FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Wine Australia announces sponsorship of “Australian Wine: A World of Difference”

Theme for 2007 Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival

 

[Vancouver, March 7, 2006]  At the sold-out Aussie Barbie at the Vancouver Rowing Club March 4th, Tony

Beatty, Vice-Chair of the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival Board, announced Wine

Australia’s sponsorship of “Australian Wine: A World of Difference” theme for the 2007 Vancouver

Playhouse International Wine Festival.

 

Australian wines are as diverse as the continent itself.   Across Australia, over 100 wine grape varieties are grown --

depending on climate, soil and the winemaker’s skill and judgment – each variety shows different characteristics. 

The 29th annual Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival in 2007 will demonstrate the diversity, quality,

breadth and depth of Australian wines.

           

“Australian wines are world class, reflecting the sense of place and the people who nurture and produce the wines.

Our wines are constantly improving with new approaches, pushing the boundaries of winemaking, viticulture and

marketing with relaxed excellence”, explains Monica Ralphs, Wine Australia’s Regional Director - Canada. “With

wines from cool climate regions, such as the Yarra Valley, Coonawarra and Tasmania to warmer sites including

Riverland, Barossa and Hunter Valley, Australia is a continent of contrasts. We are delighted to bring the diversity

of Australian wines to Canadians; ‘A World of Difference’ will be the focus of this showcase, demonstrating that our

wines are authentic and generous of spirit”.

 

Australia is the number one import in British Columbia, with 779,079 9-litre cases in annual sales in the period

ending December 2005. This represents a 12.5% increase over the same period in 2004.*

*Redbook Data, December 2005

 

The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, a fundraiser for the Playhouse Theatre Company runs from

March 26th to April 1, 2007. Playhouse Festival is one of the biggest and oldest wine festival events in the world. In

2007, the varietal focus will be Riesling, a grape variety particularly well executed in Australia. The hub of the

festival is the International Festival Tasting Room at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre where

hundreds of wines are available for sampling at three public and two trade-only tasting sessions. The festival

includes special events including a gala auction, wine seminars, winery dinners, lunches and brunches at fine local

restaurants and hotels. For more information and complete festival details visit the website at

www.playhousewinefest.com .

 

Contact:

Monica Ralphs                                                             Betty Verkuil

Regional Director – Canada                                          Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival

Wine Australia                                                              604.988.9502

416.323.1892                                                              media@playhousewinefest.com

monica.ralphs@wineaustralia.com