BC Wines
I hope that everyone had a wonderful Canada Day celebration and gave pause to reflect on the diversity that in so many ways defines this country.
From ocean to ocean to ocean the breadth of offerings, experiences and people in Canada is unparalleled elsewhere in the world.
That unique diversity is a magical feature about wine and something that wine lovers chase as they hunt for bottles that are distinct from wines grown across the street. So imagine how different wines are when grown in another province all together?
Many don’t know this, but there is a desert in Canada. Complete with rattle snakes, black widows and even tumble weed! The southern tip of the Okanagan valley is also the northern tip of the Sonora desert. Long hot days, cool nights, and sand almost everywhere. And grapes. So many grapes.
The Okanagan Valley has over 10,000 acres planted and has 11 distinct sub-appellations. That is a lot of diversity!
Further west is the smaller Similkameen valley which, in many ways, is similar to Prince Edward County. It is overshadowed by the larger more familiar appellation close by, and even though some routes take you right through it on the way to the Okanagan, many don’t stop for a visit. Which is a shame. With its wide valley floor and towering mountains full of desert biodiversity the self proclaimed organic capital of Canada has so much to offer.
In these valleys and their sub-regions, the sun and heat help to produce wines that are richer in taste and fuller bodied. Grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah have less trouble ripening. Fuller bodied white wines are also possible and most enjoyable.
The cool nights are as key as the dry daytime heat. The lower temperatures help the grapes to retain acidity and allow many of the wines to seem lighter despite a concentration of fruit flavours.
Further north you’ll find Shuswap, Thompson Valley, Kootenays and Lillooet, with a total of close to 370 acres of planted grapes. The pioneer spirit is alive and well in the west where grape growing is an extreme vocation.
On the coast, encompassing Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond, New Westminster to Delta, Langley, Aldergrove and Abbotsford in the east, the Fraser Valley wine region has close to 200 acres planted.
And don’t forget Vancouver Island and the Gulf Island appellations with just over 400 acres of grapes.
There are wines to suit any taste or time. And they are 100% Canadian! There is an entire world of wine to be discovered within our country and they can be shipped directly to your home. Mix and match some cases. Try something new and exciting this summer and beyond.
The diversity of domestic wines is not at all limited by our own provincial boundaries or the liquor stores it contains.