Wineries in BC

Geography: The southern Okanagan Valley in the area between Oliver and the border is classified as part of the Sonora Desert, which runs south to the Baja Peninsula in Mexico.

Growing Regions: There are five main DVAs (Designated Viticultural Areas) in British Columbia—the Okanagan Valley, Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, the Fraser Valley and the Similkameen Valley.

Brix: A measure of sugar in grapes: one degree Brix equals 10 grams of sugar per litre. Mature grapes are typically 21 to 25 Brix, equating to 11 to 13 percent alchohol after fermentation.*

Tannin: A compound in the skin and seeds of grapes that is essential in providing substance and backbone to red wines.*

Geography: Lake Okanagan, at 144 kilometers long and 3.5 kilometers average width, is the source of much-needed water for irrigation for vines in the Okanagan Valley.