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL TASTING TICKET!
Turn your tasting into a weekend trip! Book a stay at one of StayVancouverHotels.com’s 43 downtown hotels and receive a free International Festival Tasting ticket (a $115 to $135 value at regular rates) to the session of your choice. This offer is only available until February 15 or while allocations last, so book early to for best hotel rates and availability. The StayVancouverHotels.com initiative is an important cornerstone of the festival’s Don’t Wine and Drive program.
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL TASTINGS HIGHLIGHTS
See the full list of participating wineries
The Tasting Room at the Vancouver Convention Centre is where all 149 participating wineries gather to pour ~800 select wines. Discover exciting new wines, or return to old favourites, sipping from premium wine glasses. The room will also feature tasting stations featuring wines from California, New Zealand, Italy, and sparkling wines from around the world. You can also find wine-friendly food and beverage exhibitors offering tasting samples, including ARC Iberico Imports, Caffè Umbria, Clearsips, D’Oro Gelato e Caffè, FIJI Water, La Grotta del Formaggio, Rishi Tea & Botanicals, Soft Crush, Terra International Foods, and True Italian Taste. However, festivalgoers are encouraged to have a meal before attending as food quantities are limited. Other Tasting Room exhibitors adding value for attendees include BC Food & Wine Radio, ContainerWorld, Delta Air Lines, Enostore, Import Vintners & Spirits Association, and Riedel – The Wine Glass Company.
Theme Country: Italy
This is the year to discover the storied wines of Italy, with 71 wineries from 13 different regions featured at the festival. “Italy contributes some 20% of the world’s wine, yet for many it remains a relative mystery,” says festival keynote speaker, wine journalist and educator, Filippo Bartolotta. “The magical boot of Europe boasts hundreds of varieties, wine styles, interpretations, and breadth.” Stop by the Scopra L’Italia booth to start your Italian wine journey and learn more about Italian wines from local experts.
Vine Stars
What makes VanWineFest unique is the presence of global “vine stars” – winemakers, proprietors, senior executives – who come to Vancouver every year to pour and discuss their wines with festivalgoers. Each winery will be represented at events by a principal, a senior representative from the winery. Seek out the royal blue lanyards at tastings and special events to meet our vine stars face-to-face.
More Room, Smaller Crowds
Both the Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon sessions are guaranteed to have a lower capacity than Friday and Saturday evening, offering more room and more time to interact with winery principals.
BCLIQUOR Festival Wine Shop
Included in the price of each ticket is the opportunity to shop at the onsite BCLIQUOR store where exclusive wines from all participating wineries will be available for purchase. Take advantage of the bottle check – shop early to pick up your must-have wines, check your purchases, and then return to the Tasting Room to discover more wines. Whether you buy one bottle or 100, your wine purchases can be shipped at no cost to your nearest BCLIQUOR store anywhere in the province. This is an unparalleled opportunity to start or build a wine collection, with knowledgeable staff to guide you on which wines are best to cellar.
Don’t Wine and Drive
- Book a downtown hotel via StayVancouverHotels.com and get a free International Festival Tasting ticket (while supplies last or until February 15)
- Get a free transit ticket from BC Liquor Distribution Branch as you leave the tastings to Get Home Safe
- Grab a taxi or limo home
HOW TO PURCHASE ADVANCE TICKETS
Online: VanWineFest.ca
Phone: 604-873-3311, toll free 1-877-321-3121 (Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)
All ticket prices include wine, food (if a food event), gratuities, taxes and service charge.
Save the Dates
- Advance tickets and StayVancouverHotels ticket are now on sale
- Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction goes on sale Wednesday, November 22 at 9:30 a.m.
- Trade Days Pass goes on sale Wednesday, December 13 at 9:30 a.m.
- Winery dinners go on sale Wednesday, January 3 at 9:30 a.m.
- All remaining public events go on sale Wednesday, January 10 at 9:30 a.m.
- All trade events go on sale Wednesday, January 17 at 9:30 a.m.
