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Vancouver Island Wine Country

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Vancouver Island Wine region

Journey from windswept shorelines to verdant valleys and savour the flavours from land and sea.

On the spectacular BC coast, pours are paired with surfing, nature adventures, and seaside communities. The southeastern flanks of Vancouver Island are home to fertile grape-growing country, including the Cowichan Valley sub-region near Victoria. With a mild climate and ever-changing landscapes, the island offers quintessentially coastal experiences like watersports and whale watching, while staying deeply connected to Coast Salish First Nations cultures and agricultural roots.

The coast’s moody mystique is just one aspect of the journey. West Coast-inspired art, eclectic heritage, and authentic communities enrich the experience at every turn. On the island’s southern tip, stroll the cobblestone streets of Victoria, where heritage buildings, funky boutiques, and contemporary galleries create a vibrant mix. Just outside the capital, verdant valleys unfold, producing delicate red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines—perfectly paired with farm-fresh cuisine. Central Vancouver Island, home to the globally-recognized Mt. Arrowsmith UNESCO Biosphere Region, is also a haven for the wine-inclined.

  • European homesteaders on Vancouver Island began experimenting with grapes as early as the 1800s, and since then viticulture has evolved drastically. Influenced by the unique microclimates on the islands and techniques from French, German, and Spanish winemakers, Vancouver Island’s main cool-climate varieties include Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and Marechal Foch, to name a few.

  • PINOT GRIS
  • PINOT NOIR
  • ORTEGA
  • ORTEGA
  • CHARDONNAY
  • GEWÜRZTRIMINER

A Mini Mediterranean

Vancouver Island is home to Canada’s only maritime Mediterranean climatic zone, with wet winters and warm, dry summers. The towering mountains in the island’s interior create a rain shadow from westerly storms, leaving the eastern aspects of Vancouver Island with drier conditions needed for grape growing.


Ancient Soils by the Sea

The Pacific Coast’s dramatic geological history has created a complex patchwork of soils on Vancouver Island. Retreating glaciers, shifting tectonic plates, and ancient volcanic activity have left behind marine deposits, gravelly alluvial layers, and mineral-rich sediments. These well-drained, varied soils help produce wines with bright acidity, delicate aromatics, and a distinct sense of place.

26

Wineries

95+

varietals

130

ACRES PLANTED

Explore the

Sub-regions

Just a one-hour drive from Victoria, the fertile Cowichan Valley near Duncan bursts with the flavours of local wine, craft beverages, and regional ingredients.

Cowichan Valley

One of the few coastal wine regions in BC, the valley is the heartbeat of island winemaking, inspiring a constellation of boutique, family-run wineries..

Vancouver Island

Wineries

Exploring British Columbia’s vineyards reveals the unique terroir & diverse varietals flourishing in this picturesque Canadian province.

Learn More

Beyond Tastings: Regional Activities

The magnetic pull of Vancouver Island draws wandering spirits as strongly as the tides. The cool Pacific Ocean is a call to adventure, with plenty of activities on offer in the sand and sea. Inhale the salt air as you stroll expansive beaches and coastal hikes, framed by windswept forests and jagged cliffs. During the winter you can even hit the powder-filled slopes for a ski in the morning, then head to the ocean for a sunset surf. In the Island’s interior, the towering mountains and lush valleys offer alpine hikes and agricultural delights alike. Take a trip from BC’s historic capital city, Victoria, or visit smaller seaside towns sprinkled throughout the island. Legendary stories and vibrant culture await at every stop.

Play Outside

  • Downhill skiing & snowboarding
  • Snowshoeing
  • Hiking
  • Mountain biking
  • Camping
  • Cycling
  • Watersports
  • Golfing
  • Fishing
  • Surfing

Adventure Together

  • Museums & galleries
  • Live music
  • Heritage attractions
  • Skywalk
  • Festivals & events

unwind

  • Food festivals
  • Shopping
  • Spa & wellness
  • Markets
  • Farm tours
  • Self-guided walking tours
  • Kelp tastings
  • Indigenous tour experiences
  • Hot springs

EXPLORE

MORE BC WINE REGIONS

A group of wine lovers sample fruit forward wines while enjoying a catered lunch next to gently sloping vineyards at an airy tasting room in an Okanagan Valley, British Columbia vineyard restaurant.

The Okanagan Valley

10,920

Acres Planted

210

Licensed Grape Wineries

With an ever-changing panorama, the valley stretches over 250 kilometres, across sub-regions, each with distinct soil and climate conditions suited to growing a range of varietals from sun-ripened reds to lively fresh and often crisp whites.

A vineyard with flat rows of grapes during growing season in the Kootenay region, home to backyard vineyards, family owned estate vineyards, and some award winning bc wineries.

Kootenays

117

Acres Planted

7

Licensed Grape Wineries

Located in the southeastern corner of British Columbia, the Kootenay region is home to pristine rivers, lakes, waterfalls, beaches, mineral hot springs, alpine meadows and snow-capped mountains.

Shuswap vineyard in Recline Ridge with pinot noir in BC’s wine country

Shuswap

107

Acres Planted

6

Licensed Grape Wineries

Wines have been produced here since 1997, predominately of cool climate varieties, which is understandable as it is one of the most northerly grapegrowing regions in North America.

The sun setting over a Thompson Valley vineyard with rugged mountains extending into the horizon.

Thompson Valley

93

Acres Planted

3

Licensed Grape Wineries

Nestled amongst the natural beauty of the North and South Thompson Rivers in and around Kamloops, the rain shadow of the high coastal mountains, the semi-arid conditions and diverse microclimates provide many creative options for our winemakers to shine.

A couple riding bicycles under an aqueduct through a vineyard in the Southern Okanagan, BC, Canada.

The Similkameen Valley

768

Acres Planted

17

Licensed Grape Wineries

The Similkameen Valley is a pristine stretch of vineyards, set amongst the dramatic backdrop of rugged and awe-inspiring mountains. Considered the “organic capital of Canada”, the area is known for small farms and producers dedicated to creating quality produce, delectable foods, and award-winning wines.

A photo of grapes growing at Banner Fraser Valley winery with an estate home in the midground.

Fraser Valley

194

Acres Planted

28

Licensed Grape Wineries

Encompassing Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond, New Westminster to Delta, Langley, Aldergrove and Abbotsford in the east, the Fraser Valley wine region is dedicated to producing high quality, handcrafted wines with diverse varieties and styles: from unique fruit wines to delicious sparkling wines to fresh, fruit-forward table wines to fortified.

Lillooet

51

Acres Planted

2

Licensed Grape Wineries

One of the oldest towns in the province, Lillooet is located at the southern tip of the Cariboo Chilcotin region of British Columbia. The climate is very similar to the traditional grapegrowing regions in the Okanagan Valley with long, hot, dry summers. However, nights are cooler, making average summer temperatures slightly lower than the Okanagan, but at the same time preserving the fresh crisp acidity in the wines.

View of vines, ocean, and mountains at Saturna Island Vineyard, Gulf Islands, BC

Gulf Islands

110

Acres Planted

11

Licensed Grape Wineries

A vibrant community of wine producing islands – Salt Spring, Pender, Saturna, Quadra, Gabriola, Hornby, Denman – offer a glimpse into an easygoing lifestyle that allows time to savour the quiet moments with a fitting variety of unpretentious wines.

A home with sloping mountains in the background on a Cowichan Valley winery on Vancouver Island, BC.

Vancouver Island

321

Acres Planted

22

Licensed Grape Wineries

On Vancouver Island, grape winemaking really began after a provincial government-funded trial – the Duncan Project – identified Pinot Gris, Auxerrois and Ortega as promising varieties for this unique seaside environment.

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