No Playhouse in wine festival

VANCOUVER—With the end of the city’s Playhouse Theatre, the Vancouver International Wine Festival has dropped ‘Playhouse’ from its name.

Established in 1979 as a theatre fundraiser, the festival continues independently following the closure of the Playhouse in March.

“The festival plays an important role in the culture of the city,” said festival director Randy Kaardal, in a statement. “We will honour our commitment to the 25,000 wine lovers who make our festival such a success.”

More changes are to be announced in the coming months, including a fundraising campaign for the next festival, which takes place from Feb. 25 to March 3 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

The event’s 2013 theme region is California and the global focus is on Chardonnay.

Since its founding, the festival raised $34 million for the Playhouse, which closed due to declining audiences and a heavy debt.