Halifax International Wine Fest

Halifax International Wine Fest More Wine, More Space, More Food, More Fun!

Join us on Saturday, September 6th, at the Halifax Convention Centre for a tasting experience featuring 250+ wines from around the world, local food pairings and a massive pop-up wine shop!

A look back at HFX Wine Fest. 🍷✨Great wines, new discoveries, conversations with producers and a room full of people rea...
08/29/2026

A look back at HFX Wine Fest. 🍷✨

Great wines, new discoveries, conversations with producers and a room full of people ready to Taste Beyond the Familiar.

This November, we’re doing it all again with 250 wines from international and local producers, food pairings and plenty to discover.

📅 Saturday, November 28
📍 Halifax Convention Centre
🍷 Afternoon + Evening sessions
🔞 19+

Come curious. Leave with a few new favourites.

08/21/2026

Italy’s sun-drenched Puglia region ☀️🇮🇹 is known for producing two distinctive red grape varieties. The first is Primitivo, a cousin of California’s Zinfandel. The other is Negroamaro.

Its name translates roughly as “black bitter”—a fitting description for the deeply coloured red wines it produces. Expect dark fruit flavours 🫐🍒, savoury notes, warming spice and drying tannins.

Bold, generous and made for the table. In summer, I think of Negroamaro as a steak wine 🥩🔥. In winter, when its rich, brooding character feels particularly inviting, serve it alongside a hearty stew or braised dish 🍲.

When looking for a bold red for steak night, Taste Beyond the Familiar and try a Negroamaro-based wine from Italy’s Puglia region. 🍷

08/19/2026

🍷 Wine Wednesday: Inside the Box Thinking

I am always curious as to why we associate premium almost exclusively with wine packaged in glass bottles and closed with cork stoppers.

For 99 per cent of the wine out there, there is no need to cellar wine. As such no reason they have to be packaged in bottles with cork. Cork does allow for micro-oxygenation which helps some wines age.

Box wine, on the other hand, while not being suitable for aging as the bag eventually degrades is great for ready to drink wine, and it isn't just because its economical, although it is. A lot of the cost of the wine we purchase is the cost of the packaging. Heavy glass bottles and corks is expensive. It is also convenient, and more importantly it is an environmentally friendly choice. Its lightweight packaging requires less energy to produce and transport than glass bottles, helping reduce its carbon footprint.

Bonus, the airtight bag also keeps wine fresh for weeks after opening, unlike a wine packaged in bottle, which after opening is constantly battling against oxidation.

Just remember, while by being better for many reasons, you have to be more committed to finding the good wines in box. We still have mostly commercial uninteresting wines in boxes, but hopefully over time, things change.

08/14/2026

🍎 It can’t be wine all the time.

For this week’s Taste Beyond the Familiar: Friday Feature, Mark discovers Faraway Cider, made in Cumberland County from wild and forgotten Nova Scotia apples.

Naturally fermented, naturally sparkling and full of character, Mark’s pairing picks include scallops, pork loin or oysters with apple compote.

🍷 Halifax International Wine Festival
November 28 at the Halifax Convention Centre.

08/12/2026

Wednesday Wine Tip 🍷 | Natural Wine

Natural wine can be a contentious term, but it doesn’t have to mean funky, fizzy or flawed.

This week, Mark breaks down what “natural wine” really means, why low-intervention winemaking exists on a spectrum, and why a little sulphur isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

The takeaway? Don’t be afraid to explore wines made naturally. Some of the world’s best wines are.

🎥 Watch this week’s Wednesday Wine Tip with Mark.

08/07/2026

Friday Taste Beyond the Familiar Taste Tip: Verdejo

Meet Verdejo, which for us is like the cool Spanish cousin of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio.

Native to Rueda in northwestern Spain, Verdejo combines Sauvignon Blanc’s zesty citrus and herbal lift with Pinot Grigio’s crisp, refreshing character. Expect flavours of lime, green apple, white peach, fennel, pineaplle and fresh herbs, often followed by Verdejo’s signature grapefruit-like finish.

Bright, fresh and wonderfully food-friendly, it pairs particularly well with seafood, fresh cheeses, grilled vegetables and lighter tapas. 🥂

If Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio is your usual white, Verdejo offers a great opportunity to Taste Beyond the Familiar.

08/05/2026

🍷 Red wine with meat. White wine with fish.

It’s simple, memorable and often wrong.

The best pairing isn’t always determined by whether the protein swims, walks or quacks. What matters more is how the dish is prepared, including the sauce, seasoning, texture and weight.

A smoky grilled tuna steak can be fantastic with Pinot Noir. Roast chicken with mushrooms can pair beautifully with a fresh, earthy red such as Pinot Noir or Gamay. Halibut with lemon, meanwhile, may call for a crisp Riesling.

Forget the old rules and start thinking about the entire dish. That’s where the magic of food and wine pairing begins.

Follow along for more Taste Beyond the Familiar Wine Tips, and join us at the Halifax International Wine Festival on November 28.

🎟️ Tickets available now.

07/31/2026

This week, Mark explores South African Chenin Blanc. Have you tried it lately? If not, it’s time to give it another go. 🇿🇦

🍋‍🟩🍑 From bright, citrus-driven wines with notes of green apple and quince to richly textured expressions layered with peach, honey, spice and subtle oak, South African Chenin Blanc offers remarkable diversity and some of the wine world’s best value.

Many of the country’s finest examples come from old bush vines, whose deep roots and naturally low yields produce wines of impressive concentration, freshness and character.

Go beyond the familiar. Discover why South Africa has made Chenin Blanc unmistakably its own.

And don’t forget to pair it with some local seafood, such as halibut or haddock. 🐟

Available locally at . Look for the NS Loyal designation from .loyal.

07/24/2026

🍷 Friday Feature: Furmint

Have you heard of Furmint?

You may know it as the grape behind Tokaji, Hungary’s legendary sweet wine known as “the Wine of Kings, the King of Wines.” But when made dry, Furmint can be just as exciting.

Think somewhere between Chablis, dry Riesling and Chenin Blanc, with crisp citrus, green apple, stony minerality and vibrant freshness.

Here in Nova Scotia, Mark would pair it with fresh oysters or local clams steamed with butter, garlic, ginger and herbs.

Next time you’re looking at a wine list, skip the predictable and try a dry Furmint, such as Carpinus Dry Furmint.

Taste Beyond the Familiar and discover more at HFX Wine Fest on November 28, 2026.

Follow Eat Drink Halifax and the Halifax International Wine Festival for more wine discoveries.



Collaborators: Harvest, NS Loyal, Viking Imports and Carpinus Winery

07/22/2026

🍷 Taste Beyond Familiar | Wine Tips with Mark DeWolf

Discover new wines, expand your palate, and enjoy a fresh wine tip every Wednesday.

Join us at the Halifax International Wine Festival and experience wines from around the world.

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1650 Argyle Street
Halifax, NS
B3J0E6

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+19022191454

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