The world of wine returns to Vancouver on March 23^rd with the 31st annual Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival.

The main spectacle during this ‘week of wine’ is of course the International Festival Tasting Room. For three days,183 wineries will be pouring 723 different wines. But if the thought of over 700 wines is already overwhelming to your taste buds…don’t worry…there are a number of more intimate culinary and educational events being held throughout the city.

While I would never miss an opportunity to discover a new wine, I have to remind myself that a good wine is nothing without a great glass to show it off. That is why I am particularly excited about attending the “The Glory of the Glass” tasting.

This year, Georg Riedel, the10th generation patriarch of the Austrian Riedel glassware company, will be hosting this special tasting experience.

At the tasting, Riedel will be demonstrating his 4-piece Vitis collection. Vitis is possibly Riedel’s most innovative design to date. A fusion of function and form, the Vitis series is the pinnacle of modern stemmed glass technology. Its shape provides a wide evaporation surface, thereby intensifying and enhancing the bold flavor and texture of each wine varietal. As I’m sure you know, each style of wine should be poured in a specific glass to bring out its full potential. At this tasting, you can try a wine out of a standard glass, then try the same wine out of the correct varietal Riedel glass. Is there a difference? You be the judge.

And as an added bonus, we each get to take home our own set of Vitis glasses, valued at $170. Tickets are $149, so this is a great deal and an incredibly unique opportunity for both novices and the most discerning tasters.

Cheers!

Thursday, March 26
The Vancouver Club
915 West Hastings St
5:15 - 6:45 pm
604-873-3311 or www.playhousewinefest.com

Kea Bawtinheimer, partlySunny Contributor