Tag: Lillooet

The 2025 BC harvest was one of hope and a bounty of grapes. I travelled to Osoyoos at the beginning of October and all the winery principles I spoke to mentioned how their grape vines were supplying an overabundance of grapes this year, to make up for the devastation last year.   Now that it is late November and the wines…

Here are two more white wines for you to enjoy, hoping to banish away the upcoming winter season.  Both wineries are from BC, but one of these wines use WA state fruit.  In 2024 we have a very bad cold winter snap that killed the majority of interior BC grape vines.  Fort Berens Estate Winery suffered vine loss, so for…

Earlier this summer, I had a chance to visit Fort Berens Estate Winery in Lillooet, BC.  I have admired their wines since they started, and I’ve been letting wine lovers know that they are producing excellent wines in Lillooet.  There are two wines that I did not have a chance to try on my visit.  Luckily, co-owner, Heleen Pannekoek, gave…

British Columbia has become one of the most exciting wine regions in the world, but for many people, especially those outside the province, its story is still waiting to be told. If you have ever wondered why BC wines are gaining international acclaim, which grape varieties thrive here, or how the unique landscapes shape what’s in your glass, Getting to…

Now that you have some background about the BC winery situation for 2025 from part one of Brent Gushowaty’s article, here is the second part of the article I have for you by Brent when you are at a BC winery’s tasting room. Your Tasting Room Manners – Before You Arrive Group Think For most wineries, large groups arriving unannounced…

2017 was the last time I visited Fort Berens Estate Winery in Lillooet, along with other wine writers.  The winery was still young, but the quality of their wines were notable.  Almost every year since 2018, I interviewed their current winemaker to find out about their grape harvest.  And every year, I tell people how they should try Fort Berens’…

What do you know about BC Pinot Noir?  Do you have a favourite winery or wine region in BC for Pinot Noir?  In today’s seminar, the Possibilities of Pinot, we were brought up to date on the state of Pinot Noir in BC.  Our Moderator for this seminar was Barb Philip MW.  Our panellists were either owners or winemakers from…

The 2022 harvest is the first after COVID restrictions have been lifted.  I am sure that lifting COVID restrictions was appreciated by BC wineries.  We had a cool start to the growing season, followed by mere mm of rain between July and mid-October so I’d guess the weather has had an impact on harvest and fermentation, but we shall see…

If you have not had a chance to try the wines from Fort Berens Estate Winery in Lillooet, now is your chance.  Did you know that the climate in Lillooet is very similar to Oliver, in the south Okanagan?  You get ripe grapes with excellent flavour for wine.  You can try their wines at a winery dinner at Burnaby’s Hart…

I’ve been telling my readers about Lillooet and Fort Berens Estate Winery for many years.  Excellent wines.  Now they have a new batch of awards from WineAlign’s latest competition.  Here is the press release from Fort Berens.  Go out and buy their wines. ~~~ LILLOOET, BC – The good news for Lillooet’s Fort Berens Estate Winery came in over several…