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| British Columbia Wineries, The dramatic beauty of the Pacific Northwest is legendary. Leading roles in this natural drama are played by verdant coastal ranges and the rugged Cascade Geologic histories assume equally major roles in regional weather systems -- roles that determine the varieties and success of wine-grape growing throughout Pacific Northwest wine regions. British Columbia Wine Country is no exception. Without prejudice of national or political boundaries, the spectacular Cascade Mountains rise to high elevations throughout Oregon, Washington and southern BC. Elevations of more than 14,000 feet easily prevent westerly flows of cooler, wetter weather systems from moving east. A huge "rain shadow" to the east of the Cascades, creates substantially warmer and drier conditions for vineyards located in the Okanagan and Similkameen wine regions. Wine-country travelers in BC find wineries and vineyards find wineries on both sides of the Cascades. To the west wineries are scattered within two "Designated Viticultural Areas" -- the Vancouver Island Region and the Fraser Valley Region, both in southwestern BC. Weather here is mild and relatively wet. To the east of the Cascades lie the popular and drier Okanagan and Similkameen wine regions, including the 124-mile stretch of the Okanagan that begins in a true desert environment in the south, moves through a variety of microclimates, and ends to the north where cool-climate viticulture is favored. Weather in these regions is more extreme than that in the west. Use our Winery & Merchant Finder to locate addresses and Many different soil and weather variations in the Okanagan combine to create ideal growing conditions for a wide variety of wine grapes. This diversity makes it conceivable to visit neighboring vineyards in the region that produce completely different wines. Located in BC's south central interior, the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys are the oldest and largest of this province's wine-producing areas -- both in size and in the number of active wineries (approximately 80). Between BC's two wine regions in the west and its major Okanagan and Similkameen wine regions to the east, the traveler finds a wide selection of varietal wines, primarily produced from French and German vinifera grapes from big, ripe reds to fresh, cool whites, and rich, sweet Icewine made from grapes left to freeze naturally on the vine. Approximately 20 years ago, government-sponsored, experimental vineyard plots helped winemakers discover which varietals ripened properly and were able to survive BC's consistently frosty winters. Since then, vineyard managers and winemakers have made good use of the knowledge gained, and have worked together to refine the art of viticulture in BC. Many international and regional awards attest to their success.
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