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Vive la France and Beyond: Inside the 47th Vancouver International Wine Festival

There are certain weeks in Vancouver when the city seems to hum with anticipation, when conversations turn to terroir, tannins, and travel plans made entirely through a wine glass. From March 7-14, 2026, the Vancouver International Wine Festival returns for its 47th edition at the Vancouver Convention Centre East and venues throughout the city.

Canada’s premier wine show will once again pair wine, food, and the performing arts in a celebration that feels equal parts discovery and indulgence. This year’s festival welcomes 113 wineries from 14 countries, featured across 33 events over seven immersive days. Whether one is a seasoned collector or a curious novice, the invitation is the same: step in, swirl, and see where the journey leads.

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Vive la France

In 2026, the spotlight turns toward France. The festival welcomes 27 French wineries, representing nine storied regions and centuries of winemaking tradition. Inside the Grand Tasting Room, all 27 will be gathered in a dedicated section, complete with a themed Vive la France wine bar and regional tasting stations showcasing wines from Beaujolais and Bordeaux.

For those eager to deepen their understanding, the public seminar Take A Tour de France in Your Glass explores seven classic French wine regions, each with its own character, history, and unmistakable sense of place. It is a guided passage through landscape and legacy, one pour at a time.

Members of the food, beverage, and hospitality industries can further refine their expertise through three trade seminars. Gérard Bertrand is Committed to Biodynamics offers insight into sustainability at scale. France: Terroir & Trends examines the global importance of French wines, while Beaujolais: Dig into Diversity provides a detailed exploration of landscapes and soils that shape some of the country’s most expressive bottles.

“The Vancouver International Wine Festival is consistently at the forefront of industry trends when it comes to our wine seminars,” says Harry Hertscheg, VIWF executive director. “This year, we’re taking a deep dive into issues affecting the wine world, offering an unparalleled educational opportunity to members of the trade, and a glimpse into the magic of winemaking to the public.”

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Passports and Perspectives

The international spirit of the festival extends well beyond France. Passport to Global Wines invites guests on a tasting journey through eight wine-producing countries, an experience that feels like a stamped passport without ever leaving the room. For trade professionals, Classic & Contemporary Australia welcomes Wine Australia educator Mark Davidson back to Vancouver to explore how new varieties and evolving viticultural practices are reshaping Australian fine wine.

“Whether you’re in the trade or a curious novice,” says Christine Campbell, the festival’s speaker and outreach liaison, “you will walk away smarter, more confident, and more excited about wine. It’s learning disguised as pure pleasure.”

Festival week offers grand tastings, intimate seminars, themed minglers, elegant dinners, and lively lunches. There is an event for every budget and every appetite, each one designed to expand horizons and invite conversation.

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“There’s always something new to taste and experience at VanWineFest,” adds Hertscheg. “Every journey through the Tasting Room is a unique and personal experience. Each year, anywhere from 25-30% of wineries are new to the festival, and three-quarters of the wines poured in the Tasting Room are only available at select restaurants and private wine shops, if at all. This year, we’re partnering with EZfocus to help festivalgoers find and purchase those wines post-festival.”

Culinary Creativity and Community

Beyond the glass, the Vancouver International Wine Festival celebrates Metro Vancouver’s extraordinary culinary scene. Curated winery dinners unfold at top restaurants across the city, while the newly re-imagined Wine Program Excellence Awards pay tribute to the diversity, creativity, and culture of the world-class restaurant community.

The festival also partners with LaSalle College and the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, offering culinary students dynamic work experiences during the popular Saturday lunches. It is a week that nurtures both palate and profession.

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The Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction, presented by National Bank Private Banking 1859, launches the festivities on Saturday, March 7 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Trade Days follows on Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13.

The festival is consistently ranked the #1 Food, Wine & Hospitality Event in Canada by New York’s BizBash and was named one of the world’s top wine trade shows by Wine International Association. Produced by the Vancouver International Wine Festival Society, the event operates with three mandates: provide an informative, educational, and entertaining wine experience for public and trade; be a premier marketing opportunity for the wine industry and festival partners; and raise funds for the Bard on the Beach Theatre Society. Since inception in 1979, the festival has raised more than $10.3 million for the performing arts.

Major sponsor is The Vancouver Sun; major industry partners are the BC Liquor Distribution Branch, BCLIQUOR, and the Import Vintners & Spirits Association. The Vancouver International Wine Festival gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.

Bard on the Beach is one of Canada’s largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare festivals, presented on the waterfront at Sen?á?w/Vanier Park. Each June through September, two performance tents host Shakespeare plays, related dramas, and special events. Over 2 million patrons have experienced Bard since its inception, with annual attendance approaching 100,000. The 2026 season will include The Merry Wives of Windsor, Macbeth, Goblin: Oedipus, and Antigone.

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Plan Your Pour

Tickets are currently on sale for four International Festival Tastings and the Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction. For those seeking a complete immersion, the IFT Pass includes all four International Festival Tastings. A two-day Trade Pass is also available for members of the hospitality industry.

Browse all public events online or click through the interactive Festival at a Glance PDF for full festival details. For those in the hospitality and food and beverage industries, visit the Trade Days website.

How to Purchase Tickets
Online: VanWineFest.ca 24/7
Phone: 604-873-3311 or toll free 1-877-321-3121, Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

All ticket prices include wine, food where applicable, gratuities, taxes, and service charge.

Facebook and Instagram: @VanWineFest

All images by Christine McAvoy Photography.

Author Profile

Helen Siwak, Luxury Lifestyle Observer: Helen Siwak is the founder of EcoLuxLuv Communications & Marketing Inc and publisher of Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine and PORTFOLIOY.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine. She is a prolific content creator, consultant, and marketing and media strategist within the ecoluxury lifestyle niche. Helen is the west coast correspondent to Canada’s top-read industry magazine Retail-Insider, holds a vast freelance portfolio, and consults with many of the world’s luxury heritage brands. Always seeking new opportunities and challenges, you can email her at [email protected].