Thompson Okanagan: BC Wine Country
Once known for its great outdoor activities, namely hunting, fishing and skiing, BC is rapidly becoming a popular place for wine connoisseurs. This is one of the top places to visit in British Columbia if you're a wino-o. Wine once the sole domain of the Italians and the French is now being produced in the BC interior. The first winery was founded in 1859, and the first commercial winery was opened in 1931, but wine has grown to the forefront as a tourist attraction in the last fifteen years. The NAFTA agreement in 1990 made is easier for wine to be exported to the United States and many new varieties were introduced. The need to produce top quality wines has driven the industry and now BC wines rank with the best in the world. VQA wine sales in BC are now $115 million annually.
Currently British Columbia has approximately 9100 acres of land that grows grapes that produce wine. The wine regions are located on southern Vancouver Island, the Silkameen Valley, the Greater Vancouver Region, and the Fraser Valley, and the Okanagan Valley. There are an additional four sub- regions within the Okanagan Valley: Kelowna, Naramata Falls, Golden Mile, and Black Sage/ Osoyoos, making the Okanagan one of many great places to visit. Each region has geographical nuances, from the soil to the air to the temperature which in turn affect the taste and quality of the wine.
Wine 101
Viticulture is the cultivation of grapes and grape vines. Grapes must be planted in pest resistant soil to ensure grapes that are worthy of becoming wine. BC grapes must pass a tasting panel in order to receive the VQA seal of approval.
There are nine main varieties of wine grown in BC: Chardonnay (best with heavily sauced foods), Pinot Blanc (also known as the poor man’s chardonnay), Pinot Gris (matches well with fish and pork), Riesling (goes well with barbequed or smoked foods), Gewurztraminer (perfect with Asian cuisine), Pinot Noir, ( great with fish and game) Merlot (excellent with red meat), Cabernet Sauvignon (also excellent with red meat or lamb), and Icewine (dessert wine-accidentally invented in 18th century Germany). Remember there are no rules for wine pairings, these are meant to induct the novice tourist into the world of wine.
High season is from April to September. That is when the weather is also warm and sunny so that is the best time to book a wine tour. Remember to designate a driver. Choose one variety of wine and visit/tour wineries that produce that variety only. When tasting wine, look at it first before tasting it. Look at it, swirl it in the glass, taste, spit, cleanse the palette, and finally, buy! It is also a good idea to eat a meal at the vineyards restaurant to keep from going hungry during the long drives between wineries. The Okanagan Valley is a one hundred mile long valley!
For more detailed information on tours and wineries, go to these sites:
http://www.winebc.com/index.php
http://www.winegrowers.bc.ca/index.php
http://www.bcadventure.com/bcwines/bcwineries.htm
By Melissa Montgomery