Vancouver Island’s premier wine event, the Victoria International Wine Festival is just around the corner.
This year, the highly-anticipated event will take place from September 23rd and 24th, and it will feature nearly 400 wines from 14 different countries.
There will be three tasting sessions, each lasting 2.5 hours, along with four seminars. In addition to that, there will be three wine dinners taking place September 19th to the 22nd.
The highly anticipated Victoria International Wine Festival is back for it’s ninth year and, this time, will be taking place in Victoria’s historic rail roundhouse—the Car Shop at Bayview Place.
The two-day event is expanding this year with the addition of Washington State wineries being added to the mix—making it the most extensive international wine tasting event to date.
With that in mind, here are 7 things you might not know about Washington wines:
Born of Fire and Ice
The geology of Washington Wine country features water-deposited alluvial and wind-blown soil over a bedrock of volcanic basalt. Ancient eruptions and glacier floods carved the wine country of Washington from the bedrock.
In a shadow- a rain shadow
The wet western portion and the sunny eastern portion of Washington couldn’t be more
different. The vast majority of wine grapes grown in Washington are grown on the sunny
eastern portion of the state. The Cascade Mountains keep all the rain in Seattle.
Has big temperature swings
Referred to as Diurnal Shift, this temperature swings allows the grapes to ripen slowly. Cool
nights let the grapes recover from the long sunny days of the summer. This slow ripening
process allows grapes to get ripe in balance. This daily swing can be as much as 40 degrees during the growing season.
The state can grow almost any grape
From classic Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay to more exotic varietals like Madeleine
Angevine and Nebbiolo, Washington State can grow so many grapes it’s hard top know where to begin. Washington always has a new surprise around the corner.
Cooperative competition
Perhaps it is because Washington has so many boutique wineries, but whatever the reason
Washington works together. Everyone pitches in for the betterment of the entire industry.
Some of the best in the world
Critics, winemakers, and consumers agree. Washington outperforms dollar for dollar almost
every other wine region. Washington wine gets higher scores for a lower price. Score for score, Washington wine costs half of what a premium French wine costs.
The best is yet to come
While the Washington wine industry is almost 100 years old, it was really 50 years ago that
Premium wine was first produced. Only in the last 20 years has the region really exploded.
Considering France has been growing wine grapes for 2000 years, Washington has a lot of room to grow!
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Festival Director David Bain told Victoria Buzz the goal behind the Victoria International Wine Festival said the event was created with a focus on creating an environment that is a welcoming place to sample wine for everyone
“We want people to be able to gain knowledge about new wines in a format that isn’t intimidating; we then match this experience with another, where wines selected by a panel of sommeliers will impress even the most experienced wine enthusiast,” added Bain.
Moving to the beautiful industrial heritage surroundings of the Car Shop at Bayview Place, Victoria International Wine Festival guests will be treated to a tour of the historic buildings while sipping and learning about everything from tasting to terroir.
Organizers said the Victoria International Wine Festival welcomes all types of wine connoisseurs and strives to include something for everyone!
Being a first for Victoria, Washington State Wines will be a part of this year’s event where a dedicated section at the festival will highlight wines poured by principals from this region with two seminars showcasing three generations of Washington State wines.
Tickets are already on sale and the festival has sold out every year—well in advance of the
event, so make sure to grab your tickets today!
CONTEST
For a chance to WIN two tickets to Friday nights grand tasting and let your taste buds explore the world of wine, complete one or more of the following:
- LIKE Victoria International Wine Festival on Facebook and leave a comment below telling us once you have. (1 entry)
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Contest entries will be accepted from time and date of publishing until 11:59 p.m. PST on September 20th, 2022. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they enter within 24 hours of the contest closing. Good luck!
The Victoria International Wine Festival
- When:
- Friday, September 23rd – 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Saturday, September 24th – 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Where: The Car Shop at Bayview
- Tickets: Tickets start at $106.89, purchase online (Event is 19+, no minors)
