Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival

            

Once again, Vancouver wine lovers gear up for one of North America's largest wine festivals. Now in its 32nd year the VPIWF just seems to get better and better.
From Monday, April 19th thru Sunday, April 25 the city will celebrate its love of the grape by hosting 197 wineries from 14 countries who will be pouring 1700 wines to more than 25,000 people over the course of 61 events.
Whew!

This year, in case you hadn't already heard, our regional themes direct us to the Southern Hemisphere, to Argentina and to New Zealand. Our global focus (I am tickled pink to report) is on rosé. I have attached a selection of wines - from wineries who will be pouring their wines during any of the 61 events over the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival's seven days.
The wineries who produce these wines will all be found in the International Festival Tasting rooms Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights but many of the wines I have reviewed will be found in various locations across the 61 events happening at venues around the city.

For a list of other VPIWF wines with more in-depth reviews click here

A cheat sheet for Argentina


Whites:
Bodegas Trapiche Sparkling Rosé - plenty of fresh berry fruit with a savoury core and nice mousse.
Valentin Bianchi Sparkling Traditional Method Extra Brut - simply fresh, nice value, kiss of sweetness and nice mousse.
Bodega Tapiz Torrontes (also at Diva(s) at the Met) - gorgeous freshness, creamy and spicy, long finish.
Tomas Achaval 'Nomade' Torrontes - surprising power, verdant and juicy, exotic spice.
Valle de la Puerta S.A Torrontes - begins with fine-boned freshness and becomes more powerful.
Luigi Bosca 'Finca la Linda' Torrontes - youthful and vibrant, oily texture, fine spice.
Bodegas Santa Ana Chardonnay~Viognier - fruity, fragrant and spicy, creamy and smooth.

Reds:
Humberto Canale Pinot Noir - textural, very pretty, floral with sweet summer berries.
Casa Montes Bodegas & Vinedos 'Don Balthasar' Petit Verdot - aromatic flowers and ripe berry fruit, firm, concentrated and chewy.
Pascual Toso 'Finca Pedregal' - elegant, juicy and concentrated, plush fruit, chocolate and spice.
Familia Zuccardi 'Zeta' - fantastic ripe fruit, chocolate, liqueur-like density, powerful and spicy.
Mi Terruno Malbec~Cabernet Limited Release - consumer friendly but nice power, cola spice and sweet berries.
Bodegas Renancer Punto Final Clasico Malbec - Sweet chocolate, berry fruit and warm spice.
Zorzal Malbec - blueberry, raspberry and tea leaves, good grip, nice balance.
Bodegas Salentein Malbec Reserva - a sweet supple version with great fruit and spice, firm finish.
Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec - Gobs of sweet, fresh berry liqueur, chocolate and allspice.
Familia Schroeder 'Saurus' Patagonia Select Malbec - Mineral laden, sweet ripe and plush.
Graffigna Grand Reserve Malbec - red fruit, sweet spice and mineral, juicy palate.
Bodega Vistalba 'Tomero Grand Reserve' Malbec - Fantastic plush blueberry and spice, powerful finish.
Michel Torino 'Don David' Cabernet Sauvignon - Cassis vanilla, mint and crushed flowers, supple and sweet.
Catena Zapata Alta Malbec - floral, pepper and mineral, full-bodied, savoury and powerful.
Xumek Malbec - a potent mix of red fruit, dried fruit, garrigue, spiced mocha, firm dry tannins.
Bodegas Escorihuela '1884' Malbec - gobs of purple fruit, mocha, sweet, fresh and concentrated.
Vina Cobos 'Braemare' Cabernet Sauvignon - mouth-watering cassis, lovely balance and bright acidity.
Colome ' Amalaya de Colome - ripe cherries, Asian spice and smoky, meaty tones.

*To read more about Argentina and my recent trip click here
*To read more about Argentina in my recent article in Vines Magazine click here

A Cheat Sheet for New Zealand


Whites:
Mount Riley Savee, Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc a stylish sparkling that really has the typicity of Sauv Blanc - zesty, fresh, mousse-y and verdant.
Astrolabe Voyage Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc - smooth and creamy version with fantastic weight.
Staete Landt Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc - vibrant, juicy and refreshing.
Jackson Estate Stich Sauvignon Blanc - lovely verdant grassy, herbal and citric notes spiked with gooseberry.
Elephant Hill Hawkes Bay Viognier - rich and smooth, fat with tropical fruit and exotic spices.
Stone Paddock Chardonnay - exotic and lively, creamy, fresh and spicy


Reds:
Ata Rangi Martinborough Pinot Noir - elegant, spicy and fresh with herbal nuances.
Ara Composite Marlborough Pinot Noir - earthy, composty and fresh with herbal undertones.
Nautilus Marlborough Pinot Noir - full and sweet, floral notes, easy sipper.
Stoneleigh Rapaura Series Marlborough Pinot Noir - mineral driven with supple, sweet fruit.
Woollaston Estates Nelson Pinot Noir - gobs of berry and mineral, powerful finish.
Envoy by Spy Valley Marlborough Pinot Noir - sweet and ripe, tightly woven, supple and spicy.
Two Paddocks Central Otago Pinot Noir - saddle leather, farmyard and sauvage with a smooth berry palate.
Waitiri Creek Central Otago Pinot Noir - grippy and firm with tart cranberry and herbal notes.
Ostier Caroline's Waitaki Pinot Noir - truly sauvage, bacon fat and wild herbs - succulent.
Stone Paddock Hawkes Bay 'Scarlet' - Bordeaux blend, supple fruit, concentrated, spicy

Feature Wineries

I would like to introduce you to two wineries, one from each of the Regional Thematic countries. Both are introducing new wines into the British Columbia (and national) markets, and both are wineries you may never have heard of. One is very old and one, very young but both bring something valuable to their VPIWF table - fantastic, quality wines I recommend you taste!

Introduction to Graffigna - San Juan Argentina
Graffigna winery in San Juan

Graffigna is one of the oldest wineries in Argentina and the oldest  winery in the province of San Juan in the central wine region of Cuyo just above Mendoza.
Italian immigrant  Don Juan Graffigna arrived in Argentina the mid-1860s with vines and a solid knowledge of viticulture. His nephew Santiago, followed a few years later and established the Graffigna winery where they produced white and red wines in cask as well as a special fortified port wine. Graffigna was quick to grasp new technology and within 15 years they were already selling their wines outside of Argentina.
Graffigna has always produced wines made from grapes sourced from several different appellations and altitudes and continue to do so today. Within San Juan Graffigna has high altitude vineyards in the Pedernal Valley,  Tulum Valley and Pocito and they purchase grapes from the Zonda Valley.
As an introduction, Graffigna will be pouring some of their wines at the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival and simultaneously releasing their Centenario Pinot Gris and Centenario Malbec in BC Liquor stores. The Centenario range of wines; Malbec, Shiraz, Pinot Gris and Cabernet Sauvignon will be released across Canada over the next few months.
You will have the opportunity to meet winemaker Victor Marcantoni during the VPIWF.
* a selection of different products will appear in different regions from BC, AB, MB, SK, ON, NB, NF and PEI all approximately $14.

For more information on Graffigna click here
 

Introduction to Paritua - Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

I met Paritua's Brianne Fisher early in 2010 as she made a stop in Vancouver prior to her return for the Vancouver International Wine Festival. An American expat now residing in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, Fisher made a big change from city girl on the American east coast to life down under, owning and managing a winery. Paritua is still a baby (established in 2001, the vines were planted in 2003) but I was impressed with the freshness, the depth and concentration of the wines coming from such a young winery.

Paritua is a certified sustainable vineyard which produces wines under three labels from their 150 acres - Paritua, Stone Paddock and a third, fun and affordable Mount George Red Wire and White Wire. The Stone Paddock Chardonnay - a fruity, floral and fresh version with a rich mouth-feel and bright acidity, will be poured in the International Tasting Room as will Scarlet - a warm, rich and concentrated Bordeaux blend red. The Paritua Red - a chewy, brawny and spicy Bordeaux-style blend for trade only and Mount George Red Wire will be poured at Sunday's Vintner's Brunch.
Brianne Fisher will be in attendance at the VPIWF 2010 wine festival.

For more information on Paritua click here