The Okanagan Valley
The Similkameen Valley
The Fraser Valley
Vancouver Island
The Gulf Islands
VQA: VQA=100% BC - All British Columbia wines bearing the VQA symbol must be made from 100% BC grown grapes. The wines are screened by a professional tasting panel and wines found faulty cannot be sold as VQA wines.*

Botrytis: A fungus that attacks grape skins. In favourable conditions, it dehydrates grapes, allowing the production of intense dessert wines.*

Clone: The mutation of a species. Growers select and propagate clones selected for such desirable qualities as early ripening, vivid flavour and deep colour.*

Viticulture: Grapes for Icewine are harvested at -8° Celsius or lower, and often by moonlight.

Terroir: The sandy soil of the Black Sage Bench near Oliver reaches 300 feet deep in places.


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

 
 
 

This is an exciting new region for viticulture. There are now vineyards and wineries on many Gulf Islands, including Salt Spring, Pender, Saturna, Quadra and Bowen.

CLIMATE
 

The mild climate of the Strait of Georgia is very conducive to grape-growing, although scarcity of water and extreme aridity in summer present challenges.  Like the Okanagan and Fraser valleys, the Gulf Islands region had a well-established fruit-growing and market-gardening tradition in the late 1800’s.

PREDOMINANT VARIETIES
 

A number of different varietals are planted including Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Chardonnay and others.
 
© 2006 British Columbia Wine Institute.  All rights reserved.