Fraser Valley | bc winery route

# of wineries: 20+

Don't miss: Township 7, Country Vines

Common varietals: Pinot Noir, Bacchus, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay

Wine region: Fraser Valley

Running from the coast of BC near Vancouver and Richmond all the way to Hope, the Fraser Valley wine region is over 150km long! For reference, that's a 2 hour drive on the highway! 

With so much area covered, there are many different climates within that stretch of land. But overall, the Fraser Valley typically sees a more rainfall than other wine regions around BC. I live in the Fraser Valley and I can attest to that!

Just because a winery is based out of the Fraser Valley doesn't mean that all of their wine is coming from grapes grown there. Of course wineries in the Fraser Valley can make very good wine from their own estate grown grapes, but many wineries also source grapes from other BC wine regions like the Okanagan Valley and Similkameen Valley. A winery might own a vineyard in another wine region where they grow the grapes themselves, they may lease a vineyard, or they might purchase grapes from a grape grower among other options. This makes it so that wineries can produce wines from grapes that don't grow well in the direct region that the winery is located and essentially enables wineries to produce a more robust line up of wines.

Since the Fraser Valley is relatively close to the ocean, it helps to regulate our temperatures. That essentially means that it doesn't typically get too hot or too cold. It's very goldilocks. Yes we do get the odd dump of snow and some scorching hot summer days, especially in recent years, but for the most part our Fraser Valley climate is pretty moderate. 

In the wine world, the Fraser Valley is considered a cool climate wine region. Try telling that to us Fraser Valley residents after the summer that we just had! But thanks to the slightly cooler temperatures, a shorter summer, longer days and a little (or a lot) of extra rain, we are perfectly suited for growing early ripening grapes such as Bacchus, Pinot Gris, Siegerrebe, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gamay. 

With both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir doing well in the Fraser Valley, we are seeing some amazing Traditional Method sparkling wines coming out of the area! 

Being quite different than some of the other regions around BC, the Fraser Valley is one of BC's nine Geographical Indications (GI) meaning the Fraser Valley is a recognized wine region. If wine is grown and made in the Fraser Valley, you can see Fraser Valley listed on a wine label.

P.S. if you don't understand the bold italicized words, there are definitions at the bottom of the page to make it easier!

Wineries in the Fraser Valley wine region are a lot more spread out than in some of the other wine regions. I will highlight my fave stops overall and then give suggestions for how to tackle a few wineries as a time!

MY FAVES:

Township 7 Vineyards & Winery - Their wines are super high quality and they also offer an incredible sparkling wine program. They have another tasting room in Naramata but I love visiting the local Langley location.

Country Vines Winery - The cutest little winery and farm! They have the BEST customer service, as well as so many great wines at a really reasonable price point. I particularly love their aromatic whites. If you are ever in Richmond, this place is a must! 

LANGLEY

Township 7 Vineyards & Winery - On a wine tour in Langley I would start here! Grab a tasting or pick up a bottle to enjoy inside their cozy tasting room, outside in their tented area or at the picnic tables overlooking the vineyard. Be careful or you might end up here all day!

Chaberton Estate Winery - The oldest winery in Langley, they thrive in aromatic whites but they do offer a wide range of wines. Don't miss out on the Bacchus because it is a crowd fave! Their onsite restaurant, Bacchus Bistro is also fantastic. Only a 3 min drive from Township 7.

Backyard Vineyards - I would arguably say that they consistently give the best customer service in Langley. Sit inside, under their gazebo, or at a picnic table overlooking the vineyard and enjoy a bottle of their Blanc de Noir Brut made from Pinot Noir grown right on the estate! Only a 7 minute drive from Chaberton.

ABBOTSFORD

Seaside Pearl Winery - For a day wine tasting through Abbotsford, I recommend starting at Seaside Pearl. Their French-style wine making is also mirrored in their French-inspired tasting room. With low lights and soft jazz music playing in the background, it is a really nice spot for an intimate wine tasting with a smaller group. I also love that their labels pay homage to the history of Abbotsford.

Singletree Winery - A more casual atmosphere than at the last stop, Singletree produces some really nice aromatic whites. Bring some snacks and stop in their picnic area to enjoy the valley views and a bottle of wine! Don't sleep on the Siegerrebe--it is absolutely delicious!  A 2 minute drive from Seaside Pearl.

Cannon Estate Winery - The newest winery to open it's doors in Fraser Valley in November 2022, this is a must visit in Abbotsford. Brand new facilities, beautiful views and delicious wines await you! A 1 minute drive from Singletree.

OTHER

Country Vines Winery - while there aren't any other wineries nearby in the Richmond area, it is definitely worth your while to come to Country Vines. The farm animals around the winery make it entertaining for both adults and kids. They also host a sunflower fest, pumpkin patch, and other awesome events throughout the year. Across the parking lot is Richmond Country Farms where they have a year round farmer's market so you can grab some local groceries on the way out!

Oldhand Coffee - while it's not a winery, this adorable coffee shop in Abbotsford has an amazing selection of small production, low intervention wines that are super hard to find, especially outside the Okanagan Valley! If you like finding unique wines, I highly recommend a visit to bring home a bottle or two.

There are a few more wineries in the Fraser Valley that I haven't yet had the chance to visit. But if you have never been, this is a good starting point!

GI: Geographical Indication; a specific wine region in BC which can be indicated on wine labels. BC has nine GIs as well as sub-GIs.  

Sub-GI: Sub-geographical Indication; a sub-region or a much smaller area within a larger GI where it is recognized that the terroir enables the area to produce distinct wines. 

Terroir: all of the environmental things that can affect the taste of grapes. These are things that make the vineyard or area unique such as the soil, climate, altitude, proximity to mountains or lakes etc. Basically, the unique parts of a vineyard create distinct wines!

Traditional Method: sparkling wines made in the same way that Champagne is made. It just can't be called Champagne is if isn't produced in Champagne, France.