Another success for Canada’s premier wine show running from the February 22 opening Gala Winery Dinner and Fundraising Auction at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver to the closing KItchen Party on March 2 at Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. The 46th edition featured 120 wineries (plus 5 Sake producers) with a focus on 50 participating from west coast USA out of a a total of 15 countries. Lots of opportunities to educate yourself on wine with seminars and so many knowledgeable producers in attendance at their tasting station. They also do a wonderful job of including the whole culinary community with interesting food pleasures as well. Even in the tasting room you could compare different Parmigiana Reggiano cheeses or sample different gelatos from D’Oro celebrating their 10th year as an Exhibitor at #VIWF. Your scribe was very impressed with the overall excellent quality of menus and food matching at three lunches and three dinners as follows:
THE SOUL OF NAPA VALLEY WITH ROBERT MONDAVI WINERY AT BLACK + BLUE February 24:
So well executed by the restaurant team and attentive Corporate Wine Director Sarah McCaulay with an amazing menu. A key feature was 45 day dry aged USDA Prime Striploin cooked perfectly paired brilliantly with two vintages of TO KALON RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON. The 2019 was dark deep very ripe primary Cab Sauvignon sweeter fruit compared with the lighter more elegant older 2015 including 7% Cab Franc.
COPPOLA PRESENTS SONOMA’S BEST AT BACCHUS RESTAURANT February 25:
The Wedgewood Hotel lived up to their outstanding Relais & Chateau level with a warm welcome at reception greeting by Managing Director & co-owner Elpie Marinakis followed by talented Executive Chef Stefan Hartman and his brigade plus knowledgeable Sommelier Edward Sweetman. Winemaker Andrea Furber Card Senior Winemaker for Delicato & Francis Ford Coppola Winery did a stellar job visiting the tables of 50+ guests providing valuable wine insights. The comparison of 2021 ELEANOR with Syrah to 2021 ARCHIMEDES solid Sonoma County Alexander Valley Cab was instructive. Andrea told me that Archimedes will in future come from the high elevation remote Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak AVA on the border of Mendocino County. Monitor this.
SOUTHERN ITALIAN RENAISSANCE BY FEUDI DI SAN GREGORIO AT CINCIN February 26:
This Top Table Italian restaurant does wonderful Italian food. International Export Director Andrea Fabiano from Puglia was impressed with the most appropriate burrata, grilled octopus, carnaroli mushroom risotto, wagyu beef, and Campania sheep cheese with his wines. That star grape Aglianico (Nebbiolo of the South) really shined beautifully in all the reds served.
PRINCIPALS WELCOME LUNCH VCC February 27
CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE: 21ST ANNUAL AWARDS LUNCH VCC February 28
Both these lunches held at the Vancouver Convention Centre by Executive Chef Nandakishore Rangan and team were well thought out using diverse ingredients covering Gluten Free Dairy Free Vegetarian and Vegan choices. Tasty too.
WEST COAST PAIRING LUNCHEON AT JJ’S RESTAURANT VANCOUVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE March 1:
Another well organized event by Event Coordinator Christine Campbell led by speaker Evan Goldstein MS. Remarkable white and red wine pairings of chardonnay & pinot noir with three courses. The Perfect Pairings Reference Guide by Evan is so helpful. Lots of possibilities. Really liked the improving balanced wines of Blue Grouse & Unsworth from Vancouver Island with a flavourful salad starter and the Steelhead with Lingua Franca AVNI Chardonnay worked exquisitely.
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