Vancouver, BC – written Monday, January 13, 2025 – The Vancouver International Wine Festival and the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival are delighted to announce that Ray Signorello, the propietor of Signorello Estate, will be the Honourary Chair of the 2025 Bacchanalia Gala Dinner & Auction, presented by the National Bank Private Banking since 1859.
Ray Signorello is the visionary force behind Signorello Estate, California’s famed Napa Valley winery. A truly hands-on owner, he’s heavily involved in the production of the wines and overseeing the marketing, finance, and sales, both domestically and internationally.
Ray was born in San Francisco, the grandson of an Italian grocer from Calabria and the son of Ray Sr., a mining industry executive who moved the family to Vancouver, Canada. After graduating from UBC’s business school, Ray returned to the city of his birth to sell commercial real estate. Simultaneously, he was also lending his financial acumen to the new business venture he and his father had co-founded: Signorello Estate. Originally, Signorello Estate existed as a grower, selling to some of the biggest names in the Napa Valley, but in 1985 Ray Sr. and Jr. decided to produce their own, 100% estate grown wines. Handling the business side of the winery while his father travelled to promote its wines, Ray built Signorello Estate into the award-winning vineyard it is known as today.
Ray is both the face and the driving spirit of Signorello Estate. In addition to the original winery, Ray also operates three other wine ventures: Edge (est. 2001), Trim (2009) and “S” (est. 2019). As if that weren’t enough, he also created Evolution Fine Wines in 2004, a Western Canadian distributor of Signorello Estate and other esteemed wines from artisan producers around the world. In 2024, Ray opened a state-of-the-art wine facility in Napa Valley after the devastating 2017 Atlas Wildfire burned the Signorello Estate winery to the ground. A tale of resilience and innovation, the new facility is completely underground, temperature-controlled, and virtually fireproof.
Ray has been a longtime supporter of the Vancouver International Wine Festival, participating in every festival since 1988. Two of his flagship wines will be featured at this year’s Gala: Hope’s Cuvée Chardonnay 2021 and Padrone 2021, tributes to his mother and father respectively.
“I’m proud to serve as the Honorary Chair of the Bacchanalia Gala and to present my wines at this remarkable event,” says Signorello. “The Gala pairs fine wine and exceptional cuisine with two of Vancouver’s cultural icons, Bard on the Beach and the Vancouver International Wine Festival. It’s the ultimate showcase of the performing,
culinary, and vinicultural arts and an unforgettable evening.”
BACCHANALIA GALA DINNER + AUCTION, PRESENTED BY NATIONAL BANK PRIVATE BANKING 1859
One of the most spectacular wine and food events in the city, the Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction, presented by National Bank Private Banking 1859, kicks off the 46 th annual Vancouver International Wine Festival on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Co-hosted by the U.S. Consulate General, the evening starts with a sparkling wine reception and features a line-up of outstanding West Coast U.S. wines paired with an exquisite five-course menu prepared by the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver’s culinary team. Live and silent auctions throughout the evening will feature unique and celebrated wines and epicurean experiences and are the province’s premier opportunity for wine collectors to obtain rare and older vintage wines.
As well, Delta Air Lines has donated two round-trip business class tickets to anywhere Delta flies in Europe for the 2025 Gala Raffle. Raffle tickets are now available through Bard on the Beach to residents of British Columbia.
All proceeds from the Gala support Bard on the Beach. Since 1979, the Vancouver International Wine Festival has raised more than $10.2 million for the performing arts in Vancouver, including $2.2 million for Bard on the Beach’s artistic and educational programs.
GALA DINNER WINES
Tirriddis Sparkling Wines Columbia Valley House Gris Brut NV
Tirriddis Sparkling Wines Columbia Valley House Rosé Brut NV
Signorello Estate Napa Valley Hope’s Cuvée Chardonnay 2021
Robert Mondavi Winery Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Calera Central Coast Pinot Noir 2023
Lingua Franca Willamette Valley AVNI Pinot Noir 2022
Caymus Vineyards California Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
McPrice Myers Paso Robles M Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Signorello Estate Napa Valley Padrone 2021
HOW TO PURCHASE GALA TICKETS
A limited number of individual Gala tickets are now available online or by phone. For information on full tables of 8, contact gala@vanwinefest.ca.
Online: VanWineFest.ca 24/7
Phone: 604-873-3311, toll free 1-877-321-3121 (Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)
Ticket prices include wine, food, gratuities, taxes and service charge.
STAY IN TOUCH
For more information about the Vancouver International Wine Festival go to VanWineFest.ca and read our Quick Facts.
X: Follow @VanWineFest for announcements, including e-news, festival updates & media releases. Join the conversation at #VIWF.
Facebook / Instagram: @VanWineFest
Youtube: @Playhousewine
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/vancouver-international-wine-festival
ABOUT VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL WINE FESTIVAL
Canada’s premier wine show will mark its 46th edition of pairing wine, food and the performing arts from February 22-March 2, 2025. The festival will showcase 121 wineries from 15 countries, featured in 43 events over eight days. The Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction, presented by National Bank Private Banking 1859, is the main fundraising event of the festival and kicks off the festival on Saturday, February 22 at the Fairmont Hotel
Vancouver. Trade Days takes place Wednesday, February 26-Friday, February 28. The festival is consistently ranked the #1 Food, Wine & Hospitality Event in Canada by New York’s BizBash and was named one of the world’s top 10 wine trade shows by Wine International Association. The festival is produced by the Vancouver International Wine Festival Society, which has three mandates: provide an informative, educational and
entertaining wine experience for public and trade; be a premier marketing opportunity for the wine industry and festival partners; and raise funds for the Bard on the Beach Theatre Society. Since inception in 1979, the festival has raised more than $10.2 million for the performing arts. Major sponsors are Delta Air Lines and The Vancouver Sun; major industry partners are the BC Liquor Distribution Branch, BCLIQUOR, and the Import Vintners & Spirits Association. The Vancouver International Wine Festival gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.
ABOUT BARD ON THE BEACH
Bard on the Beach is one of Canada's largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare festivals, presented on the waterfront at Sen̓áḵw/Vanier Park. The festival offers Shakespeare plays, related dramas, and popular special events in two performance tents every June through September. Over 2 million patrons have experienced Bard since its inception, growing to annual attendance close to 100,000. Next year’s festival runs June to September 2025, and scheduled plays include Much Ado About Nothing, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again], and The Dark Lady. Bard also offers a range of education programs for learners from eight to 80. Full details and education program information are at bardonthebeach.org.
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