Introducing the newly revamped Swirl Around BC Wine Expo! We are excited to launch this new day-long celebration of BC wine, including the latest releases and in-depth discussions with the diverse and talented producers who crafted them from grape to glass. This year, we have worked with the talented team at This is Wine School to develop 4 seminars that will complement the walkaround trade tastings that feature more than 45 BC wineries participating from 4 different BC wine regions.
Please select your preferred registration time below for the walkaround trade tasting (morning or afternoon) and preferred seminars. Note that seminar seating is extremely limited.
Swirl Around BC Wine Expo – Morning Walkaround Trade Tasting
Tuesday, September 24, 2024 | Pan Pacific Hotel, 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Swirl Around BC Wine Expo – Afternoon Walkaround Trade Tasting
Tuesday, September 24, 2024 | Pan Pacific Hotel, 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Click here for a list of participating wineries.
Swirl Around BC Wine Expo – Wines of BC Seminars
How to Wine Friends and Influence People
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
What does ‘brand identity’ mean and why do certain wineries speak to certain consumers? Join MBA candidate Lisa Haley, along with sales and marketing experts from a diverse group of BC wineries, for a round-table discussion on what resonates with your consumers and why certain wines just sell themselves. Come armed with discussion points and questions- this session will be heavy on audience participation.
Panelists:
Phantom Creek Estate Winery – Kari Lakomski
Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery – Preston Radford
Mythology Vineyard – Mark Simpson
Maverick Estate Winery – Jan Nelson
Garnet Valley Ranch – Christine Coletta
Painted Rock Estate Winery – Lauren Skinner
Therapy Vineyards – Bradley Cooper
Lakeboat Winery – Mireille Sauve
The School of Hard Crops
Pan Pacific Hotel, Meeting Room Pacific Rim 2
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
A lot has happened in the past two vintages in BC wine. While there is plenty to be said about climate change and adaptation, we know a little more about how the vines are responding now, but there are still many questions to be asked. Join DJ Kearney and key BC wineries to explore the lifecycle of the vine and what it means for viticulture when major events (like winter freeze) happen, bridging the gap between producers and those picking up a bottle.
Panelists:
Clos du Soliel – Michael Clark
Gold Hill Winery – Val Tait
Tantalus Vineyards- Dave Paterson
Poplar Grove Winery – Stefan Arnason
Tightrope Winery – Lyndsay O’Rourke
The Possibilities of Pinot
Pan Pacific Hotel, Meeting Room Pacific Rim 2
1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Known for being both beloved and tricky to perfect, Pinot Noir’s delicate nature is well-suited to express the particularities of BC’s terroir. Join us for a deep-dive tasting into BC Pinot with Master of Wine Barbara Philip and panelists from top producers of this lauded variety. Could Pinot Noir be the most planted red grape variety in BC by the end of the decade?
Panelists:
Fort Berens Estate Winery – Heleen Pannekoek
JoieFarm – Alistair Veen
Unsworth Vineyards & Winery – Chris Turyk
Spearhead Winery – Grant Stanley
Stags Hollow Winery & Vineyard – Keira LeFranc
Romancing the Clone: What We Talk About When We Talk About Wine – Limited Availability
Pan Pacific Hotel, Meeting Room Pacific Rim 1
1:30 PM to 3:00 PM
Oftentimes, back labels, sell sheets with winemaker’s notes give us a slew of technical info: this wine was fermented in stainless, 12 months in french oak, partial malo. While some of that information will help us understand how the wine was made, what can it tell a guest or customer? How can we romance what happens in the winery at the table and create stories through winemaking? Join Jenna Briscoe, DipWSET and Lead Educator at This is Wine School in transforming the technical to the anecdotal through winemaker’s stories.
Panelists:
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards – Leandro Nosal
Da Silva Vineyards & Winery – Richard Da Silva
Haywire Winery – Kat D’Costa
Wild Goose Vineyards & Winery – Stephen Neumann
1 Mill Road – Katie Truscott
