Media Releases

For Immediate Release
January 18, 2018
Suggested Tweet: Bringing together 125 wineries, 390 #BCVQA Wines. Perfect pairings. 19 days of delicious. Celebrate #DineOut2018 #DineAroundYYJ #DineAroundYVR @winebcdotcom

British Columbia – The Wines of British Columbia has partnered with British Columbia’s highly anticipated culinary celebrations including Dine Out Vancouver, Dine Around and Stay in Town Victoria and Dine Around Thompson Okanagan to bring exciting BC VQA Wine pairings to exclusive prix fixe menus and culinary events throughout BC’s major foodie destinations.

For up to 19 days, more than 390 BC VQA Wines from 125 wineries will be exclusively paired and available to savour at more than 170 restaurants in Vancouver, Victoria and the Thompson Okanagan.

“Through these partnerships, we want to create unique experiences that bring locals and visitors together through BC’s world-class wine and food offerings.” says Kim Barnes Marketing Director of the BC Wine Institute.

“BC VQA Wine is such an integral component of local dining experiences, so when showcasing the best of BC we want to include BC wines as much as possible.” notes Lucas PavanManager, Membership of Tourism Vancouver and the Dine Out Vancouver Festival.

In conjunction with the Dine Out Vancouver Festival, an exclusive series of four BC VQA Wine reception-style brunches kick off this weekend. Featuring top chefs from celebrated Vancouver restaurants, five BC wineries and 10 BC VQA Wine pairings at each of the brunches, guests will be encouraged to experiment and explore a variety of cuisine paired perfectly with homegrown BC wines.

“There was a time when people didn’t know what a winemaker’s dinner was in Vancouver. The rise of BC wines changed all that,” says Tim Pawsey, celebrated Vancouver-based wine and food critic and author of hiredBelly.com.

Award-winning BC winemaker Howard Soon has participated in the festivals since the beginning. “Wine Around Dine Around is what we used to call it in Vancouver. It’s a great event, everybody knows about it, and it’s a good thrill – everyone likes great food and what better place to eat out than your local restaurants.” This will be Soon’s first year participating on behalf of the Similkameen Valley’s newest winery, Vanessa Vineyard Estate Winery.

BC has five wine regions and 276 grape wineries producing award-winning wines and a diversity of styles that pair perfectly with BC ingredients. “These festivals are a great opportunity for dine-out enthusiasts to intrigue their taste buds and try something new.” notes Barnes.

Leave the wine pairings to the experts, and experience what makes British Columbia among the top wine and food destinations in the world. For a list of menus and participating restaurants in your city, visit:

Dine Out Vancouver
January 19 through February 4, 2018

Dine Around and Stay in Town Victoria
January 19 through February 4, 2018

Dine Around Thompson Okanagan
January 17 through February 4, 2018

All BC VQA Wine brunches will be from 11:30am through 1:30pm. Please note all events are 19+, and guests will be required to show government ID. To purchase tickets, please visit www.dineoutvancouver.com/events

Saturday, January 20 – Burnaby
Hart House Restaurant
Guests will enjoy Executive Chef Mike Genest’s renowned Pacific Northwest cuisine in the idyllic setting of the lakeside estate’s elegant mock-Tudor heritage house.

Sunday, January 21 – North Vancouver
Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier
Sample a range of sweet and savoury items such as Mini Beef Wellington, Baby Shrimp on Cucumber, and Smoked Salmon Benedict while enjoying spectacular views from the floor-to-ceiling windows of the second-level Pinnacle Ballroom.

Saturday, January 27 – Downtown Vancouver
The Listel Hotel (catered by Forage restaurant)
Explore the flavour synergies of BC-grown wine and food with Chef Chris Whittaker’s
special menu. The brunch will be held in a bright and welcoming private dining room at The Listel Hotel.

Sunday, January 28 – Downtown Vancouver
Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar
Executive Chef Alex Chen was the 2015 & 2017 BC Gold Medal Plates Champion. Enjoy seafood-focused canapés paired with homegrown wines.