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British Columbia in the western part of Canada has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a wine region. European settlers in the 1800s attempted to work with vinifera plantings, but the grapes could not withstand the extremes in temperature, succombing to diseases and fungus in the summer and freezing to death in the winter. Labrusca varietals such as Vidal Blanc, Baco Noir, and Concord were able to withstand the environment, but the wines were pretty “funky,” to say the least, and never had much success outside of Canada.
 
In the 1960s and 70s, with a consumer shift toward higher quality wines and the invention of modern viticultural technologies and techniques, wine-makers in British Columbia were able to step up their game and work with more popular vinifera grapes. The British Columbia Wine Institute (BC VQA) was founded in 1990 to control viticultural qualilty and promote local wines. The label VQA ensures 100% of growth and production takes place in British Read more »

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Mission Hill Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon S.L.C
Winery: Mission Hill Winery
Region: Canada » British Columbia » Okanagan Valley
Type: Table Wines

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Valentine Ice Cream Cookies

Our Valentine Ice Cream Cookies are cool treats for warm hearts on Valentine's Day. They are easy to make and you will have fun handing them out to all your special Valentines. Read more »

Mission Hill Winery Cabernet-Merlot Five Vineyards
Winery: Mission Hill Winery
Region: Canada » British Columbia » Okanagan Valley
Type: Table Wines

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Candy Cane Cookies

When I was young, these sugar cookies were a Christmas staple. But sometimes things you loved when you were a kid don’t live up to your adult standards. Well, this Betty Crocker classic has busted ... Read more »

Mission Hill Pinot Blanc
Winery: Mission Hill Winery
Region: Canada » British Columbia » Okanagan Valley » Okanagan Valley Vqa
Type: Table Wines

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Dorie Greenspan’s Sablés (Basic Sugar Cookies)

Butter, sugar, eggs, salt, and flour—that’s the short ingredient list for these versatile sandy-textured sugar cookies. For simple round cookies, form the dough into a log, then slice it into round... Read more »

Mission Hill Winery Oculus
Winery: Mission Hill Winery
Region: Canada » British Columbia » Okanagan Valley
Type: Table Wines

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Pecan and Salt Caramel Cheesecake

A classic cheesecake recipe gets dressed up with salted caramel and a bit of crunch. Game plan: Start with all the ingredients (except the heavy cream) at room temperature. Sweet, salty, and a... Read more »

Mission Hill Winery Oculus
Winery: Mission Hill Winery
Region: Canada » British Columbia » Okanagan Valley
Type: Table Wines

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Coconut-Date Icebox Cookies

Here is a recipe easy enough to fit into a busy holiday schedule. For different personality types on your holiday list, we’ve got variations: Mexican chocolate for the sweets fan, Meyer lemon and b... Read more »

Mission Hill Winery Merlot
Winery: Mission Hill Winery
Region: Canada » British Columbia » Okanagan Valley
Type: Table Wines

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Broiled Pluots with Zabaglione

Zabaglione (zah-ba-lee-OHN-eh), also known as sabayon, is a dessert of Italian origin. Many zabaglione fiends will eat it on its own like pudding, but it’s great served for dipping with cookies , a... Read more »

Mission Hill Cabernet-Merlot
Winery: Mission Hill Winery
Region: Canada » British Columbia
Type: Table Wines

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Marble Cheesecake Bars

If making a cheesecake seems too labor-intensive, these bars are the perfect compromise. With a cookie crust and a swirly chocolate-vanilla filling, they offer the best of the cake without the worr... Read more »

Mission Hill Winery Chardonnay Slc
Winery: Mission Hill Winery
Region: Canada » British Columbia » Okanagan Valley
Type: Table Wines

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Chocolate Cookie Pie Crust

Graham cracker pie crusts are fine, but for chocolate-lovers like myself, this chocolate cookie version is extra-fine. It works beautifully as the vessel for an Espresso Mud Pie , a simple chocolat... Read more »

Mission Hill Winery Riesling Icewine Five Vineyards
Winery: Mission Hill Winery
Region: Canada » British Columbia » Okanagan Valley
Type: Dessert/Fortifieds

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Drunken Prunes

Prunes’ reputation as a geriatric-friendly high-fiber food prompted the California Prune Board to request an official name change. In 2000, the FDA granted the board (now called the California Drie... Read more »

Mission Hill Winery Syrah Slc
Winery: Mission Hill Winery
Region: Canada » British Columbia » Okanagan Valley
Type: Table Wines

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Devils on Horseback

Wrap anything in bacon (save for rubber), toast it in the oven, and it’s bound to be eaten. This British pub snack of salty, crunchy bacon and boozy, sweet prunes is a major crowd-pleaser, and simp... Read more »

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Popular wines made in British Columbia under $20

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Varietals Produced in British Columbia View all

  • Cabernet Sauvignon

    “King of the Red Wine Grapes.” The colonizer of the vineyards, pushing native wine grapes into its shadows. The Caber...

  • Merlot

    The Occitanian word “merlot” translates to “young blackbird.” An accurate description for this popular, early-budding...

  • Pinot Noir

    “With so voluptuous a perfume, so sweet an edge, they make the blood run hot,” Joel Fleischman, wine columnist at Van...

  • Chardonnay

    British wine writer and critic, Jancis Robinson, once noted that throughout the 80’s and 90’s in the United States, C...

Subregions of British Columbia

  • Okanagan Valley

      The Okanagan Valley is the most productive viticultural area of British Columbia in Canada...

  • Vancouver Island

    British Columbia’s most recent DVA is Vancouver Island, a 250-mile-long isle which hosts a fast g...

  • Similkameen Valley

    Known more for its western frontier history of ranching and gold mining, the Similkameen Valley h...

  • Similkameen Valley Vqa

Popular Wineries in British Columbia View all

  • Chalet Estate Winery

    Muse Winery (formerly Chalet Estate Winery) is located on the picturesque Saanich Peninsula near ...

  • Domaine De Chaberton Estate Winery

    Domaine de Chaberton Estate Winery is located on 55 acres amongst the rolling hills of south Lang...

  • Mount Boucherie

    Located in Westbank, BC (across from Kelowna), this family owned and operated winery creates some...

  • Blasted Church Vineyards

    Perched high on a rolling hillside that cascades into Skaha Lake, this is undoubtedly one of the ...

  • Gray Monk Estate Winery

    The roots of Gray Monk Estate Winery began in the family. For generations, the Heiss family worke...

  • Nk'Mip Cellars

    The winery site is one of the most attractive in the South Okanagan with outstanding views in a s...

People getting updates on British Columbia Wines

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British Columbia on Snooth

  • May 2013

    Emark - I just purchased a North Tasmanian PN - Josef Chromy - from a wine store in British Columbia...I was told that Tasmanian wine is quickly earning quite a good reputation. Read More

    Forum post in the topic Hello Snooth!


  • Venturi Schulze Pinot Gris Blend Vancouver Island Brut Naturel 2008

    May 2013

    Venturi Schulze Pinot Gris Blend Vancouver Island Brut Naturel 2008

    Snoothrank:

    Great value under the bottle-cap/crown cap of this wine! Bottle fermented. Done in the style of champagne, but lacking of any major yeasty/biscuity notes you might typically expect with such. A dry wine with a fairly fine bead, creamy texture, soft acidity/freshness, and surprising complexity. A very longish but subtle finish. Honey, pear, and a... Read More

    Wine review by JenniferT


  • Poplar Grove Pinot Gris 2011

    May 2013

    Poplar Grove Pinot Gris 2011

    Snoothrank:

    Subtle, clean, and fresh on the nose with fresh sweet floral notes and some minerality. More of the same on the palate of this light - medium bodied wine, with notes of white peach, and sweet ginger/ginger ale, and subdued but consistent acid that provides structure and backbone. A delicate and balanced/well done wine - I think my score may be l... Read More

    Wine review by JenniferT


  • Pentage Wines Gewürztraminer 2011

    May 2013

    Pentage Wines Gewürztraminer 2011

    Snoothrank:

    An interesting pale bright straw colour. Nose is really interesting: apple and floral perfume with honey and yeast/toasted bread...we thought it smelled remarkably like honeycomb crisp cereal! Tastes of ripe crisp apple and underripe tart peach with some bitter almond notes. The acidity carries through with a longer finish. A delightful and refr... Read More

    Wine review by JenniferT


  • Mission Hill Winery Cabernet-Merlot Five Vineyards 2009

    April 2013

    Mission Hill Winery Cabernet-Merlot Five Vineyards 2009

    Snoothrank:

    No written review

    Wine review by nventure


  • Ancient Hill Baco Noir 2010

    April 2013

    Ancient Hill Baco Noir 2010

    Snoothrank:

    This is a very deep, very serious (gravis) Baco Noir; it is opaque red evincing ripe baking cherries and plum on the nose. On the palate, there is that hint of smoke one expects but it is not prominent here; the black fruit and plum predominates with a short to medium spicey finish. Very nice boutique wine. 87 points. Read More

    Wine review by 259386zufrieden 259386 zufrieden


  • Blue Mountain Pinot Noir 2011

    April 2013

    Blue Mountain Pinot Noir 2011

    Snoothrank:

    The 2011 Vintage was a cool one in British Columbia so I was curious what effect this might have on this usually consistent PN. If the wine is allowed to open up for 20 minutes, there is a bright cherry nose - though a bit muted plus reasonable colour in the glass. The wine is smooth with soft tannin on entry with a touch of bitterness on the ... Read More

    Wine review by 259386zufrieden 259386 zufrieden


  • Rustico Farms & Cellars Doc's Buggy Pinot Noir 2008

    March 2013

    Rustico Farms & Cellars Doc's Buggy Pinot Noir 2008

    Snoothrank:

    Rustico Farm & Cellars is a small wine-making concern near Oliver BC Canada. Perusing the quality leavings of the recent Vancouver Wine Festival, I bought this PN which exibits a lightish brick red (aging) colour with a nose of stewed cranberry, strawberry and white pepper. Very Bourgogne on entry - evoking a small clos in the area just south of... Read More

    Wine review by 259386zufrieden 259386 zufrieden


  • Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars Reserve Chardonnay 2009

    March 2013

    Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars Reserve Chardonnay 2009

    Snoothrank:

    This "stripe label" (reserve) chardonnay has just a little more structure and extraction than the non-reserve - more like a Premier Cru Chablis. Apple pie, gooseberry and pear on the nose with a mineral water, ginger and granny smith apple effect on the palate. Rich finish. 90 points. Excellent quality to price ratio. Read More

    Wine review by 259386zufrieden 259386 zufrieden


  • Volcanic Hills Pinot Gris 2011

    March 2013

    Volcanic Hills Pinot Gris 2011

    Snoothrank:

    This excellent representative of the 2011 vintage in the Okanagan retains a slight spritz, but also a nose of Seville orange marmalade, peach and allspice. Very lively nose - even for Pinot Gris. On the palate, there is a nice creamsicle viscosity and lactic effect; very cleansing, blanced and tasty. Medium finish and for drinking now through 2... Read More

    Wine review by 259386zufrieden 259386 zufrieden


  • May 17, 2011

    New image uploaded to this page.

    Page modification by 841338passion4vin 841338 passion4vin


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