Vancouver International Wine Festival 2020

It’s that time of year again - the Vancouver International Wine Festival will be here from February 22 - March 1, 2020. This is one of the most anticipated events of the year for me and for good reason. There are over 160 wineries featuring their top grapes and wines. It’s my time to explore new vineyards and flavours!

The 2020 festival runs February 22 to March 1 and welcomes 163 wineries from around the wine world. All participating wineries and their principals gather in the Tasting Room (February 27-29) to showcase their wines. This year, the festival’s theme is Vive la France!, with 42 wineries and their principals from France travelling to Vancouver to share wines from their storied terroirs. They’re joined by 121 wineries from 14 additional countries, plus wines from South Africa available only at a Regional Tasting Station in the Tasting Room. Overall, more than one out of five wineries are new to the 2020 festival. 

There are a few options for tickets: Delta Air Lines Tasting Lounge (Fridays & Saturdays), International Festival Tastings (Thursday to Saturday), and for the ultimate experience - The Gold Pass. The Gold Pass allows you to experience everything the festival has to offer with VIP treatment when you become a Gold Pass holder. A terrific value, this pass offers incomparable access to VanWineFest. A $768 value for only $519!

*** Did you know! You can score some free Wine Fest tickets? Find out how HERE !! If you’re wanting to sip on tons of wine and stay overnight in Vancouver, this is the deal for you!

For more information on Vancouver Wine Festival, CLICK HERE.

Hope to see you at the festival!

PRESS RELEASE | Starbucks introduces two NEW beverages to kick off 2020!

Starbucks customers have shared that when they come to Starbucks, they are looking for a variety of options to make the right choices for themselves. To help customers easily find what they’re looking for to meet their lifestyle and taste preferences, Starbucks is introducing two NEW non-dairy beverages made with plant-based milk alternatives, the Almondmilk Honey Flat White and the Coconutmilk Latte, on Tuesday, January 7th. 

The Almondmilk Honey Flat White combines ristretto shots of Starbucks Blonde Espresso with steamed almondmilk and a hint of honey, creating a delightful twist on a beloved espresso classic.

The Coconutmilk Latte combines shots of Starbucks Blonde Espresso with steamed Coconutmilk. A strike of Cascara sugar topping adds subtle notes of dark brown sugar and luscious maple after every sip.

Here’s what you need to know:  

• NEW non-dairy options! More and more, customer desire is increasing for non-dairy options and Starbucks is meeting that demand. 

• Both new beverages are made with Starbucks Blonde® Espresso and will be joining the permanent menu at participating Starbucks Canada locations. 

• To meet dietary needs, Starbucks recommends all customers start by checking the ingredients on Starbucks.com. Below are some tips on how to create your perfect Starbucks order:  

  • Select a non-dairy milk: Order your beverage with soy beverage, almond beverage or coconut milk beverage

  • Select a flavoured syrup: The following syrups do not contain animal-derived ingredients: Vanilla, Caramel, Hazelnut 

  • Hold the following ingredients, which contain dairy: Whipped cream, java chips, protein powder, caramel sauce (Pro tip! Caramel sauce is different from caramel syrup) 

• Avoid beverages made with: Pumpkin Spice Sauce, White Mocha Sauce and Caramel Brulée Sauce