Taste the World at the Vancouver International Wine Festival

Get ready for the 46th annual Vancouver International Wine Festival (VIWF) when it welcomes wineries from around the world for eight days of wine-filled events, seminars, tastings, and dinners from February 22 to March 2, all in support of the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival.

VIWF 2025's end-of-winter celebration is preparing to welcome 121 wine producers from 15 countries participating in 43 events and pouring a thousand different wines.

West Coast Wines

Every year, the wine festival spotlights a different winemaking region with this year's focus on West Coast U.S. Wines, featuring 50 American wineries from California, Oregon, and Washington in attendance. They will be showcasing their wines at 24 events during festival week joined by 71 wineries from 14 additional nations.

Explore the storied wine regions of the American West Coast, from Sonoma to Santa Barbara and Walla Walla to Willamette. Stop by the dedicated U.S. section of the International Tasting Festival with sample stations from Taste USA and California Wines.

West Coast U.S. wines reflect the unique climates of each distinct region, from sun-drenched valleys to the cooler coastal areas. Many American wine producers featured are at the forefront of sustainable winemaking practices that demonstrate a strong stewardship of the land.

Wine Pairings & Events

As usual, VIWF starts with its formal Bacchanalia Gala dinner and auction, a fine evening of wine and food pairings with live music and dancing, hosted at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver on Feb. 22.

Vancouver's Michelin-rated dining scene paired with visiting wineries from around the globe makes for a perfect match for those attending VIWF looking to wine and dine. Embrace the festival experience by joining one of VIWF's many curated sit-down Winery Dinners with other wine enthusiasts featuring special menus paired with carefully selected wines at top-notch restaurants like Black & Blue, Bacchus, Provence Marinaside, Acquafarina, CinCin, and many others.

Notable wine pairing dinners:

• California Comes to Cowichan @ Hydra Estiatorio – Feb. 25

• Discover Paso Robles @ L'Abattoir – Feb. 25

• From Coast to Continent @ Riley's – Feb. 25

• Uncorking California @ The Victor – Feb. 25

• Uniquely Oregon @ Alouette Bistro – Feb. 26

• Phantom Creek @ Blue Water Cafe – Feb. 26

Interested in knowing more about your favourite wines? Wine Seminars led by some of the world's most respected experts are the perfect way to sip and learn your way through the festival. Have fun by tasting wines and learning more about wine-specific topics and the different winemaking regions.

In addition to these seminars, attending one of VIWF's many Wine Minglers and Lively Lunches is another approachable way to level up your wine expertise while having fun alongside other festival goers. Whether you are a novice or an experienced wine drinker, these events provide informal and relaxed environments to learn how to appreciate food and wine better together.

International Festival Tastings

All 121 participating wineries and their teams will gather inside the Tasting Room from February 27 to March 1 in the West building of the Vancouver Convention Centre to show off their finest wines for the three-night event with an additional Saturday afternoon tasting.

Wineries will be pouring some 700 select wines for patrons. This is your chance to discover all the exciting new wines, revisit old favourites, try the tasting stations, visit the California wine bars, and much more at the premiere event of the festival.

VIWF 2025 by the numbers:

• ~19,000 admissions / 15 countries / 121 wineries / 43 events (31 public, 12 trade)

• 25 venues / 25 participating restaurants, hotels, and caterers

• ~1,000 wines / ~700 wines in the Tasting Room / ~300 wines at special events

• ~27,000 bottles poured or purchased / Tasting Room size (at VCC West): 53,000 square feet

VIWF's slogan, "The wine world is here," reflects the Vancouver International Wine Festival Society's ongoing mission of advancing wine enjoyment, engagement, and education for both the public and industry while raising funds for local performing arts organizations

Book a stay at one of StayVancouverHotels' 43 downtown hotels and receive a free ticket to the International Festival Tasting (a $119-139 value) session of your choice or book two or more nights and receive two free tickets while supplies last (offer available only until February 13).

To browse the full schedule of events and purchase tickets, visit VIWF's website or download their brochure.