The Vancouver International Wine Festival, which is due to take place at the city’s Convention Centre from February 24 to March 4, has revealed its list of ‘vine stars’.
 
First up is the festival’s keynote speaker, wine educator and writer Paul Wagner. An expert in Spanish and Portuguese wines, Paul will host, moderate and speak at a number of festival events. Wagner has been an instructor for Napa Valley College’s Viticulture and Enology department for the past 22 years, and along with Rick Kushman of Capital Public Radio, he hosts Bottle Talk, a weekly show about wine.
 
Vine stars from the 173 participating wineries will also be travelling to Vancouver to present their wines at the 40th annual festival. They’ll participate in educational seminars, team up with Vancouver’s best restaurants for exclusive dinners and sample a selection of their wines in the Tasting Room.
 
This year’s theme countries are Iberian Peninsula neighbours, Spain and Portugal.
 

Spain Spotlight

All 38 participating wineries from Spain will have a principal in attendance in the theme country section of the Tasting Room, at the Principals Welcome Lunch on Thursday, March 1, and at a spectacular lunch on Saturday, March 3, Viva Iberia!
 
Spain’s vine stars at the festival include: Gloria Collell (Head Winemaker, Segura Viudas), Joan Cusiné (Proprietor, Parés Baltà / Gratavinum), Miguel Gil (Principal & Family Member, Bodegas Ateca / Bodegas Tridente / Bodegas Rosario Vera), Fernando Gimenez Alvear (Chief Executive Officer, Bodegas Alvear), Javier Murua (Owner, Muriel Wines), Álvaro Palacios (Winemaker, Álvaro Palacios / Palacios Remondo / Descendientes de J. Palacios), and Miguel Torres Maczassek (General Manager, Torres).
 

Portugal Spotlight

All 20 participating wineries from Portugal will have a principal in attendance in the theme country section of the Tasting Room, at the Principals Welcome Lunch on Thursday, March 1, and at a spectacular lunch on Saturday, March 3, Viva Iberia!
 
Portugal’s vine stars at the festival include: David Guimaraens (Head Winemaker, Taylor Fladgate), Luís Mira (Owner / President, Herdade das Servas), Miguel Roquette (Owner, Quinto do Crasto), Rupert Symington (Joint Managing Director, Symington Family Estates), and Cristiano van Zeller (Proprietor, Quinta Vale D. Maria).
 
The stylish Landis Hotel & Suites is perfectly located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, providing easy access to the Vancouver International Wine Festival. Each suite features excellent downtown views, two bedrooms and separate living and dining areas.