The Vancouver International Wine Festival isn't only an opportunity to share and discover wines from around the world. It's also a chance to celebrate Vancouver's wine culture.
At the annual awards lunch on February 28, while diners enjoyed a lunch by the convention centre's executive chef Blair Rasmussen, with wines from France's Rhone Valley, the festival announced this year's winners of its coveted awards.
SPIRITED INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL (SIP) AWARD
Honours an individual who makes significant contributions to the sales, service or promotion of wine in British Columbia.
The eighth annual SIP Award goes to industry veteran Mark Davidson, education director for Wine Australia USA, and was the BC representative for the creation of a Canadian National Standard for Wine Service. In 1993, he co-founded the Vancouver Wine Academy (VWA) and has worked with the BC Wine Institute to create a Train the Trainee module for educating restaurant and wine industry staff. Mark placed third in the finals at the 1990 Sopexa Best French Wine & Spirits Sommelier and was the winner of the 2001 BC Restaurant and Foodservice Association Sommelier of the Year. The SIP Award is sponsored by the Vancouver International Wine Festival.
SOMMELIER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Recognizes outstanding wine knowledge and wine service, awarded based on votes by key members of the industry. This years award goes to sommelier Mike Bernardo of Vijs Group. As the wine director at Vijs and a contributor to Vancouver magazine, Mikes expertise lies in the often challenging pairing of spicy, layered dishes with the perfect wines. Focusing on fresh, crisp white wines and medium-bodied, low-tannin reds, Mike also enjoys the challenge of combining bigger, bolder wines with Indian cuisine. Sommelier of the Year is sponsored by the Vancouver International Wine Festival.
WINE LIST AWARDS
Celebrating restaurants throughout British Columbia and Alberta for creating wine lists that complement their establishments unique menu and concept. Candidates submit their wine and menu lists, and are then visited by judges who reviewed their programs. The judges are Michelle Bouffard, Tom Doughty, DJ Kearney, Iain Philip and Terry Threlfall. The top restaurants were awarded Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze, or commended with an Honourable Mention. The Wine List Awards are sponsored by Vancouver Magazine.
METRO VANCOUVER
Platinum Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar, ?Cioppinos Mediterranean Grill & Enoteca?, Hawksworth Restaurant
Gold Chambar Restaurant, ?Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House, ?La Pentola della Quercia, ?Tableau Bar Bistro, ?West?, The Wine Room at Joey Bentall, One?Zest Japanese Cuisine
Silver Burdock & Co. Best New Entry, Vancouver?; Campagnolo Roma, ?CinCin, ?Edible Canada at the Market, ?Homer St. Cafe and Bar?, Nicli Antica Pizzeria?, Provence Marinaside & The Wine Bar?, Salt Tasting Room, ?YEW
Bronze Forage?, Lift Bar Grill, View The Observatory, ?PiDGiN
Honourable Mention The Fish House in Stanley Park, ?Fraîche?, The Oakwood Canadian Bistro, ?Tap Restaurant, ?Tap & Barrel Coal Harbour, ?Tramonto at River Rock Casino Resort, ?Via Tevere Pizzeria
WHISTLER Gold Alta Bistro?, Araxi Restaurant + Bar
Silver Rimrock Cafe
VICTORIA AND SUNSHINE COAST ?Gold The Restaurant at Painted Boat Resort Spa & Marina (Madeira Park)
Silver Little Jumbo Best New Entry, Victoria; ?The Pacific Restaurant & Terrace at the Hotel Grand Pacific, ?Stage Wine Bar
Honourable Mention Aura Waterfront Restaurant + Patio at the Inn at Laurel Point
BC INTERIOR? Gold Emerald Lake Lodge (Field)
Silver La Bussola Restaurant (Kelowna)
Honourable Mention Watermark Wine Bar & Patio (Osoyoos)
EDMONTON Silver Wildflower Grill
CALGARY AND THE ROCKIES? Platinum Cilantro?, Divino Wine & Cheese Bistro
Gold Deer Lodge?River Café, ?Vin Room Mission, ?Vin Room West
Silver Buffalo Mountain Lodge
Honourable Mention Bar C?, CHARCUT
BLIND TASTING CHALLENGE
On Wednesday February 26, 2014, wine trade and service professionals, culinarians, and non-professional connoisseurs alike competed in the Blind Tasting Challenge. They blind tasted seven wines and identified them using the Wine and Spirit Education Trusts Systematic Approach to Tasting. This year the Blind Tasting Challenge winners were Brian Glaum (consumer) David Winzer (culinarian) and Angela Wall (trade).??The Vancouver International Wine Festivals Celebrating Excellence Program is sponsored by ContainerWorld, Puddifoot, Vancouver Magazine, Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, Mark Anthony Brands, and The Vancouver Suns Salut. Trade Days Conference corporate sponsors include BC Business, ITS Consulting Inc. and JF Hillebrand. The festivals industry supporters are BC Liquor Stores and Import Vintners & Spirits Association.
