Wines you must try at the Vancouver International Wine Festival 2019 - picks from the Wine Barbarian!

Beaulieu Vineyard winemaker Trevor Durling and Bill Tieleman - Wine Barbarian

There are way, way too many wines at the fabulous 2019 Vancouver International Wine Festival to try them all - an astonishing 1,450 different wines from 16 countries in total! 

So you need a plan for the International Festival Tastings - here's my Wine Barbarian advice based on exhaustive research at this year!

California is the regional wine theme this year - so there are lots of great Napa, Sonoma, Santa Barbara, Lodi, Santa Cruz, Paso Robles and other wineries here. But the rest of the world is here too, so tour around.  

Here are a few of the many great choices - and remember that I have not visited every table by far!

California

Beaulieu Vineyard - one of Napa Valley's best and oldest wineries - must try their Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 at $65 - excellent value - and their Napa Valley Cab Sauv at $44!  Winemaker Trevor Durling is pouring and very knowledgable to talk to.  

Silver Oak Cellars - simply one of California's best red producers!  Don't miss their Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 - also one of the most expensive bottles at the VIWF at $129!

Justin Vineyards - love their reds out of Paso Robles!  Isosceles red blend is superb at $117 but Justification is also great at $75.

Bill Tieleman - Wine Barbarian - and Gina Gallo - Gallo Signature Series

Gallo Signature Series - wonderful wines from all over California made by Gina Gallo, winemaker and yes, from the famous Gallo family!  Gina is great to talk to about her wines.  Love their Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir at $52, their Dry Creek Zinfandel at $40 and Napa Cab at $40.  Excellent values.

Duckhorn Wine Company - Known for their outstanding Merlots, Duckhorn is also making fabulous Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  Try their 2015 Napa Cab at $89 and Calera Central Coast Pinot at $43 - and a lovely Chard at $48!  Talk to Brian Bostwick, export director about their wines.

Ridge Vineyards - Outstanding Zinfandels and red blends from Sonoma plus a killer Chardonnay out of Santa Cruz - what more can I say except try them all, especially Geyserville 2016! 

Bill Tieleman and Joel Peterson of Ravenswood

Ravenswood Winery - Pioneers of Zinfandel, this Sonoma County winery founded by Joel Peterson - who is pouring - makes outstanding bottles. Try their Teldeschi Vineyard Zin at $43 and Bellonis Vineyard Zin at $44. 

Okay - out of California but just across the state border to Oregon, where they make powerhouse Pinot Noirs!

Oregon

Elk Cove Vineyards - I just love this table!  Three fabulous Pinot Noirs that blow me away and a Pinot Gris from the Williamette Valley in Oregon.  Don't miss any but must try the Mount Richmond Pinot Noir.  Talk to Shirley Brooks - VP sales - who knows lots about Oregon wines. 

Washington State

Aquilini Red Mountain - yes, the Vancouver Canucks owners have winery too - and a damn fine one!  Their Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 is superb. 

British Columbia

Just across the border in British Columbia is a wide selection of great wineries but here are a couple you must visit.

One Faith Vineyard owner Bill Lui and Wine Barbarian Bill Tieleman

One Faith Vineyards - Bill Lui had a mission - make the very best possible wine to international high standards - and with One Faith he has succeeded!  Simply one of BC and Canada's best wines in both 2013 and 2014 vintages that are being poured - and at $132 a bottle they are not fooling around with their Bordeaux blend!  Beautiful wine but for a more affordable bottle, taste the Certitude 2016 at $42. 

Bill Tieleman  and Ben Bryant of Mission Hill 

Mission Hill Family Estate - This winery just keeps getting better and better and bigger!  New winemaker Ben Bryant has stepped in as former winemaker Darryl Brooker steps up to be president - and what a great opportunity that is.  The Legacy Collection Compendium 2014 is a beautiful Bordeaux blend of 45% Cab Sauv/37% Merlot/16% Cab Franc and 2% Petit Verdot - and it will age nicely for a very long time.

Bench 1775 - Winemaker Valerie Tait is producing some great bottles out of the Naramata Bench and Osoyoos.  Try their Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah 2015 at $27.

Quails' Gate Winery - The Stewart Family Reserve Pinot Noir 2016 at $52 and Chardonnay 2016 at $40 are both awesome wines not to be missed.

Argentina

Achaval-Ferrer - They produce fantastic Malbecs and blends from Mendoza - try the two single-vineyard Malbecs - Finca Mirador 2014 at $125 and Finca Bella Vista 2014 at $108 - wow! 

Australia 

Majella Wines - Owner Brian Lynn is a charming and regular visitor here in Vancouver - and so is his fabulous Sparkling Shiraz 2016!  Unique, refreshing and delicious - you may never have tried it and you owe it to yourself to do so!  Other lovely reds too.

Brian Lynn of Majella Wines and Bill Tieleman - Wine Barbarian

New Zealand

Jim Robertson of Stoneleigh and Bill Tieleman - Wine Barbarian

Stoneleigh - Always great wines at each price point, I particularly like the Latitude Pinot Noir 2017 - beautiful bouquet and lots of fruit for just $22!  Talk to my buddy Jim Robertson - another regular Vancouver visitor and so knowledgable about New Zealand wines.

France

Borie-Manoux - If you love Bordeaux like I do, you can't miss these fine wines.  Four excellent bottles but I really enjoyed tasting the 2003 Chateau Herve Laroque alongside it's 2010 vintage brother - so nice to see what seven years of additional aging brings to the table! Both fantastic wines from Fronsac - and reasonably priced at $44 and $50 respectively.  Also try the 2009 Chateau Beau-Site at $56 - a stunning St. Estephe.

Ballande & Meneret - More Bordeaux? Bring it on!  Four more lovely bottles - my favourite was the 2009 Chateau Larrivaux from Haut-Medoc at just $44 - a bargain for 10-year-old wine!

Ulysse Cazabonne - Yes, still more Bordeaux!  Four more fine bottles all from 2015 but with different blends of Merlot and Cabernet - try the Chateau de Croix Saint Vincent 2015 at $58 -70% Merlot/30% Cab.

Italy

Marchesi di Barolo - Nebbiolo grapes are great!  Three Barolos and a Barbaresco - all superb.  Try the Cannubi and Sarmassa 2014 Barolos for a cool comparison - both priced at $95 and both delicious!

Tenuta Argentiera - Not Bordeaux but Tuscany making Bordeaux blends - and stunning ones!  Great value on the lower priced red and rose but the Bolgheri Superiore 2016 is amazing - at $83.  

Croatia

Stina - Amazingly, one of four Croatian wineries at this year's festival - and they are all eye-openers for many wine drinkers who don't know that country is producing excellent wines.  Try the flagship 2016 Posip red at $47 - beautiful! 

Okay - I know I missed dozens of wonderful wineries as well as the entire countries of Germany, Japan and Uruguay - all making great wines too and pouring here - but time is running out - have a great Festival and let me know what you think if you see me there or post here or on Twitter - @BillTieleman or Facebook! 

Cheers!


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