A crisp, sunny fall day. Hundreds of fabulous local and global wines that will satisfy both curious neophytes and seasoned oenophiles alike. Knowledgeable winemakers and sommeliers who are eager to share their passion for wine at your table. These factors add up to a wonderful day of sampling liquid perfection.
Head for the tents populating the lush, green lawn of Parkside Hotel & Spa in downtown Victoria. Grab a glass and toast your fellow wine aficionados at the Victoria International Wine Festival. Spanning September 23 to September 24, the first-class festival is also the perfect chance to excite your taste buds and tantalize your sense of smell.
To get a taste of what to expect at the Victoria International Wine Festival, we caught up with one of the festival’s “wandering sommeliers,” Jacques Lacoste, to learn a little more about the delicious vintages.
Q: How many wines are at the Victoria International Wine Festival?
A: Attendees can sample over 300 wines from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Italy, Moldova, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, South Africa and USA. At an event like the Victoria International Wine Festival, I taste an average of 50 to 100 wines per day. Needless to say, the spit bucket is my best friend.
Q: How do you decide which wines to sample?
A: It depends on the season and the needs of the restaurant. In summer time you are looking for lighter styles, such as Sauvignon Blanc and rosé. Come fall, it is the opposite. You want a rich, full bodied wine to warm you up from the cold temperatures.
Q: What wines at the Victoria International Wine Festival are you most excited about?
A: There are many great wines to choose from, but it has to be the six wines from Moldova; which range from the Pinot Noir to Muscat. I think the star of the tasting will be the “Negru de Purcari,” a blend of Rara Neagra, Saperavi and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Queen Elizabeth II is my favorite red wine. Likewise, the hot new regions are Patagonia in Argentina for their Pinot Noir and Western Cape in South Africa, so they are also worth trying.
Q: Who are the wine makers to watch right now and/or who are your favorite wine makers?
A: Pascal Madevon, he is an expert in viticulture and gifted winemaker. He trained in Bordeaux and came to Canada in 2001 to take charge of Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin. Now he is an independent consultant, which can only upgrade the wine quality in the Okanagan Valley.
I also like the team at Kettle Valley on the Naramata Bench, the co-owners and co-winemakers are Bob Ferguson and Tim Watts. 2016 will mark their 25th vintage, they are always consistent, they make what they like to drink and produce rich full bodied red wine and elegant whites.
Q: What do you think is the most versatile wine?
A: It has to be sparkling, either white or rosé. They will pair well with almost any food and, if you can afford it, Champagne!
Q: What is your favorite food and wine combination?
A: I could go with the classic red with meat and white with fish, but next time you have a pizza with an herb flavor tomato sauce and greasy cheese, forget the beer and go for a zippy, crispy Sauvignon Blanc.
Q: What wines do you think pair best with fall and winter foods?
A: Braised meat and stew even vegetarian dishs demand big, rich reds with low tannins, something like a Californian Zinfandel or even the same grape on a budget, such as a Primitivo from Italy will be great. France Southern Rhone Valley Grenache base wine and BC Merlots are also excellent choices.
Q: What’s the best way to learn about wine?
A: Come to the Victoria Wine Festival, and do not be shy to pick the brains of our wandering sommeliers who will be on the floor at every public tasting, look for the people in the red apron. You can also attend a few seminars or even better buy the Super Pass, which will give you access to all three public tastings and all four seminars.
You can also look take courses from Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). Level 1 is very consumer friendly, so is the International Sommelier Guild (ISG) level 1, which is a great intro to wine. From there you can decide if you go deeper into wine, both organizations offer more courses.
Clipper Recommends:
- Want to sip on more delicious vintages? Explore the heart of Vancouver Island’s wine country on the Cowichan Valley Wine Tour. You’ll sample award-winning wines at three small, family-owned wineries and snack on local artisanal cheese while you chat with the winemakers.
- Get a taste of Victoria’s other local libations on the Definitive Craft Brewery Tour, where you’ll get a behind the scenes tour and the chance to learn local brew history.