Advance Ticket Sales start November 1 for 2017 Vancouver International Wine Festival featuring Canadian wines

This news release from the Vancouver International Wine Festival outlines the 2017 event featuring wines from across Canada and ticket sales information - hope to see you there!

CANADA TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT 2017 VANWINEFEST

Discounted tickets & Gold Pass on sale November 1 to December 15

Free ticket with beVancouver.com hotel booking

IN BRIEF... Discounted tickets to select 2017 Vancouver International Wine Festival events go on sale Tuesday, November 1 at 9:30 a.m. Save $5 to $15 until December 15, or while quantities last, on International Festival Tasting tickets, the Delta Air Lines Tasting Lounge and the Gold Pass. Or get a free ticket by booking a hotel via beVancouver.com. In 2017, The Wine World Celebrates Canada from February 11 to 19, showcasing 181 wineries from 16 countries. Buy at VanWineFest.ca or call  604-873-3311, toll free 1-877-321-3121 (weekdays 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.).

VANCOUVER, BC (October 29, 2016) - A limited number of discounted advance tickets to the 39th Vancouver International Wine Festival go on sale November 1 at 9:30 a.m. The festival runs February 11 to 19, 2017, welcoming 181 wineries from 16 countries. All wineries and their principals gather in the Tasting Room to showcase their wines at the four International Festival Tastings (February 16 to 18), available in advance for $5-$9 off the regular price until December 15, or while quantities last.

In celebration of Canada's 150th Birthday, the 2017 festival features Canada as the theme country with 76 wineries from British Columbia, Ontario and Nova Scotia, nearly one third of which are participating for the first time. This marks the largest gathering of Canadian wineries ever at an international festival. "VanWineFest 2017 offers an unprecedented showcase of Canadian wineries, principals and wines alongside their international counterparts in the Tasting Room," says VIWF executive director Harry Hertscheg. "Attendees will discover untold connections amongst Canada and the wine world throughout the festival, amidst the backdrop of Vancouver's vibrant wine and food scene. Let's celebrate!"

Overall, nearly one quarter of the wineries are new to the 2017 festival, including wineries from Turkey and Nova Scotia for the first time. This year also features the return of Uruguay to the festival, which has a winery participating for the first time since 2007. Last year's theme country Italy is back with a strong contingent of 20 wineries.

BUY NOW AND SAVE! Advance tickets on sale November 1

Discounted passes and tickets to select events go on sale at VanWineFest.cafrom November 1 until December 15, or while quantities last. Tickets make a great holiday gift for the wine lover on your list and you won't have to battle any Black Friday crowds to get these bargains. The advance sale offers savings on International Festival Tasting tickets and associated events. To get a ticket for zero dollars, simply book a stay at a downtown hotel via beVancouver.com. See details below.

ADVANCE SALE OFFERS

International Festival Tastings

Festivalgoers can save $5-$9 off the regular price of International Festival Tasting tickets (Thursday, February 16, Friday, February 17 and Saturday, February 18). Advance tickets for evening tastings, 7 to 10 p.m., are $80 for Thursday and $90 for Friday and Saturday. The Saturday matinee tasting from 2:30 to 5 p.m., set against the stunning backdrop of Coal Harbour, is available for the low advance price of $70. Only a limited number of tickets are available at the advance rate for each of the four sessions. Once they sell out, tickets may be purchased at regular prices.

Delta Air Lines Tasting Lounge

Enjoy an enhanced International Festival Tasting experience with tickets to the exclusive Friday and Saturday evening Delta Air Lines Tasting Lounge and still save $5 (advance rate $185). Located in the Ocean Foyer in VCC West, right next to the Tasting Room, the lounge is open 5:45 to 9 p.m. and offers easy access to the corresponding International Festival Tasting. Enjoy a respite from the Tasting Room with comfortable seating and spectacular views. Select wines, light bites and cheeses are served.

Gold Pass

For those wanting the full tasting experience, Gold Passes go on sale for only $480, a $15 savings. Gold Passes include access to six tastings (four public IFTs and two Trade Tastings, presented by ContainerWorld), the Delta Air Lines Tasting Lounge and the exclusive Festival Toast VIP reception. Purchased individually, the Gold Pass events are valued at $706.

FREE TICKET WITH HOTEL BOOKING

For a third consecutive year, Vancouver Hotel Destination Associationoffers a free International Festival Tasting ticket(a $79 to $95 value at regular rates) to festivalgoers who book a stay via beVancouver.com at any of its ~35 participating downtown hotels. Quantities are limited and Saturday evening sold out well in advance in 2016, so book early. The beVancouver.com initiative is an important cornerstone of the festival's Don't Wine and Drive program.

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL TASTINGS HIGHLIGHTS

See the full list of participating wineries

The Tasting Room at the Vancouver Convention Centre is where all 181 participating wineries gather to pour 700+ select wines. Discover exciting new wines, or return to your favourites, sipping from premium wine glasses. The room will also feature regional tasting stations from Australia, British Columbia, New Zealand, Nova Scotia and Spain. You can also find wine-friendly food and beverage exhibitors, many of whom offer tasting samples.

Theme Country: Canada
The Wine World Celebrates Canada at VanWineFest 2017 with 76 wineries from across the country featured at the festival. Explore the selection, diversity and quality of Canada's terroir-driven wines, highlighting the best of Nova Scotia, Ontario and British Columbia in a special section of the room. 

Vine Stars
What makes VanWineFest unique is the presence of global "vine stars" - winemakers, proprietors, senior executives - who come to Vancouver every year to pour and discuss their wines with festivalgoers. Each winery will be represented in the room by a principal, someone closely involved in the wine-production process. Seek out the royal blue lanyards at tastings and special events to meet our vine stars face-to-face.

More Room, Smaller Crowds  

Both the Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon sessions are guaranteed to have a lower capacity than Friday and Saturday evening, offering more room and more time to interact with winery principals. 

BC Liquor Stores Festival Wine Shop
Included in the price of each ticket is the opportunity to shop at the on-site BC Liquor Store where wines from all participating wineries will be available for purchase. Purchased wines can be shipped at no cost to your nearest BC Liquor Store for pick-up after the festival. The BC Liquor Distribution Branch will also help everybody Get Home Safe by providing a complimentary transit ticket to patrons as they leave the tastings.

Buy the Case - Shop the World
Festival partners BC Liquor Distribution Branch and the Import Vintners & Spirits Association (IVSA) have teamed up to allow festivalgoers to order case lots of select wines. Wines available by the case will be identified with a neck tag. Place orders for those must-have wines directly at the participating winery tables and they'll be delivered to your closest BC Liquor Store within two weeks of the conclusion of the festival.

HOW TO PURCHASE ADVANCE TICKETS (Nov. 1-Dec. 15, while quantities last)

Online: VanWineFest.ca
Phone: 604-873-3311, toll free 1-877-321-3121 (Monday to Friday, 9:30a.m.-5 p.m.)
In person: 202-162 West 1st Avenue, Vancouver (Monday to Friday, 9:30a.m.-5 p.m.)

*Note the new address: the festival moved offices to the BMO Theatre Centre in Olympic Village.
Prices inclusive of taxes, service charges and gratuities.

SAVE THE DATES

All public events go on sale Tuesday, January 10 at 9:30 a.m.
All Trade Days Conference events, presented by Sysco, go on sale Tuesday, January 17 at 9:30 a.m.

Stay in Touch:
For more information, go to VanWineFest.ca

Facebook & Instagram: /VanWineFest
Twitter: follow @VanWineFest for news on tickets and sold-out events. Join the conversation at #VIWF.

ABOUT VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL WINE FESTIVAL

Canada's premier wine show will mark its 39th edition of pairing wine, food and the performing arts from February 11 to 19, 2017. The festival features The Wine World Celebrates Canada as the theme. The festival will showcase 181 wineries from 16 countries (including 76 wineries from Canada) pouring a projected 1,550+ wines at 55 events to a projected 25,000 admissions. The Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction opens the festival on Saturday, February 11 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. The festival is produced by the Vancouver International Wine Festival Society, which has 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 $8.7 million for the performing arts. Major sponsors are Delta Air Lines and the Vancouver Sun; major industry partners are the BC Liquor Distribution Branch, Canadian Vintners Association and the Import Vintners & Spirits Association. The festival is made possible through the gracious support of our participating countries' consulates and embassies.

ABOUT WINES OF CANADA

Wines of Canada is a collaborative initiative of the Canadian Vintners Association and regional wine associations - British Columbia Wine Institute, Wine Marketing Association of Ontario, Vignerons indépendants du Québec and the Winery Association of Nova Scotia - to bring the country's best wines to the world. Partial funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the AgriMarketing program through Growing Forward 2.

ABOUT BARD ON THE BEACH SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

Celebrating its 28th season in 2017, Bard on the Beach is one of Canada's largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare festivals. It is presented on the waterfront in Kitsilano's Vanier Park, adjacent to Vancouver's downtown core. Bard on the Beach offers Shakespeare plays, related dramas and popular special events in two performance tents every June through September. In 2016, attendance exceeded 100,000 and more than 1.4 million patrons have experienced Bard since its inception. Next year's festival dates are June 1 to September 23, 2017 and the lineup includes Much Ado About Nothing, The Winter's Tale, The Merchant of Venice and The Two Gentlemen of Verona,plus a special limited-run presentation of Shylock.

Bard also offers a range of education programs, including Young Shakespeareans Workshops for 8-18 year-olds at its Vanier Park site during the summer, and Riotous Youth for 19 to 24-year-olds. During the school term, Bard also offers workshops for educators and youth in schools and community centres throughout BC's Lower Mainland, as well as at its new administrative home, the BMO Theatre Centre (162 West 1st Avenue). Full details and education program information are at bardonthebeach.org.

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Celebrate World Malbec Day Today - Sunday April 17-2016 - with a great Malbec!

Today is World Malbec Day - and a worthy event worth celebrating with a bottle of great wine - from the Malbec grape!

Malbec can be found most notably in Argentina and France, where it is used as a 100% varietal and also blended with other grapes.

Malbec is often referred to as a perfect "steak wine" - but even vegetarians can fully enjoy it's juicy, chocolatey, full dark red fruit flavours with all sorts of meals.

One of the great things about Malbec is that it is very tasty at just about every price point - a lower cost Malbec is usually the best bet over other grapes and in the mid range it is magnificent.

Here's a few Malbec suggestions for today at various prices from two of my favourite wineries - and believe me, if you splurge, you will thank me for the excellent idea!

These Malbecs are available in British Columbia, with links to info - and beyond but seriously, you can't go wrong with Malbec!

Bramare from a previous vintage.

The Catena Mendoza High Mountain Vines is one of the staples of Malbec in BC and all over the world - always a great value and vintage after vintage - the current 2013 is widely available in BC Liquor Stores on sale for $20.49 right now and also found in many private stores.

Even less is the Vina Cobos Felino 2014 - on sale for only $17.49 and a real bargain at that price

If you want a special Sunday dinner treat - try one of these two:

Vina Cobos Bramare Lujan de Cuyo 2012 - $39.00 plus tax at BC Government Liquor Stores.  

This is a killer wine developed by Paul Hobbs - everything Vina Cobos does is awesome in my book.  Silky, smoky layers of black cherry and chocolate - mmmmm! Robert Parker rates it a 91 point wine.

Another awesome alternate is the Catena Zapata Catena Alta 2011 - on sale at Liquor Stores for $45.99 plus tax till April 30 - also delicious.

Always open to more suggestions - post your favourite Malbec here!

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Wine Barbarian UPDATED Quick Picks for the Vancouver International Wine Festival - great Italian wines and more!

Barone Francesco Ricasoli and Wine Barbarian Bill Tieleman!

If you are going to the Vancouver International Wine Festival tonight - Friday - or Saturday at 7 p.m. or Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. you are a lucky person indeed - because not only is Italy rocking the place with fantastic wines but so are the other countries in the tasting room!

If you don't have tickets the bad news is both nights are sold out - the good news is that a limited number of tickets are made available in person only at 6 p.m. each night for the evening's tasting - worth a try.

And if you get in, I'm going to help out - by giving you my Quick Picks of some the many great wines being poured in the International Tasting 

I have been attending several events - including 1,000 Years of Tuscany with the charming Barone Francesco Ricasoli showing his marvellous wines going back to some 1997s - and was at Thursday's tasting working hard to do research for you!

Let's start with the regional focus - Italy.  And as with all tables - it's polite to try all 4 wines available but these are the ones I particularly liked:

Ricasoli - The Barone is pouring - himself - some of their fine Ricasoli wines - try in particular the marvellous Colledila 2011- a Gran Selezione Chianti Classico full of black cherry goodness.  I tried the 2010 and the 2011 - which is in the tasting room - both excellent.

Castello di Gabbiano winemaker Frederico Cerelli & Bill Tieleman

Castello di Gabbiano - Winemaker Frederico Cerelli is here and I enjoyed a fantastic dinner sitting next to him at Mark Taylor's Siena with some fabulous Tuscan wines.

I would recommend highly their Alleanza IGT 2010 - a SuperTuscan blend of 60% Sangiovese and 40% Merlot - outstanding!

Rocca delle Macie - I also had the pleasure of attending a dinner as well as a vertical tasting of Roccato wines with owner Sergio Zingarelli - and he too is very charming!  

I have been drinking Roccato - a blend of 50% Sangiovese and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon - since their 2003 vintage - and it is simply delicious year after year!  The Roccato 2010 is being poured at the Festival and the 2009 - which I love - is still available in BC Liquor Stores - both are beauties!

San Polino - These are astonishing wines - not simply because they are all Brunello di Montalcino wines, not only because they are stunning but also because they are very expensive to be pouring - from $105 to $135 a bottle!  

All great but I particularly enjoyed the Helishrysum Brunello 2009 - really amazing.

Sergio Zingarelli of Rocca delle Macie with Iain Philip

San Felice - Another Tuscan winery with top notch wines at the table!  I especially liked the Il Grigio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2011 - wow!  And for $44.

Tenute Sette Ponti/Feudo Maccari - Yes, I didn't get out of Tuscany for the most part but it is such a great wine region.  Their Crognolo has been a staple wine for me for many vintages - buy some - but their Tenute Sette Ponti Oreno IGT 2013 was a revelation!  Yes, it costs $86 - over double the Crognolo - but what a wonderful wine.  Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot - all Bordeaux grapes - grown in Tuscany.  Smooth, big and velvety goodness!

I am running out of time and space - but in the Italian section don't miss Damiliano for their Barolos - Argentiera for their SuperTuscan Bolhgheri Superiore 2012 - Argiano for their Solango IGT Toscana 2012 and Brunello DOCG 2011- and Biondi Santi for their Braccale IGT Rosso Toscana 2011 - a $37 bargain!

Also Allegrini and Vieti and Cesari - but there's so much more I haven't yet tasted!

Leaving Italy, reluctantly, there are lots of other great wines from other countries represented.

Australia - Always so very impressive is Inland Trading Co., with managing director and Festival regular Greg Corra - a lot of fun to talk with every year!  Their lineup is magnificent throughout but don't miss the Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz 2012 - absolutely stunning wine!

New Zealand - Another great guy to talk about his great wines is Jim Robertson at Stoneleigh - a regular visitor to Vancouver - pouring two Sauvignon Blancs and two Pinot Noirs from one of my favourite wine regions.  I really loved the Rapaura Pinot Noir 2014 - and for $32 it's a bargain.

Canada - There are just loads of great BC wineries in attendance - how to choose?  But I will based on my limited time tasting - Painted Rock is marvellous - visited them in Penticton this summer too - try the Red Icon 2013 flagship.  

Osoyoos Larose - three vintages of Le Grand Vin to choose from - all fabulous!

Mission Hill - See my friend Ingo Grady there and taste their new Terroir Collection - an exciting new line of wonderful wines!

France - Famille Perrin - always great wines from top to bottom but I adore Beaucastel Chateauneuf-Du-Pape - a 2012 is being poured by Thomas Perrin - a charming fellow.

Laurent-Perrier - the only Champagne in the room and one of the best!  All beauties and pricey but none more than the Grand Siecle NV at $173 a bottle - mmmm!

Croatia - yes, from the Dalmatia region Stina returns to Vancouver with some amazing wines you've never heard of or tasted - till today!  I enjoyed their offerings last year and it's a great chance to try their reds and whites - all priced in the $40-$60 range.  Stina means "white stone" in Croatian and their labels are stunning.

That's all for now but watch for Tweets - @BillTieleman - and updates as best I can between glasses!

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Vancouver International Wine Festival 2016 events selling out fast - don't delay - get tickets today!

You don't have to be a wine snob to enjoy the VIWF! Book tickets now or you won't be there to enjoy great wines!

It may be the news you don't want to hear - but tickets for 2016 Vancouver International Wine Festival events are selling out quickly!

Already not available are:

Saturday February 28's evening International Festival Tasting - sold out

Dine Italia at La Terrazza  - sold out

50 Years of Campofiorin at Glowbal  - sold out

Under The Tuscan Sun at Siena  - sold out

California Cruisin' - sold out

And many more events are down to just a few tickets - so get your credit card out, go to your computer and book now - don't be disappointed, because this will be a great Festival and these special tastings are truly unique!

I hope to see you there!

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It's Vancouver International Wine Festival time again - tickets on sale starting Tuesday January 12 at 9:30 a.m. for the best wine event of the year, featuring Italy in 2016!

Wine Barbarian Bill Tieleman on left with legendary Joel Peterson of Ravenswood at VIWF 2015

It's Vancouver International Wine Festival time again - and tickets for the February 20 to 28, 2016 edition go on sale for all events on Tuesday January 12 at 9:30 a.m.

This year the VIWF is featuring Italy as the focus country - and that means every event will likely sell out - especially the fabulous wine dinners and special seminars.

Tickets for the International Festival Tastings are already on sale - and early bird tickets are sold out - for the big evening tastings on Thursday February 26, Friday February 27 and Saturday February 28.  So don't delay - these extremely popular events are in high demand every year and Saturday will be sold out soon based on previous Festivals.

Friday and Saturday evening tickets are $95 while Thursday is $89 - a slight discount for the weeknight - and one I always attend because it's a bit less crowded.

A welcome recent addition is the Saturday matinee - an afternoon edition of the International Festival tasting from 2:30 to 5 pm for a bargain price of $75.

What events to attend?  As many as possible in the short time available is my best advice. 

Take a look at the full VIWF brochure online to see all the events and much more information. 

But some are clearly exceptional and not to be missed - like Italy and Beyond dinner at Cioppino's with wines from Biondi Santi, Pio Cesari and more matched by acclaimed chef/owner Pino Posteraro's culinary masterpieces or the La Vita Ruffino dinner at CinCin - featuring great Italian foods and wines.

Sell-out seminars will surely include Tuscan Trailblazers on Wednesday Feb 25 with two of the most famous wines of the Antinori family - Tignanello and Guado al Tasso - in a vertical tasting of the two SuperTuscan classics - wow! 

Tignanello - one of Antinori's killer SuperTuscan wines

Also sure to be fully subscribed is 1,000 Years of Tuscany with Barone Francesco Ricasoli of the famous wine family in attendance, featuring Chianti Classico wines and Amaronely: Only Amarone on Thursday Feb. 26 for $85 featuring fabulous Amarone wines from Valpolicelli.

Please be assured that Italy is not the only country with wines at the Festival - in fact, there are over 1450 wines from 14 countries and 155 wineries participating over the eight-day event - France, Spain, Australia, Canada, the U.S., Portugal, Germany, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, Greece, Japan and even Croatia are represented in addition to Italy!

There are so many other events to choose from and you simply can't go wrong with any of them - unless you procrastinate on buying your tickets - so remember that they go on sale Tuesday January 12 at 9:30 a.m. and many will sell out that very day!

Rock star wine maker Charles Smith of Walla Walla poses at 2015 VIWF

The VIWF is also a unique opportunity to meet winemakers, owners or principal staff of every winery at the event - it's a requirement - and that means you can meet legendary figures in the wine world, as I did with "Godfather of Zinfandel" Joel Peterson of Ravenswood Winery last Festival or Charles Smith of Walla Walla's great K Vintners and Charles Smith Wines - one of the wine world's rock stars.

Be sure to follow #VIWF on Twitter for updates from the Festival and wine writers and collectors - lots of good tips there.  

And watch this space closer to the Festival and during it for my recommended wines to taste!

Cheers and see you at the VIWF! 

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Wonderful Top 100 Wines from 2015 - all available in BC and under $40

In November the Wine Spectator magazine came out with its annual Top 100 Wines of 2015 - it's ranking of great wines that are high scoring but also not ridiculously high priced or completely impossible to find.

Porca de Murca

And several of them are available in BC Liquor Stores and private wine stores, as well as in other Canadian jurisdictions.  

But it you want them, move fast - there is limited availability and wine guys like me have already taken some of them off the shelves days after the Top 100 was announced.

Top of the list for great value is the Porca de Murca 2013 - a red from Real Companhia Velha in Douro, Portugal - rated 90 points by the Wine Spectator  and ranked #39 of the Top 100.  It is priced in BC Liquor Stores for just $12.99 plus taxes!  And there are over 1,000 bottles across BC - and the winery bottled an astonishing 250,000 - so more may become available here.

This is just an amazing value for a medium weight, delicious wine with red berry, plum, pepper and slate notes, made from classic Portuguese grapes like touriga nacional and tinta roriz but no oak aging.   

This should be your house wine for many months to come.

Next up - a really great wine for your steak, lamb or grilled meat - or hearty vegetarian  alternatives - the Viña Carmen Cabernet Sauvignon Maipo Valley Alto Gran Reserva 2012 from Chile - #32 on the Top 100 with a score of 91 points and priced at just $19.79 plus taxes at BC Liquor Stores.

Vina Carmen Gran Reserva

This is a classic Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, with lots of blackberry, currants, leather and cedar notes.  The wine is 94% Cab Sauv with 3% Carmenere and 3% Petit Verdot to round it out.  

Simply delicious now and it will drink well through 2019.

White wines are a bit harder to come by on the Top 100 and this next one is always a great bottle - but it may be difficult to track down this vintage.

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2014 from New Zealand is ranked at #21 of the Top 100 and scored at an impressive 93 points - it sells for $31.99 at BC Liquor Stores, where some of the 2014 bottles are still around but quickly being replaced by the 2015.

Having tasted this wine, I would definitely urge you to hurry and try several stores, because it is remarkable!

Cloudy Bay 2014

Cloudy Bay put New Zealand and its Marlborough region on the world wine map many years ago and you can see why with just one sip - an explosive, beautiful grapefruit, lemon, lime, ginger combination that is a revelation to the tongue!

The only good news about the short supply is that Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc is rarely not scored 90 or higher, so the 2015 vintage will almost surely be another winner.

One more from the Top 100 not to be missed is the Arcanum Toscano Il Fauno 2010 from Italy - scored at 92 points and ranked #55.

This is an interesting wine because it's a Bordeaux blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot - none of which is native to Tuscany - but man does it grow well there!

The Il Fauno 2010 is a little higher priced at $37.99 a bottle at BC Liquor Stores but I highly recommend trying it - and there are hundreds in stock.

Loads of cherry fruit with some tobacco and cedar - a really wonderful wine that can be enjoyed now or aged up to another 10 years.  

Il Fauno

It would be interesting to blind taste it up against some similar priced 2010 Bordeaux wines from France for a comparison - don't bet against it!

There are a few other Top 100 wines on BC Liquor Stores' shelves and I believe others will appear there in the months ahead, as we are sometimes behind the distribution curve compared to the United States - so keep your eyes open and check back here for more tips!

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Fantastic Faustino! 97-point rated Spanish Rioja available in BC at bargain price!

It's not everyday you can taste what esteemed experts believe is a near perfect wine - one with a 97 point score out of a possible 100.

And it's almost never that you can do that in British Columbia for less than hundreds or thousands of dollars for that bottle of liquid luxury.  Or buy a wine on the shelf in 2016 that is 15 years old!

Faustino I Gran Reserva 2001 Rioja

So when Britain's The Decanter wine magazine scored the 2001 Faustino I Gran Reserva from Spain's Rioja wine region at 97 points, lauded it as the best of its Top 50 Wines of 2013 and had Master of Wine Pedro Ballesteros give it a perfect score - this wine became one of the most sought after in the world.

And lucky us - BC Liquor Stores have over 100 bottles still available in 23 stores across the province, including three in Vancouver - for the amazing price of $35.99 plus taxes!

Needless to say, I already bought and tasted some of this great wine - it deserves all the accolades.

Leather, game, tobacco, dark cherry - you will taste them all in this wine, which is drinking beautifully now but also could last several more years to come - if you can hold out.

That said, not everyone ranked the Faustino I as highly as The Decanter.  The Wine Spectator gave it a surprisingly low 89 points and Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate 88 points - but that's the way wine works.

I'm with The Decanter on this and its three experts who rated the Faustino I as so impressive.

But one thing is clear - you can afford to find out for yourself if you hurry - and at that price you will not be disappointed in the least!  

Cheers!