Sips and Suds

Islands ferment fine beverages


Celine Larose samples wine at
the Galiano Wine Festival.

When it comes to growing grapes, the wonderful Gulf Islands climate has been fully exposed. In addition to the operating vineyards and wineries described below, more are in the works.

For a fun-filled taste of wines from B.C. and the islands, don’t miss the Galiano Wine Festival on August 11, 2007 at Lions Park on Galiano Island.

Various wine-tasting events are also held throughout the islands.

• Saturna Island Vineyards has been producing wine since 1998 on a 60-acre property, making it one of the largest winery operations in B.C.

With a wine shop, tasting room and bistro, visitors can sample wines, enjoy a gourmet lunch, and then carry home their favourite vintages for a future treat. The vineyard is popular with boaters as the dock is a 10-minute stroll away and transportation back can be arranged for those with heavy purchases to carry.

Grape varietals include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer. Sample them at the winery’s annual harvest festival — a gastronomic legend — on September 15 this year.

Visit www.saturnavineyards.com for more information.

• The newest addition is Morning Bay Vineyard and Estate Winery. Located at 6621 Harbour Hill Drive on Pender Island, it includes a gravity-flow winery in a barn-style building and the Barrel Room — an intriguing spot for private parties, complete with grand piano. Several wine varieties are now available. Call (250) 629-8351 or visit www.morningbay.ca for more information.

• Salt Spring Vineyards Winery is located on Salt Spring Island at the intersection of Fulford-Ganges Road and Lee Road. Operating as a vineyard and B&B since 2002, owners Janice and Bill Harkley are committed to practising organic farming and harvesting methods.

Wines currently available from the 2005 harvest are Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Millotage VQA, Pinot Noir VQA and Karma (methode champenoise). A 2006 blackberry port is also extremely popular.

For info, call (250) 653-WINE (9463) or e-mail vineyards@saltspring.com.

And don’t miss their second annual Grape Harvest Ball set for October 20.

• In 1999 Marcel Mercier and Elaine Kozak left the corporate world to follow their dream, purchasing a 100-year-old farm on Salt Spring Island and establishing the Garry Oaks Winery. The company released its first wines in 2003 and works diligently “to produce premium wines of character and complexity that are an expression of this unique Gulf Island site, and its winemaker’s talents.”

Garry Oaks Winery produces a “Classics” series label, including Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Blanc de Noir, and an “Original” series with Labyrinth, Fetish and Zeta.

Recent awards include a bronze medal for their 2004 Labyrinth at the 12th annual B.C. Wine and Oyster Festival, and a silver medal at the 2005 Northwest Wine Summit for the 2004 Pinot Gris.

The winery is located at 1880 Fulford-Ganges Road and open daily from noon to 5 p.m., from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving and by appointment from March through mid-May.

It can be reached at (250) 653-4687 or info@garryoakswinery.com.

• Gulf Islands Brewery is a small craft brewery located in the heart of the Fulford Valley on Salt Spring Island.

Its popular beer is widely available on Salt Spring at restaurants and pubs, as well as select locations throughout the Gulf Islands and southern Vancouver Island, and in liquor stores across the region.

Natural ingredients and pure spring water are used to create beer styles that include the gold-medal-winning Golden Ale and silver medal Pale Ale (from the 2004 Canadian Brewing Awards), Porter, an IPA, Fireside Winter Ale, Whale Tail Ale, Heatherdale Ale (crafted for the Butchart Gardens) and Harvest Honey Brown Ale.

For more information, visit www.gulfislandsbrewery.com.