18th annual World Wine & Food Expo continues until Nov. 8

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By Cole Hobson
Times & Transcript Staff

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Wine lovers rejoice, it's World Wine and Food Expo week.

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The 18th annual event, which began Saturday with seminars and the gala dinner, runs until Nov. 8. Thanks in large part to the philosophy and tireless work of event organizers, the event has grown from its meager beginnings to a landmark event on the Metro Moncton calendar that this year features more than 350 wines from around the world.

"It's not enough to just be here and pouring wine for the people. You need to help people understand the wine they're drinking," explains expo chairman and professional Sommelier Bill Vance.

"If they understand it, they'll be more passionate about their consumption for it."

Vance says passion is at the heart of the World Wine and Food Expo, when other festivals are more concerned with economics.

"We're the only major show left in Atlantic Canada that does seminars of any kind. Others have given up because they don't make money, but we don't look at it that way," he says.

"We look at it as an opportunity to expand knowledge and create more interest. The fact we're still growing in ticket sales and wine sales is a sign that we're on the right track."

The formula that the World Wine and Food Expo abides by is obviously popular -- most of the seminars quickly sold out, with most of the remainder expected to be full well before this story appears in print.

Wine enthusiasts will be taught by experts on a number of topics in this year's seminars, everything from how to be a good wine taster to specific sessions on popular wines like Port and information on wine hot spots like France's South-west.

Of course, the highlight of the festival is sure to be the end of week tastings, when those in attendance can sample many of the 350 wines at the show, most of which haven't ever been in New Brunswick before.

"The other major thing we've seen over the years is an absolute amazing increase in the quality of wine at lower price points," Vance says.

"I still get my biggest charge of finding one under $15 that just knocks my socks off. I can tell you there are many, if not dozens and dozens of exceptional bottles of wine that are easily under $30 and some under $15."

With wines from locales around the world including Argentina, Chile, France and Australia, the World Wine and Food Expo truly is an international event.

Always hugely popular, the evening tasting sessions are already sold out. Vance says for those looking to take part, the afternoon sessions aren't expected to completely fill up, and the slower pace and less crowded venues give a more relaxed wine festival experience for those who wish to indulge.

"We are by far the most spacious and relaxed wine show in Atlantic Canada," Vance says. "There's just so much about ours that makes it a better experience for people to go that might have a small interest in wine. You can literally walk up to most tables and have a discussion with somebody."

The two afternoon sessions take place Friday, Nov. 7 from 1-4 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 8 from 1-4 p.m. If a tasting isn't your thing but you're still interested in trying new wines, fear not. Alcool New Brunswick Liquor will have a temporary liquor store set up at the Coliseum during the festival where festival patrons and the public alike will be able to buy their favorite bottle. With a continually growing festival in both numbers of wine and popularity, Vance says they will continue to listen to the consumer as the festival moves forward.

"One of the things our show has been better at than some of the other provinces is in recognizing what their consumers want. While people want to taste expensive wines as a novelty, they also look at the Expo as a time to buy wines that aren't available the rest of the year," he says.

"In a time when other liquor boards and provinces are maintaining the status quo or seeing their sales decline at some of these shows, our numbers have continued to grow."