Explore 121 wineries, 43 events, and world-class wine experiences at Vancouver International Wine Festival this February.

You don’t have to travel far to tour the wine world this winter. Plan a trip to Vancouver to experience the 46th annual Vancouver International Wine Festival February 22 to March 2. The eight-day festival is jam-packed with sumptuous winery dinners at top restaurants, casual mid-week wine parties, and insightful early-evening seminars. Closing weekend of the festival wraps up with four grand tastings in the International Festival Tasting Room, as well as food and wine paired lunches.
This end-of-winter celebration of food and wine offers 43 events where festival-goers can sip and sample wines from 121 wineries representing 15 countries. This year’s theme region takes a deep dive into West Coast U.S. wines with 50 wineries from California, Oregon, and Washington travelling north to share their passion for winemaking. From Sonoma to Santa Barbara, Walla Walla to Willamette, the wines of the west coast reflect the diverse terroir and climate of each distinct region, from sun-drenched valleys to the cooler coast. Collectively, these winemakers are at the cutting edge of sustainable winemaking practices, demonstrating a strong stewardship for the land and commitment to continuing family farming legacies for the generations to come.
The festival opens in lavish style on Saturday, February 22 with the Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction at the iconic Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, featuring a luxe lineup of West Coast U.S. wines complemented by a spectacular five-course dinner. This is a must-attend event for serious wine collectors, with an outstanding array of fine wines available to bid on through live and online auctions. Proceeds of the event benefit Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival.
Plan an early week visit to the city to enjoy winery dinners at top Vancouver restaurants. While some dinners are already sold out, there are fantastic dinners still available on Tuesday, February 25 and Wednesday, February 26. Mid-week evening minglers include Venice in Vancity Carnivale and Cruising California, both on Wednesday, February 26.
The festival has built a reputation for putting the fun into wine education, and this year features four seminars where wine educators and visiting winemakers and owners lead you through a curated selection of wines. The Shape of Wine and West Coast Wine Allstars are on Thursday, February 27, followed by Cool Climate California and The Global Cru on Friday, February 28. These events are an excellent opportunity to learn more about wine regions and terroirs, exciting wine styles, or to stock up on premium glassware.
The highlight of festival week is the International Festival Tastings with four sessions to choose from on Thursday, February 27, Friday, February 28, and Saturday, March 1. All 50 West Coast U.S. wineries are gathered in a dedicated section of the Tasting Room, along with 71 wineries from 14 additional countries. Explore European wine regions in Croatia, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. The Southern Hemisphere’s vibrant wine industry is represented by Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, and New Zealand wineries. The festival is proud to showcase B.C. wine country regions from Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, to the Fraser Valley and Okanagan Valley – a great way to compare varieties from emerging and established local wineries alongside their international counterparts.

Your tasting journey doesn’t end there. Festival wine bars showcase sparkling wines from around the world, wines with a strong sustainability story, and West Coast Chardonnays. You can discover more about different wine regions at tasting stations dedicated to Bordeaux, California, New Zealand, and West Coast U.S. Wines. Need to refresh your palate? Sip on coffee, tea, water, or non-alcoholic wines. Or enjoy a wide selection of delicious sweet and savoury food samples.
For wine collectors of all stripes, the onsite BCLIQUOR wine shop allows you to purchase the wines you tasted, many of which are exclusive to the festival. Shop and then ship to a local Vancouver Island store for pick up after your getaway.
Upgrade your International Festival Tasting experience with the Delta Air Lines Tasting Lounge: sample an assortment of West Coast U.S. festival bottles and enjoy light bites in an exclusive lounge adjacent to the Tasting Room. Learn more about festival wines and get advice for the Tasting Room. Need a break from the crowds? Simply return to the lounge for a more intimate experience, complete with comfortable seating and a spectacular view.
For those who love to lunch, the West Coast Pairing Luncheon and Taste of America lunch on Saturday, March 1 offer West Coast food and wine experiences. Or browse the kitchens at the perennially popular PICA Kitchen Party, closing the festival on Sunday, March 2. Festival passes are also available to taste and experience more.
To help with planning your weekend getaway to Vancouver, the festival has partnered with StayVancouverHotels.com. Book a stay at one of 43 downtown hotels and receive a free ticket to an International Festival Tasting session of your choice. Book two or more nights and receive two free tickets. Many participating hotels are walking distance from festival events and handy to explore downtown neighbourhoods in Gastown, Yaletown, Coal Harbour, and the West End.
Discover new wines, new regions, and new favourites all festival week, while taking in the city’s award-winning dining scene with an abundance of international cuisine to savour. Visit VanWineFest.com for details.