Events

Top Drop Is a Wine Nerd’s Dream Come True

The annual terroir-focused wine fest is back, with both a grand tasting event and a Yaletown takeover.

By Stacey McLachlan /

This isn’t to say we don’t absolutely love and look forward to the Vancouver International Wine Festival each year but if the annual sip-a-thon is the Beyoncé of Vancouver wine events, then Top Drop is the smaller, cooler little sister: our very own Solange, if you will.

You don’t have to choose between the two festivals, of course: there’s enough wine love to go around for both, just like how you can play both Lemonade and A Seat at the Table on repeat. But VIWF is months and months away, and Top Drop is in a few weeks, so the time to fangirl over indie wines and all your fave natty producers is now.

The event is curated by longtime Vanmag contributor Kurtis Kolt and Joey group sommelier (and Vanmag Restaurant Awards judge) Jason Yamasaki, two wine-industry insiders who are happy to geek out with you about pinots for hours. They’ve pulled together a super fun two-night affair celebrating dozens of international, terroir-focused wines and the people behind them—so please, make sure to raise a glass to the dynamic duo as you sample the wares.

On Monday, May 12, they’re taking over Yaletown with a series of wine parties ($70 bucks for admission to each) featuring all 50 Top Drop participants. Pop between events like Big Night at Capo and the Spritz, where Italian vino will be served up alongside endless pizza and arancini, and Umami Tsunami, where Hapa Izakaya will be transformed into a Japanese snack bar replete with boutique wines.

Then, on Tuesday, May 13, the main event kicks off at 7 p.m., appropriately titled as The Main Event. (Trade tastings are happening earlier in the day, too, if you’re an industry type.) The annual grand tasting takes place at the Roundhouse Community Centre and features every bottle you sipped or missed on Monday—a pop-up shop from Everything Wines will have all your faves ready to bring home.

 

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All in support of the BC Hospitality Foundation, it’s the perfect way for a wine lover to kick off the week… and wet their whistle for all the wine events coming next in the calendar. Time to throw on “Losing You,” get the cool-kid vibes going and hit the town: tickets on sale now.