British Columbia Wines & Wineries

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BC Wine Industry

Though most Canadians are familiar with the BC wine industry, some international travellers might be surprised to learn that the province has been producing wine commercially since the 1920s, using indigenous plants like loganberries and labrusca grapes.  In the 1970s, vintners in the Okanagan region began importing varietals from Europe such as Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, and Ehrenfelser, and production slowly increased. However, it wasn't until the formation of NAFTA in 1988 that the market invited a rapid growth in the industry.  In 1990, the VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) was formed to ensure production and sensory standards were being upheld.  Today, bottles bearing the VQA insignia are guaranteed to be 100% "made in BC", and have passed a taste evaluation.

Then came the awards. In 1994, Mission Hill's 1992 Grand Reserve Chardonnay won "Best Chardonnay Worldwide" at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in London, officially introducing BC wine to the world's stage. Various BC wineries have since gone on to win international accolades including "Winemaker of the Year", "Shiraz of the Year" (a first for North America), and "World's Top Icewine".

BC Wine Regions

Wine geography in British Columbia is divided into five Designated Viticultural Areas, or DVAs. These regions span across south-central BC to the Vancouver & Gulf Islands.  The largest and most well-known region, the Okanagan Valley, is located in southern BC (a few hour's drive inland from Vancouver) and is divided into 5 sub-regions: Kelowna, Naramata, Okanagan Falls, Golden Mile, and Black Sage.  Hot, dry summers––the region is in a "rain shadow", between the Coastal and Monashee Mountains––and crisp, cold winters are the hallmark of Okanagan climate.  Some of the best Okanagan wines include Merlot, Chardonnay, Gewurtztraminer, Bordeaux, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Syrah, and Pinot Blanc.  Forest fires are common during the summertime, which have been known to lend a characteristic "smoky" essence to wines produced at vineyards located downwind from the blazes.  Within the southern zone of the Okanagan and bordering the US is the Similkameen Valley, a more arid environment prone to hotter summers and colder winters.  The Similkameen Valley is a hot-spot––pun intended––for travellers interested in experiencing Canada's only desert, and also those who love Merlot, Cabernet and Gamay Noir (to name a few).    

The third wine region in mainland British Columbia is the more temperate Fraser Valley.  Located in the Vancouver area, the Fraser Valley wineries make an easy day trip for anyone staying in the city.  The rainy, mild, and some might call it "soggy" climate in this area is what makes everything so lush and green, perfect for German white-grape varieties like Riesling, as well as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.  The fourth and fifth of BC's Wine Regions are located on the islands off the southwest coast of the province: Vancouver Island, home to Victoria, BC's capital city; and the Gulf Islands, including Saltspring, Saturna, Pender, Quadra, and Bowen.  All of the Islands are accessible by ferry from either Vancouver or Victoria, making them a perfect week-long or weekend island-hop adventure.  Some varietals grown on Vancouver island and the Gulf Islands include Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Ortega, Gewurtztraminer, Merlot, and Pinot Noir.  Though there are fewer wineries on the Islands than in the more well-known Okanagan regions, they are exceptionally scenic and worth exploring as part of any BC wine experience.