BC's Wine Regions

As the world starts trending towards supporting local wineries before the past traditional wine regions of Europe, it expands the local BC wine industry.  BC has over 250 local wineries over three distinct regions (Okanagan being the largest).  Each of the regions is a little different and you can not go wrong with a bit of time in each of them.

Three BC Wine Regions

While the Okanagan Valley is the largest wine region in BC, there are two others worth visiting that sometimes get lost in the shadow.  The Cowichan Valley is the newest of the wine regions in BC and has over 10 distinct local wineries.  Closest to the population center of Western Canada is the Fraser Valley and boasts about as many wineries as the Cowichan Valley.

BC's Wine heritage

Grapes were first planted in BC over a century ago in the 1860's just outside of Kelowna BC.  Since then the BC wine industry has grown to over 11,000 acres of planted grapes and over 80 varieties.

Top Grapes Growing In BC

Top 9 BC White Grape Varieties

• Pinot Gris (All BC)
• Chardonnay (Okanagan)
• Gewürztraminer
• Riesling (North Okanagan)
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Pinot Blanc
• Viognier
• Ortega (Cowichan & Fraser Valley)
• Ehrenfelser

Top 8 BC Red Grape Varieties

• Merlot (South Okanagan)
• Pinot Noir
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Cabernet Franc
• Syrah (Similar to Shiraz)
• Gamay Noir
• Marechal Foch (Cowichan & Fraser Valley)
• Malbec (Okanagan)

Okanagan Valley Wineries

With over 250 growers within about 160 kilometres this is the epicentre or wine tourism in Western Canada and BC.  This wine growing region can be split into a few distinct regions.

• Kelowna (Kelowna & Lake Country)
• West Kelowna
• Summerland
• Naramata
• Okanagan Falls
• Oosoyous

Fraser Valley Wineries

If start heading east from downtown Vancouver you will reach over a dozen wineries within about a hour.  The epicentre of wineries is in Langley & Abbotsford.

• Richmond (3 Wineries)
• Surrey (2 Wineries)
• Langley (5 Wineries + Cider + Mead)
• Abbotsford (4 Wineries)

Cowichan Valley Wineries

Planting started in the Cowichan Valley in the early 80's by the department of Agriculture to see if they could springboard wine tourism in the region.  On the site of "Blue Grouse Winery" in the Cowichan Valley the first few dosen grape varieties were planted.  After 30+ years the region has adapted a bunch of varieties from Valentien Blatner.  Top grapes grown here are Ortega, Pinot Gris & Marechal Foch.