Grape Wine Regions Guide -
So your lovely refreshing glass of white wine from the McLaren Vale could be made from any grape variety in the world, or blend of it means we can plant anything and discover what works, but it also means that the regions need to fight hard to establish an identity for particular styles.
There's certainly no right or wrong here, it's just one of the many interesting complexities that makes up the world of wine!
Region vs. Wine Guides. Grape Varieties. Region Guides. Tasting Guides. Less Common Grape Types There's more varieties of grape than you might think! The region is so large and diverse that it had to be split into several sub geographical indications to include Osoyoos, Penticton, Summerland, Kelowna, Vernon, and many more towns.
The climate varies from top to bottom, but in general the region is plain hot with the southern tip bordering on desert-like conditions. Many types of wine are grown in the Okanagan — red and white, but Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Gris are prominent. The Vancouver Island region has exploded in the past couple decades, having become the second largest producer in the province with around 30 wineries.
The Cowichan Valley is one of the more densely populated areas of grape-growing, which has earned the sub-region its own sub-GI title in recent years. The nearby mountains and Pacific Ocean generate a climate that is wet and mild in the winter and dry and mild in the summer.
While there are a range of wines grown on the Island, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Marachel Foch and Ortega are the most notable varieties. The Gulf Islands is a rather tiny region in BC with just about 80 acres of vineyards, but is still able to produce quality wines and attract a staggering number of wine enthusiasts every year.
Similar to its Vancouver Island region neighbours, the Gulf Islands have a long growing season. Photo credit to Singletree Winery. The Fraser Valley is a true farming community, with some of the most lush and fertile soil in the province. Due to the cool climate that stretches from Abbotsford to Hope, the mainstay wine varieties grown here are Siegerrebe, Chardonnay, Bacchus and Pinot Noir.
The roughly 15 wineries located in the Similkameen Valley have a reputation for some of the best organic wines in the country. The region is dry and rugged, but the Similkameen River re-energizes and strengthens the soil and surrounding area. Most of the Similkameen Valley wineries are located in the Keremeos-Cawston area, which could certainly be described as off the beaten path.
Some of the wines you can find here include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc. Photo credit to Shuswap Tourism. The Shuswap region is a truly beautiful part of the province with a seemingly unlimited distance of shorelines thanks to the snaking Shuswap Lake and other waterways.
Today, the region has grown to include over acres of vineyards. The Shuswap microclimate is slightly cooler being located further north, and produces fruity wines in several varieties such as Marechal Foch, Ortega, Siegerrebe, Kerner and Gewürztraminer.
Photo credit to KootenayRockies. The Kootenays is a small, rugged and mountainous region with hot springs, waterfalls, and the sizable Kootenay Lake. Today, the main wine varieties produced in the Kootenays are Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Marechal Foch and Gewürztraminer. Lillooet has a similar climate to the Okanagan Valley, with very long summers that are hot and dry.
Photo credit to Monte Creek Winery. The Thompson Valley is the northern most wine region in the province, with Kamloops as its beating heart. Running along the Thompson River, the region experiences high temperatures and a lot of sun. The region is still tiny one however, with just around acres of grapes and a few wineries.
The most notable varieties to be found in the Thompson Valley are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Marechal Foch. Although the conglomerate Constellation Brands is the top producer and seller of BC wines, the vast majority of vineyards are small, family fun establishments that produce under 5, cases of wine per year.
Most of these families and farmers have grown up and live on the land they harvest, which has fostered a respect and understanding for the land they inhabit. This attitude and respect have paved the way for real quality wine in BC.
To take that quality a step further, the Vintners Quality Alliance VQA developed a program in that would outline quality standards for BC winemakers. Today, the BC VQA is the independent regulatory authority tasked by the BC Government to regulate and enforce the quality standards of our wine.
If you see a BC VQA bottle, you can rest assured the wine has passed rigorous testing from a qualified panel of experts.
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