Free Spirit Vancouver Tasting Event

Guest post by celebrated BC-based sommelier Kurtis Kolt – Vancouver’s biggest tasting event featuring non-alcohol wine, beer, spirits and cocktails returns!

Free Spirit Vancouver

• Date: Monday, December 8, 2026 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
• Location: Heritage Hall (3102 Main St, Vancouver)
• Tickets: Available online now for $48, iIncludes tasting of all products

I’m a sommelier by trade with a background running various local restaurants and their wine programs. The last 15 or so years have found me producing large scale wine tasting events, consulting with restaurants, writing about wine culture, and judging the odd competition. Even a few years ago, I wouldn’t have believed you if you told me that I was going to be producing “Free Spirit” – Vancouver’s largest non-alcoholic wine, beer, spirit, and cocktail tasting, featuring products from 60 (!) local and international producers.  It is still in fairly recent memory that the only non-alcoholic options most people could find were cans of Molson Exel that’s akin to diluted oatmeal water, and dusty bottles of Loxton dealcoholized wine, found on forgotten grocery store shelves, that tasted like saccharine-sweet, confected grape juice.

In the last few years, however, the quality and quantity of available options in the category has exploded. 

The technology has finally caught up with what is an increasing desire of many people, myself included, to enjoy non-alc/zero-proof options, whether on occasion, or as permanent choice. Beverages that have interesting stories to tell, are well-made, and most of all – delicious. No longer are we relegated to a cranberry soda, or a sugary soft drink when we are not in the mood to imbibe.

Knowing that there has been an avalanche of these products hitting our market, I decided this year to start producing non-alc tastings & events, in an effort for people to be able to try before they buy, and to give those who are still questioning the potential of this category the opportunity to sample and enjoy some of the best product products from around the world, in a fun and atmosphere. I can still wear my quality-exploring sommelier hat as I do this. 

And so. 

This coming Monday, December 8 at Heritage Hall in Mount Pleasant, I am producing Free Spirit: bringing together the wares of 60 breweries, wineries, cideries, distilleries, and beyond. They include takes on natural wine from Copenhagen, deliciously-fizzy and complex bottled cocktails from Australia, tart and effervescent ciders from Spain, and so much more. It’s a great opportunity to find fun hostess gifts for the season, new favourites to enjoy on weeknights while streaming your favourite series, and planning ahead for dry January. Attendees will see why local breweries like Phillips and Strangefellows, plus lauded, international wineries are now proud to put their non-alcoholic offerings alongside their traditional craft with confidence. 

I hope to see you there. We can even raise a glass to avoiding that hangover the next day!