The Ticket: Drink amazing Italian wine all week (well, not all week)

The Vancouver International Wine Festival is showing off reds and whites from everyone’s favourite boot-shaped country

Clear your plate (and your palate) and head downtown. The Vancouver International Wine Festival is now underway and runs until Sunday. It features 155 wineries from 14 different nations, but as always one country in particular is put in the spotlight. This year’s has a long history with wine and, well, most things civilized: Italy. The festival, for those who haven’t had the pleasure before, is the biggest of its kind in Canada and considered one of the best in the world. Not surprisingly, the tastings are selling out fast, but there are still tickets left for those eager to get a taste of Tuscany. Find out which events still have space here. But whether or not you can make this year’s wine festival, you don’t need to deprive yourself of wonderful Italian wine. Van Mag, as always, has your back. So, to celebrate the Italian theme of 2016’s Vancouver International Wine Festival, here are the Italian winners from our own Wine Awards (all of which are available for purchase locally). Given this is Italy we’re talking about, there’s no shortage of options—particularly for lovers of flavourful reds.

Italian winners from 2016’s Vancouver Magazine International Wine Awards

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Giusti Cuvée Extra BrutItaly$65.43 +42044

Sophisticated, distinctive sparkler combines chardonnay and glera grapes

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Vaporetto Prosecco BrutItaly$17.29 +99986

Refined, dry-tasting prosecco for your daily bubbly needs

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Fontanafredda Gavi DOCG 2013Italy$19.39 +224709

Suave Italian from a great estate in Piedmont

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Argiolas Vermentino di Sardegna Costamolino 2014Italy $17.99 +457945

Dry white from Sardinia’s star grape, vermentino

richwhites-monte Monte del Fra Custoza Superiore DOC Ca’ del Magro 2012Italy $19.79 +216077

Savoury white with creamy texture and sizzling acidity

Marotti Campi Orgiolo Lacrima di Morro d’Alba DOC Superiore 2013Italy$25.99 +613323

Lithe and exotic red from the Marche’s rare lacrima grape

MEDIUM RED CATEGORY WINNER: Fontodi Chianti Classico 2011Italy$31.99 +533315

It’s fair to call this classy Chianti runner-up for Best of Show, so close was the gripping final ballot among our judges. Sited in the heart of the Chianti Classico region and organically farmed since 2008, this all-sangiovese wine is aged in old barrels. Judges praised its fruity, spicy, earthy, oaky layers, all given extra dimension from a warm and generous vintage. It’s a true and pure expression of the grape and terroir.

medred-damilano Damilano Lecinquevigne Barolo 2010Italy$43.99 +484634