by Cameron Scott

Created on: June 30, 2009

The vintner's craft is still very young on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands of British Columbia. Who thought to marry the grape to the ancient rainforest wetlands of Vancouver's west coast? Yet it's a natural fit, drawing some of the most medalled winemakers in Canada. The oldest vineyards in this region only date back to 1990, but there is nothing inexperienced about our vintages. In blind evaluations, wines from the Gulf Islands often outscore French classics. In just two short decades, British Columbia wines have exploded onto the world stage, winning prizes all over the world.

It's a constant pleasant surprise to visitors that British Columbia should be so perfectly suited to making great wines. After all, isn't Canada supposed to be nothing but a few acres of snow? It's easy to overlook that although Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands are on the same latitude as northern France, the climate of Vancouver Island's east coast and the Gulf islands is nearly Mediterranean, all the way up to 50 degrees latitude. This is because the whole region is warmed by the Juan de Fuca current, so that the surface water temperature varies by less than 7 degrees Celsius through the entire year. Even our winds come from the northwest in summer and from the southeast in winter.

The soil, the rain, and the gentle climate combine to give each wine from this region a unique taste. The glaciers and long ages of warm sun and rainfall have left behind so many pockets of different soils that every vintage comes as a new discovery. Some of the best varietals for the soil and microclimate are Ortega, Marechal Foch, Pinot Grigio, and Pinot Gris, giving aromatic white wines and a uniquely tangy Pinot Noir, but there is a place here for every type of grape. Even better are the many types of fruit wines, ciders, and even wild blackberry and honey wines, perfectly blended with local oysters and cheeses. Several vintners specialize in organic wines and produce. No matter what kinds of wines you like, you will find a winery in Canada's wine islands to suit you perfectly.

Over two dozen wineries are located on Vancouver Island alone. Most of them are located on the Saanich Peninsula, along the southern east coast between Victoria and Nanaimo. This small, blessed region of Vancouver Island lies in the rain shadow of the Vancouver Island Mountains, giving it an absolutely perfect 60-80 centimetres of rain per year. No wonder that Saanich Peninsula is home to the Saanich Fair, the

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