Are you living in the British Columbia area and fancy doing something different on your weekend? Perhaps you are a wine connoisseur who has decided on visiting the vineyards for your holidays and now you just need to find the top wineries? Either way, we have assembled some advice to aid you on your way to sipping the good stuff.
Containing over 200 wineries in the area, there is a great deal of variation in British Columbia when it comes to wine, and with some of them being the top wineries in Canada you would be crazy not to check it out.
There are over 60 different varieties of grape grown in the BC area, with the dramatic variety of the soils combining with differing weather conditions to produce unique flavours that help create some of the top wineries in North America.
With a lot of the top wineries, you are able to have a guided tour that will explain the procedure behind the process of making their wine. Alternatively, if you prefer to browse at your own speed, then many wineries will allow self-guided tours, where you can walk around the top wineries at your own pace. The tours are a great way to sample the wine, while also increasing your knowledge.
One of the best regions for top wineries is in the Okanagan area. With more than 80 percent of the total vineyard acreage of BC and over 8000 acres planted in the region, the diversity and variations make it a renowned area for wine.
The top wineries don’t stop at the Okanagan, with other notable areas being Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, the Fraser Valley, the Similkameen Valley, as well as new, emerging regions such as Lillooet and The Kootenay.
With the amount of variety available at the top wineries, you can find almost every type of wine, although there are some award winning grape types that simply must be tasted. When it comes to reds, be sure to sample the Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc. Whereas with whites, be sure not to miss the Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling and Gewurztraminer.
One of the best ways to check out the top wineries in British Columbia is to attend one of the famous wine festivals. Okanagan and Vancouver both have a number of wine festivals, which will usually include set meal courses and complimentary tasting with the price of the ticket.
There are many websites that can help you locate the top wineries in the British Columbia region, where you can search by name or by region. Take the time to read the reviews of each, so that you can find a list of the wineries that suit your preference.
If you are already a wine buff or someone with a fleeting curiosity, then hopefully this will have given you a taste of what is out there in the wine regions of British Columbia.
Article Source: by Tim Kenn
