Inside the 47th Vancouver International Festival Tasting Room

Despite ongoing geopolitical turmoil and rising global competition, including a rapidly growing scene in British Columbia, it is clear that French wine still holds considerable prestige, especially at the most iconic addresses in the wine industry, which have always attracted consumers. Regions like Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, the Rhône, Loire, and Languedoc have stood the test of time. Many well-known French regions have had their names diluted by lesser-known versions produced in other countries. However, terms such as Bourgogne-style, Bordeaux blend, Rhône-like, and even Champagne-like only serve to subtly keep French wine top of mind, even where it has limited market presence.

When you visit the tasting room next week, you will be able to experience today's wines of France versus the rest of the world. The days when New World wines were typically richer, riper, and more alcoholic than French wines are long gone. And thanks to climate change, French wines are not necessarily lean, fresh wines with refined tannins, crafted for the dinner table. You might say things are changing as rapidly as the weather.

In that spirit, you are encouraged to explore a range of New and Old World wines available in the International Tasting Room and compare the differences or similarities for yourself. The GOW team has scoured the list of wines that will be poured and come up with some interesting picks you will want to taste.

Everything you taste will be available for ticket holders to purchase at the onsite wine store and can be shipped to the government store nearest to your home. Each producer's position in the room is organized alphabetically within its country space. See you inside the room.

TERROIR X TEN: France is the birthplace of terroir. The idea that the soil grapes grow in, along with the mesoclimate and the people, gives wine a DNA of place that is no longer just a concept. Of course, the truth is, every vineyard has terroir, and every winegrower is tasked with expressing their wine's sense of place, no matter where they live in the world, but we can also say few, if any, do it better than the French. Given the role terroir plays in French wine, we highlight some of the terroir-driven (times ten) wines you can find in the tasting room. AG

A. Brumont Château Montus Madiran 2018, South West France $46

[Andrew Peller Imports] Chartron et Trébuchet Pouilly-Fuissé 2023, Bourgogne, France $50

[Antoine Moueix] Château Capet-Guillier Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2019, Bordeaux, France $57.99

Champagne Duval-Leroy, Brut Premier Cru NV, Champagne, France $95

Château de Nages, Halos de Jupiter Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2021, Rhône, France $89

Château Haut-Carles 2022. Fronsac, Bordeaux, France $60

Domaine Boutinot, Les Coteaux Schisteaux Séguéret Côtes du Rhône Villages 2021, Rhône, France $39

Domaine Laroche, Grand Cru Chablis Les Blanchots 2022, Bourgogne, France $124

Fonjoya Delta, Tèrra Libra 2020, Terrasses du Larzac, Languedoc et Roussillon, France $47

Gabriel Meffre, Laurus Vacqueyras Red 2020, Rhône, France $35

Georges Duboeuf, Domaine des Quatre Vents Fleurie 2023, Bourgogne, France $31

Gérard Bertrand Le Viala Minervois-La Livinière 2022, Languedoc-Roussillon, France $90

M. Chapoutier, Hermitage Blanc Chante-Alouette 2021 Rhône, France $93

Pfaff, Gewürztraminer Grand Cru Steinert 2018, Alsace, France $35

THE NEXT WORLD OF CHARDONNAY: We like to think of the latest in chardonnay as neither Old World nor New World; it's Next World. The style notes are fresh, precise, authentic, bright, electric, mineral, and delicious. Top-tier chardonnay comes from all parts of the globe, but this week you only need to visit the festival tasting room to enjoy some of the most fascinating options. Whole cluster pressed, barrel fermented, hand-stirred, aged in oak, concrete eggs, cement vats, ceramic vats, amphorae, stainless steel, unfined, never filtered, no sulphur, malo, no malo — take your pick. AG

Chivite, Colección 125 Chardonnay 2021, Navarra, Spain $85

Emiliana Organic Vineyards, Maycas Del Limari Chardonnay 2022. Limari Valley, Chile $27

Fort Berens Estate Winery, White Gold Chardonnay Reserve, Lillooet, B.C. $37

Maison Louis Jadot, Chardonnay Couvent des Jacobins 2023, Bourgogne, France $36

Phantom Creek Estates, Chardonnay 2023, Okanagan Valley, B.C. $40

Quails' Gate, Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay 2023, Okanagan Valley, B.C. $50

Rombauer Vineyards, Carneros Chardonnay 2024, Napa Valley, California, USA $70

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, Chardonnay 2024, Golden Mile Bench, B.C. $25

Trentadue, La Storia Chardonnay 2023, Sonoma County, California, USA $50

Villa Maria, Taylors Pass Chardonnay 2022, Marlborough, New Zealand $43

SEEK OUT THE SPARKLERS: Bubbles are ALWAYS a good idea, especially when you’ve been tasting still wines all day. Refresh your palate, and experience a wide range of styles, grapes, and regions on the festival floor. Of course, with France as the theme region, you will want to make sure you taste a few Champagnes throughout the day. TR

Champagne Duval-Leroy, Brut Cuvée Organic NV, Champagne, France. $73

Champagne Esterlin, Blanc de Blancs Éclat NV, Champagne, France. $85
Château Sainte-Marie, Brut Nature NV, Bordeaux, France. $45
Los Cerros de San Juan, Lahusen Extra Brut Rosé NV, Uruguay. $34.99
Ethica Wines, Bellavista Grande Cuvée Alma Brut Franciacorta NV, Lombardy, Italy. $63.99
Villa Sandi Prosecco Asolo Biodiversity Friend Brut NV, Veneto, Italy. $23.99

 OH CANADA ELBOWS UP: Picking the best local wines is more challenging due to the dramatic improvements in quality across the province. Trump tariffs have given all Canadians a new perspective on what we can achieve and where we can go when we set our minds to being the best. In today's wine world, climate change, carbon footprints, organics, sustainability, ethics and more are all factors that point consumers toward buying local. Here is a shortlist of wines in the room that should excite you about supporting the home team. AG

8th Generation Vineyard, Pinot Meunier Rosé 2025, Okanagan Valley, B.C. $28

Black Hills Estate Winery, Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Okanagan Valley, B.C. $35

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery, Syrah 2022, Okanagan Valley, B.C. $43

Da Silva Vineyards, Pinot Noir 2022, Naramata Bench, B.C. $45

Da Silva Vineyards, Fumé Blanc 2022, Naramata Bench, B.C. $34

Fort Berens Estate Winery, Classic Riesling 2024, Lillooet, B.C. $24

Hester Creek Estate Winery, Undici 2022, Golden Mile Bench, B.C.

Hester Creek Estate Winery, Cabernet Franc 2022, Golden Mile Bench, B.C. $30

Moraine Estate, Pinot Noir 2023, Naramata Bench, B.C. $33

Sage Hayward Vineyards, Pinot Noir 2023, Gulf Islands, B.C. $40

Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Cipes Traditional Cuvée 2004 South Kelowna Slopes, B.C. $250

Tightrope Winery, Syrah 2022, Naramata Bench, B.C. $43

Unsworth Vineyards, Pinot Gris, Cowichan Valley, B.C. $27

TRY SOMETHING NEW: That’s what the festival is for, after all. Use this opportunity to explore new grapes, new regions, and new styles of wine from across the globe. There’s nothing to lose, and a world of wines to discover. TR

Cramele Cotnari, Fetească Neagră Castel Vladoianu Red Dry 2019, Romania. $116.14
Kitagawahonke Saké, Tomio Junmai Daiginjo Yamadanishiki 49 2025, Kyoto, Japan. $49.49
Bodega Trivento, Reserve White Malbec 2025, Mendoza, Argentina. $17.99
Laberinto Wines, Arcillas País 2023, Maule Valley, Chile. $36.99
Fakin Winery, Istria Malvazija - Fakin La Prima 2022, Istria, Croatia. $73.99
Stina Winery, Tribidrag 2022, Dalmatia, Croatia. $83.99

M. Chapoutier, Chante-Alouette 2021, Rhône, France. $92.99

Bocale di Valentini, Montefalco Sagrantino Ennio 2019, Italy. $96.00

Barbanera Vini, Toscana Bianco Sangiovese 2024,Tuscany, Italy $21

[Ethica Wines] Ca' Dei Fratti Lugana 2023, Lombardia, Italy $33

BEAUTIFUL BLENDS: When it comes to grapes, many claim blended wines can reach the ultimate level of sophistication in part because the whole is better than the sum of the parts. Here's a look at some of the most intriguing masterful blends in the room. AG

[AdVini] Château Gassier, La Pas du Moine 2024 Côtes de Provence, France $33

Black Hills Estate Winery, Bona Fide 2024, Okanagan Valley, B.C. $39

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery, Meritage 2021, Okanagan Valley, B.C. $56

Coronica Winery, Gran Teran 2018, Istria, Croatia $103

Domaine Boutinot, La Côte Sauvage Cairanne 2022, Rhône, France $40

Emiliana Organic Vineyards, Coyam Organic Red 2021, Colchagua Valley, Chile $30

Hester Creek Undici 2022, Golden Mile bench, Okanagan Valley, B.C. $65

Jason Parkes Customs, Screaming Frenzy - Meritage 2019, Okanagan Valley, B.C. $30

La Fleur Solitaire Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2024 542316 $25.99

Laberinto Wines, Trumao Norte 2020, Maule Valley, Chile $64

Les Coteaux Côtes du Rhône Villages 2023 48934 $24.99

Mission Hill Family Estate, Compendium Red 2021, Okanagan Valley, B.C. $91

Viña San Pedro, Sideral 2020, Cachapoal Valley, Chile $40

Phantom Creek Estates Becker Vineyard Cuvée 2020, Okanagan Valley, B.C. $68

WHO BROUGHT THEIR BEST STUFF TO THE FESTIVAL: It's hard to believe you would travel so far and spend so much money and not pour your best wines, but not everyone does. We leave the machinations of which wines get poured to the marketers and the folks who make the wine and own the wineries. What we can do is suggest that, if you are going to spend time at any booths, here is a shortlist of those who chose to bring their very best to Vancouver. Expect long line-ups. AG

Azienda Agricola Bocale di Valentini, Italy – Trebbiano Spoletino Spoleto 2024, Umbria Italy $40

Black Hills Estate Winery – Nota Bene 2023, Okanagan Valley, B.C. $70

Champagne Duval-Leroy – Brut Cuvée Organic NV, Champagne, France $73

Domaine Fourrey – Chablis 1er Côte de Lechet Cru Heritage l'Ancestrale 2023, Bourgogne France $65

[Inland Trading Co], Australia – By Farr RP Pinot 2022, Geelong, Victoria, Australia $130

Tenute RaDe, Piedmont, Italy – Alta Langa Riserva 2015, Piedmont, Italy $70.00

Chivite – Colección 125 Vino de Guarda, Navarra, Spain 2019 $63

Summerhill Pyramid Winery – Cipes Gabriel Blanc de Blanc Zero Dosage 2017, Okanagan Valley, B.C.

South Kelowna Slopes, B.C. $230.00