History: In 1931, Calona Vineyards opened as the first commercial winery in the Okanagan.

Organic: A technique for growing grapes without using chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides or commercial fertilizers.*

Terroir: The Okanagan Valley has five officially recognized sub-regions — Kelowna, Naramata, Okanagan Falls, Golden Mile, and Black Sage/Osoyoos.

Hybrid: Grape varieties developed, typically by crossing European varieties with native North American varieties. The plant breeder’s objectives include developing varieties that ripen early, resist disease or are winter-hardy.*

Labrusca: A family of grapes – Vitis Labrusca – native to North America.*


*Schreiner, John - British Columbia Wine Country, Whitecap Books Ltd., 2003		  
 
 

BC VQA Wine Stores carry the widest selection of the Wines of British Columbia available. With some stores stocking as many as 500 separate wines, the only way to access more selection is to tour wine country and visit each and every winery.

There are now 20 BC VQA Wine Stores across British Columbia selling BC VQA wines exclusively. Each store’s staff prides itself on extensive knowledge of the Wines of British Columbia and take regular educational tours to the Wine Regions of British Columbia’s to visit the vineyards and taste at the wineries.

Many BC VQA Wine Stores also have in-store tasting events and visits from winemakers. Drop by to see what’s going on this week and put your name on a mailing list for notification of upcoming events.

Look for handcrafted BC VQA wines at the following locations:
FRASER VALLEY

 

THE WINE EMPORIUM
500 - 22259 - 48th Avenue
Langley, BC V3A 8T1
T 604-532-5388
[e-mail]
[website]

 SARDIS PARK
VQA WINE STORE
100G - 6640 Vedder Road
Chilliwack, BC V2R 0J2
T 604-824-0042
[e-mail]
[website]




OKANAGAN VALLEY

 

BC WINE MUSEUM &
VQA WINE SHOP
1304 Ellis Street
Kelowna, BC V1Y 1Z8
T 250-868-0441
[e-mail]
[website]

 DISCOVER WINES
2080C Springfield Road
Orchard Plaza
Kelowna, BC V1Y 9N7
T 250-868-3990
[e-mail]
[website]

 BC WINE
INFORMATION CENTRE
553 Railway Street
Penticton, BC V2A 8S3
T 250-490-2006
[e-mail]
[website]

LOWER MAINLAND

 

BELLEVUE WINE COMPANY
1471 Bellevue Avenue
West Vancouver, BC
V7T 1C3
T 604-913-0802
[e-mail]
[website]

SWIRL WINE STORE -
MAPLE RIDGE
22286 Dewdney Trunk Road
Maple Ridge, BC V2X 3H9
T 604-477-0079
[e-mail]
[website]

VILLAGE VQA WINES -
DUNBAR
3536 West 41st Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6N 3E6
T 604-269-9433
[e-mail]
[website]

KENSINGTON SQUARE WINES
6626B Hastings Street
Burnaby, BC V5B 1S2
T 604-294-9573
[e-mail]
[website]

MUD BAY WINES -
TSAWWASSEN
107 - 1315 - 56th Street
Tsawwassen, BC V4L 2A8
T 604-948-2199
[e-mail]
[website]

SWIRL WINE STORE -
SOUTH SURREY / WHITE ROCK
13977 - 16th Avenue
Surrey, BC V4A 1P8
T 604-531-0038
[e-mail]
[website]

VILLAGE VQA WINES -
EDGEMONT
3050 Edgemont Boulevard
North Vancouver, BC V7R 2N4
T 604-985-9463
[e-mail]
[website]

WESTWOOD WINES
B4 - 1410 Parkway Boulevard
Coquitlam, BC V3E 3J7
T 604-464-5009
[e-mail]
[website]

SIP WINES
Ironwood Plaza
1030 - 11660 Steveston Hwy
Richmond, BC V7A 1N6
T 604-271-9463
[e-mail]
[website]

SWIRL WINE STORE -
YALETOWN
1185 Mainland Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 5P2
T 604-408-9463
[e-mail]
[website]

VILLAGE VQA WINES -
KITSILANO
1811 West 1st Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6J 5B8
T 604-732-8827
[e-mail]
[website]

VANCOUVER ISLAND

 

BC WINEGUYS - VQA WINE
STORE CADBORO BAY ROAD
2579 Cadboro Bay Road
Victoria, BC V8R 5J1
T 250-592-8466
[e-mail]
[website]

COURTENAY BC VQA
WINE STORE
7 - 3195 Cliff Avenue
Courtenay, BC V9N 2L9
T 250-871-1444
[e-mail]
[website]

VQA WINE SHOP AT
MATTICK'S FARM
133 - 5325 Cordova Bay Road
Victoria, BC V8Y 2L3
T 250-658-3116
[e-mail]
[website]

THE WINE BARREL
644 Broughton Street
Victoria, BC V8W 1C9
T 250-388-0606
[e-mail]
[website]

KOOTENAYS

BC WINEGUYS - VQA WINE
STORE NELSON
410 Kootenay Street
Nelson, BC V1L 1K8
T 250-352-1130
[e-mail]
[website]


 
© 2011 British Columbia Wine Institute.  All rights reserved.