British Columbia is Canada's westernmost province, located on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. The diversity of landscapes here – from rainy islands to desert-like valley floors – means that a wide variety of Grapes are planted here. They include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
While volumes are lower than those of the province of Ontario, British Columbia is home to a rapidly growing wine industry.
This is mostly located on the Southern edge of the province aLong the international border with the United States.
North to south, the province of British Columbia is longer than California and larger than Texas. However the entire wine industry occupies the southernmost 250 kilometers (150 miles) of the province, in a Select few regions where the macroClimate is favorable to premium viticulture.
The British Columbia wine authority recognizes Designated Viticultural Areas (DVAs) in the province:
Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands have, as one would expect, the most maritime climates
Okanagan Valley and Similkameen Valley on the USA border, have climates which are more continental in character
Fraser Valley is located just west of Vancouver city and reaches inland from the coast, and transitions between the two climate types
In addition there are a number of regions were recognized as Geographic Indications in 2018.
They are often bracketed together under the "emerging" banner:
The Kootenays in the southwest corner of the province, where Pinot Noir is the main grape
Lillooet, in the Cariboo Chilcotin region and west of Kamloops, whose first Vineyard was planted in 2004
Shuswap, north of the Okanagan Valley, has around 40ha (100 acres) of vineyards, planted to cool climate varieties
Thompson Valley, inland and further north, is at the limit of cool climate winemaking. Riesling, Marquette, Maréchal Foch and Chardonnay are the main varieties
Most viticulture in British Columbia takes place in the Okanagan Valley, nestled between the Cascade and Columbia mountain ranges where Harsh weather systems from the west and north do not often reach. This long, narrow valley is considered to be Canada's only desert, and the Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot do well here, particularly in the south around Osoyoos. The region's few lakes serve to moderate temperatures here, and Warm days followed by cool nights give rise to a distinctively Bright style of wine.
White Viognier is a grape variety that originated in France (Rhone Valley). It produces a variety of grape specially used for wine making. It is rare to find this grape to eat on our tables. This variety of grape is characterized by small bunches, and grapes of small size. White Viognier can be found in many vineyards: South West, Languedoc & Roussillon, Cognac, Bordeaux, Rhone Valley, Burgundy, Jura, Champagne, Savoie & Bugey, Provence & Corsica, Loire Valley, Beaujolais.
white wines from the region of British Columbia go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, game (deer, venison) or rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) such as recipes of sauerkraut (with tips so to do!!!), rabbit with tomato or potato and tuna gratin.
On the nose in the region of British Columbia often reveals types of flavors of tree fruit, citrus fruit or spices and sometimes also flavors of earth, tropical fruit or non oak. In the mouth in the region of British Columbia is a powerful with a nice freshness.
There are going to be some utterly splendid wines to taste at our New York Fine Wine Encounter – many of the world’s grandest winemakers have brought some of their very best bottles to our event, knowing their hard work and talent will be appreciated by a discerning audience. My team of experts have picked out a great selection of their personal favourites from the wines on offer, and for their superbly detailed analysis and opinion, you should read the pieces and the picks from Georgie Hindle, ...
Wine lovers with a valid passport can apply for the Majestic ‘vintern’ scheme, launched this week and dubbed by the retailer as ‘the best summer job ever’. A three-day placement will include a visit to Quinta da Boavista vineyards in Portugal’s picturesque Douro region. Majestic said the vintern will also taste wines from its Wine Club’s Spain & Portugal Summer Case ‘in situ’, before trying the same wines back at home for comparison. It is offering £600 remuneration for three days, which it ...
Personality. I can think of few parts of the world of wine that possess as much of it, alongside individuality, as Israel. Its story needs to be heard. Wine has been central to this land since before it was even Israel, and Judaism celebrates with wine for much of its ritual. Modern Israeli wine was born in the 1880s when Baron Edmond de Rothschild introduced mainly Bordeaux varieties to the region. Ambitious planting programmes took place a century later, and many Israelis studied winemaking ab ...
