Viva Lita Deana Lancaster News Reporter dlancaster@nsnews.com SALUTE! If you've been longing for a holiday filled with bold Wines and savoury meals, your chance is fast approaching. At the end of April, hop on the SeaBus and head = across Burrard = Inlet oto the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre and other venues for a taste of Italy. That's because “the boot” — famous for its wines and cuisine —— is the Regional Theme for the 22nd annual Vancouver Plavhouse International Wine Festival, taking place April 25 to 30. After sipping, sampling and nibbling your way through a plethora of special tastings, food and wine pair- ing events and winemakers dinncrs you'll have intimate knowledge of the flavours of Tealy. Tuesday, April 25 Discover Bolla at Piccolo Mondo. Enjoy Bolla, one of. she most distinguished produce -- of Veneto, Italy at this 2:2 : maker’s dinner. Featur ~ wines of the evening vi! include, 1995 Le Poiase Valpolicella Classico, 1575 Amarone della Valpolicella and Recioto della Valpolicella, a wonderful dessert wine. Chef Stephane Meyer, will pair perfect food to great wines for a fabulous evening -of flavours. For tickets please contact Piccolo Mondo at 688-1633. Owl on the Mountain. Tt may require a little extra travel time, but the trip will be worth it. The Aerie Resort’s chef de cuisine, Christophe Letard, will join Bill Dyer, consulting winemaker for Burrowing Owl Vineyards to pair a banquet of wine and the freshest Vancouver Island cui- sine of the spring season. For information and tickets please contact the Aerie Resort on Vancouver Island at 1-&00- 513-1933. Thursday, April 27 Amarone; That's Amore! ... . Sandro Boscaini, President . of Masi, leads the tasting of 211, wines including Bolla, “Enoteca, de Rham, Bertani, Tommasi, Masi, Montresor, and Boseaini. “These deep, compiles, — deticious wines are the jewels of Valpolicella. This formal wine tasting, will allow vou to taste some of the most) powertul Italian wines from 1995 and examples of vintages going back to 1967 and meet the owners and winemakers from these impressive wineries. Cesari Friday, April 28 Chiantissino. The ultimate Chianti Riserva tasting experience. A showease of just released 1997 vintages frony producers Castello di’ Fonrerutoli, Frescobaldi, San Felice and Badia Coltibuono, alongside older vintages trom Selvapiana, Ruffine, Castello di Querceto, Antinori, Rocca delle Macie, Livon and Luigi Cecchi. Discover the different styles and blends of Tuscany’s famed Chianti. Saturday, April 29 La Dolce Vita — Feast for the Senses. The Festival’s Theme country’s “main event,” this event will feature 38 of [taly’s top producers from 22 diverse regions of Italy including Piedmont, Lombardy, Alto Adige, Vento, Fruili, Tuscany, Umbria Marche, Abruzza, Campania, Puglia and Sicilia. The wines will be paired with the succulent flavours of La Cucina Ivaliana prepared by the Pan Pacific’s Executive Chef. Super Tuscans. “Stylish, Big, Bold and Sexy” describe the unclassi- fied wines of Tuscany. The Marchese, Piero Antinori, noted winemaker, wili lead this exploration of great red wines, featuring top vintag-s from Frescobaldi, Luce, Antinori, Banfi, Castello di Querceto, Ruffino, Enoteca de Rham, San Felice, La Badia Coltibuono, Fattoria Dei Barbi, Rocca delle Macic, Luigi Cecchi and Fonterutoli. Sunday, April 30 An Evening with Two Super Tuscans. Join your two hosts, The Marchese, Piero Antinori and Umberto Menghi, for a won- derful evening of spectacular food and wine. Piero Antinori, one of the world’s most notable wine personali- ties and one of Italy’s finest producers, will greasy mess out on the deck? Why not come in ane fook at the new generation of Napoleon BBO’'s. Reliable, durable and easy to clean — so you won't be afraid to throw a good steak on it! Starting at $548.00 showcase - along with his colicague and friend, Umberto Menghi, a truce Tuscan experience at Umberto’s Borgo Antico restaurant. The — evening includes a special live auction. Flights of Frescobaldi at Cin Cin. Chef Romy Prasad of Cin Cin Restaurant & Bar and legendary = Marchesi de Frescobaldi have teamed up to create an unforgettable food and wine experience. Each course will feature local delicacies with a Mediterranean Slair, paired with vertical flights of the classic 1985, 1990 and 1995 vintages from) Frescobaldi’s finest wines including “Mormoreto.” For tickets please contact Cin Cin Restaurant & Bar 688-7338 Fancy, Beaune Apetit! Chef Pino Posteraro, pro- prietor of — Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill, will pre- pare a five-course menu to augment the rich flavours of Antonin Rodet’s red and white Burgundy. Jean Michel Ricard, export director of Antonin Rodet, will led you on a guided tour of one of the world’s greatest wine regions as you savour the specially cre- ated menu. As well as the Iralian- themed events, the festival fearures a host of other tast- ings and features. The international Festival § ‘batteries Abbotsford Bumaby Coquitlam Oelta Masle Ridge 27°64 Barnet Hwy. 8209 - 120th SL... 7489 Hume Avenue 20610 Lougheed Huy. 1454D Riverside Road (Tees ony). . . 33286 South Fraser Way §850 Kingsway at Imperial FOOD lia at the PI ayhi Tastings, always a highlight of the festival, will showcase 158 winenes from 15) countries, pouring over 600 wines, and take place Thursday, April 27th, Friday, April 28th and Saturday, April 29th from 7 pm. to | Sip B.C.’s best in the Village | | FOR the wine-making | 10 p.m. at the industry, spring means the arrival of the new growing season. And for oenophiles, it also heralds the arrival of another Vancouver - - Playhouse International ‘Wine Festival. 859-2202 437-4771 «. 941-3150 +» 590-1151 940-6388 465-1933 Suitey Vancouver White Rock Wednesday, April 5, 2000 - North Shore News —- 37 Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre. Unless otherwise noted, tckets to all events are available through Ticketmaster at 280- +444 or visit the festival web- site and order online at