A Visit to the Fraser Valley Wine Region
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Deep in the beautiful, lush countryside of the Fraser Valley lies the Fraser Valley Wine Region. Some of British Columbia’s most unique handcrafted wines are made right here, and if you’re from the Lower Mainland, you don’t have to travel far to immerse yourself in wine country! In fact, there are actually nine wine-growing regions in BC that are experiencing their harvest right now, from Vancouver Island all the way to the Shuswap.Â
Only a short distance from Vancouver, the Fraser Valley makes for a lovely fall destination for a wine tasting escape. Indulge in some diverse and delicious wines, enjoy the scenic and picturesque landscape, have a picnic on a grassy lawn in a backyard setting, or wander through the beautiful rows of vines. It’s unreal that we have these locations right in our backyard! There’s something so special about visiting the vineyards where some of our favourite wines are made and meeting the people behind each bottle. We took the opportunity during BC’s Harvest Season to experience four of Fraser Valley’s spectacular wineries on a fall overnight escape.Â
Table of Contents
Our first stop: Singletree Winery
Singletree Winery is a quaint and beautiful family-run winery nestled in the countryside. We got to meet Roper, their beautiful rescue horse, Maddy, the family dog, (and the loveliest gentle giant), and members of the wonderful family behind the whole operation. We wandered through rows of vines while enjoying some sweet Pinot Gris grapes, just ready for harvesting. We sampled some of their treasured wines in their stunning tasting room overlooking the forested acreage, and took advantage of the charcuterie picnic kits they have available, all sourced from local neighbouring farms. Their newly expanded picnic area was the perfect spot to eat lunch while sipping on a glass of our favourite Singletree wine. You can feel the love and passion this family has for the outdoors – we highly recommend a visit here to experience it for yourself!
Wine of choice: Singletree Victory.
Our second stop: Seaside Pearl
When visiting Seaside Pearl, you’ll be taken aback by the uniqueness of this winery! Set inside a chapel, this eclectic space mixes sparkling chandeliers with neon signs and paintings that sweep across the ceiling. Have a glass of wine or a tasting inside, or enjoy their outdoor patio setting overlooking the vineyards and the rolling hills of the Mount Lehman region. If you’re lucky like us, you’ll happen upon harvest season and you’ll get to witness the process of de-stemming thousands of grapes and shooting them into giant stainless steel canisters, ready to start fermentation. It was our first experience witnessing the actual production of wine, and it was absolutely fascinating! We even got to sample the “unfinished” wine straight from the source. Love the sense of connection with the community and history of the land here, as the owners choose to tell a story with the names of each wine and the historical images used on their wine labels.
Wine of choice: 2018 Lover’s Lane Cabernet Franc.
Our third stop: Backyard Vineyards
Our favourite Backyard Vineyards wine:Â the 2017 Reserve Cabernet Franc.