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

Sales: British Columbia VQA wine sales have doubled in the last six years to more than $155 million annually.

Meritage: Rhymes with heritage. A term created in California to identify blends made with Bordeaux grape varieties.*

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.*

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


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

 
 
KOOTENAYS - TRAIL
 

WINERIES VISITED

 

1. Columbia Gardens Vineyard & Winery
 

Gold and copper brought settlers to Trail in 1890 and mining has been a large part of the community ever since. Surrounded by the Selkirk and Monashee Mountain ranges, Trail is now also a destination for recreational activities like golfing, hiking, skiing, mountain biking and fishing.
THE TOUR
 

Columbia Gardens Winery is a small production winery, producing wines from 100% BC grown grapes in the Kootenay region of British Columbia.

From Trail follow PROVINCIAL ROUTE 22A/ PROVINCIAL ROUTE 3B/VICTORIA ST. Continue to follow PROVINCIAL ROUTE 22A/PROVINCIAL ROUTE 3B for 7km. Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto PROVINCIAL ROUTE 22A for another 6km.

Columbia Gardens Winery is the first commercial-sized vineyard and winery in the Kootenay region. The 50-acre property on which it is located has been in the same family since the 1930's and has been a vegetable farm, a cattle and hay farm before becoming a vineyard.

The maturing vines on the six-acre vineyard provide Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Auxerrois, Pinot Noir and Marechal Foch grapes, with additional varietals sourced from vineyards in the Okanagan Valley.

TOTAL DRIVING TIME (ROUND TRIP): 30 MINUTES
RECOMMENDED TOUR TIME: HALF DAY
DESIGNATED DRIVER
  Wines should be consumed responsibly. DO NOT taste and drive. Each winery will offer you several samples and over the course of a tour, and it is easy to consume far too much wine to be able to drive. Plan ahead and choose a designated driver before you begin your tour.
 
© 2006 British Columbia Wine Institute.  All rights reserved.