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 oldest agricultural exhibition in western Canada.
Other vineyards can be found on Pender, Salt Spring, Quadra, Bowen, Saturna, and many other Gulf Islands in the Strait of Georgia between Vancouver Island and the British Columbia mainland. An unexpected bonus from Hornby Island is Island Spirits Distillery. So painstakingly crafted is their pHrog Vodka and pHrog Gin that it is said to trigger not one single allergic reaction.
The first ever Wine Islands dedicated tasting, bringing together twenty of the region's wineries, cideries, and meaderies, was held in Victoria, BC, in April 2009. It sold out.
It's easy to visit our wine islands! Just take the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria or Nanaimo or to one of the other Gulf Islands, then take a leisurely drive along the east coast on Highway #1. Boats leave Vancouver every half hour for various island destinations, so there is never a long wait. Or, if you feel like letting someone else do the driving and not having to worry about all that dedicated driver stuff, book a wine tour out of Nanaimo or Victoria. You could even take the train between Victoria-Nanaimo-Courtenay, running through some of the most scenic vistas in Canada.
Amateur sommeliers and lovers of wine, come north, and experience the vintner's art as never before. Come to our wine islands, and discover these hidden gems for yourself.