ONE thing's for sure about the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival: executive director Harry Hertscheg knows how to put on a good show.
In recent years, Hertscheg has emerged as the festival's upbeat spokesperson, with a natural flair that's helped put a sense of theatre back into the show.
It's in part for that reason that we look forward to the annual kickoff (held last week) when the festival rolls out its major ticket push with a sneak preview that captures the essence of what many regard as North America's most successful consumer and trade wine tasting.
The small but lively tasting was hosted by downtown's elegant Shore Club, one of the VPIWF's major sponsors.
Hertscheg is the first to admit that it's no small challenge to choose just a few wines from the more than 2,000 to be poured at the festival, but this week's tasting yielded an impressive sampling that did underscore the week-long celebration's scope and depth.
A quick taste around the room also gave some clues as to some of the highly regarded wine personalities coming to Vancouver at the end of February.
With no shortage of Chilean luminaries in attendance, one of the show's biggest draws is the chance to chat with some of the biggest names in the biz including Errazuriz owner Eduardo Chadwick, winemaker Cecilia Torres, Vina Santa Rita, Cono Sur's Adolfo Hurtado, Alvaro Espinoza from Emiliana, and Pablo Morandé of Vina Morandé - to mention but a few.
Besides Chile's best and brightest, the festival features stars from the wider wine world, such as Chuck Wagner (Caymus), Jane Ferrari (Yalumba), Matt Lane (Penfolds) and Jerry Comfort (Beringer). Here are just a few highlights from our mini-tasting - wines that you can note ahead for the tasting room or special event, or hunt down ahead of time.
- Marisco, The Ned Sauvignon Blanc 2011. Brent Maris, who gained fame as the winemaker behind Oyster Bay, now has his own Marisco Vineyards, whose wines include this budget-priced gently gooseberry, citrusand green-apple toned, well balanced drop that's arguably the best example around for the money of Marlborough Sauv Blanc. Find it at BCLS Specialty $15.99 (on special through March).
- Baillie Grohman Gewurztraminer 2010. Floral on top with definite rose petal, followed by a broad, quite luscious plate with hints of spice and lychee through a lengthy end. Think mildly spiced Asian plates. Everything Wine $21.99.
- Errazuriz Don Maximiano Founders Reserve 2008. Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, with other Bordeaux varieties, this is the kind of wine that's really helped to put Chile on the "serious" world wine map over the last few years. It's deep, dark and brooding but also luxurious and enticing all at once. Up-front complex aromas of mocha and cassis and tobacco, followed by a broad, black cherry and spice toned, well-structured palate underpinned by fine, rounded tannins, it just keeps on going. A serious but worthy splurge at BCLS $89.99. Or, better still, taste it at Chadwick's Iconic Quest - one of those rare chances to hang out with and learn from one of wine's true superstars, March 1.
If you're interested in wine and want to get involved, it's worth remembering that the wine festival runs very much on volunteer power.
If you're up for the task, volunteer to help at any one of the numerous events or international tastings. Click under 'volunteers' at www. playhousewinefest.com.
