Archie MontroseWe all enjoy the occasional glass of wine after a long day at work, but here’s something we tried that’s even more relaxing than our couch. Visiting local wineries!
We felt very welcome in these wineries, and we wanted to share them with you so you too could indulge in the rich wine culture of Vancouver.
Vancouver’s Best Local Wineries
Wineries are a great place to indulge in the rich flavors and aromas of locally produced wines. Finding a winery that’s a breeze to reach and offers top-notch wine is key. And of course, soaking in your wine in a laid-back setting is a must.
Check out the criteria we’ve used below to assess these local wineries in Vancouver:
1. Country Vines Winery
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Location | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Wine Quality | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Tasting Experience | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Winemaking Techniques | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Variety of Wine | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Food Pairing | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Facilities | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Winery Atmosphere | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Accessibility | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
It was truly like the clocks had been turned back when we arrived at the Country Vines Winery. Outside, we’re welcomed by an entrance path lined up with plants that leads to a wooden cabin.
This winery farm in Richmond has been operating for over 60 years, and they’ve got a lovely tasting room and patio in the heart of their 300-acre farm, which really sets the tone for a picturesque wine tasting experience.
They’ve got red, white, rosé, merlot, cabernet, and a wide selection of reserve wines to choose from. But what really stood out to us is that they also sell locally handcrafted wines that come straight from their family farm.
This includes pinot gris, schonburger, and pearl de csaba. In our opinion, the authenticity of the wines is truly reflected in their rich and distinct flavors.
We’re just a bit sad to know that they don’t serve food, but there’s an upside to this. The Country Vines Winery allows guests to bring their own picnic and snacks, which we liked.
The winery is also very easy to get to, being only 30 minutes away from Vancouver, and they also have lots of parking on the premises. Oh, and they’re pet-friendly too, so don’t hesitate to bring along your pets here!
Pros
- Sells handcrafted wines from own farms
- Allows outside food and snacks
Cons
- Doesn’t take reservations
Customer Reviews
Great selection of wine
“Great selection of wine (both red and white)! Went for a tasting and had an amazing experience with the winery staff…”
-Dae L.
Gorgeous wine and patio
“It’s just so lovely – beautiful patio, gorgeous wine, and the owner is just so passionate about their wine…”
-Chrissy L.
2. Garden of Granite Winery
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Location | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Wine Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Tasting Experience | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Winemaking Techniques | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Variety of Wine | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Food Pairing | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Facilities | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Winery Atmosphere | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Accessibility | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Nestled in North Vancouver’s Lower Lonsdale district is the Garden of Granite Winery. This garage winery showcases a fair selection of BC wines from different towns in the Okanagan Valley, such as Oliver and Osoyoos.
They’ve got cabernet, chardonnay, merlot, petite sirah, pinot grigio, pinot gris, and syrah. These wines are sourced from the Okanagan Valley as well as Australia, giving you the option to taste both local and international flavors.
We definitely admire the team here at the Garden of Granite Winery, as they’re all passionate winemakers, negotiators, and traveling salesmen who built the winery in 2020.
The team here curates four wine boxes a year when you sign up as a member. We loved that members get to receive a bunch of benefits that we think are perfect for wine lovers.
Members here get complimentary wine tastings, 15% off on all items, exclusive access to new wines, free shipping, and the option to customize the wine boxes they receive.
Now, while the place is a bit cramped, we appreciate that we can still enjoy a nice view while drinking wine at the seats beside their gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows.
If you happen to find yourself in North Van, the Garden of Granite Winery is definitely worth visiting for local and international wines.
Pros
- Has both BC and international wines
- Plenty of member benefits
Cons
- No food pairing options
Customer Reviews
Wonderful place, great wine
“Wonderful place with great wine and great views. Fantastic server with incredible knowledge and memory, we will be back many times!.”
-Simon T.
Great views and friendly staff
“Lovely wine, great service, pretty view, and cozy atmosphere. Robyn is so knowledgeable, friendly, and kind…”
-Moira T.
3. The Fermented Grape
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Location | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Wine Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Tasting Experience | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Winemaking Techniques | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Variety of Wine | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Food Pairing | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Facilities | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Winery Atmosphere | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Accessibility | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Founded in 1998, the Fermented Grape has been all about giving folks a cool opportunity to learn wine-making and actually sample what they make, which we found pretty unique.
From our experience, we thought it was cool that they provide all the ingredients, equipment, and services for you to create your own personalized wine.
We’ve made tons of batches here, and we couldn’t believe that it was made from one of their wine-making kits. The Fermented Grape lets you choose from four wine kits: private reserve, reserve, classic, and island mist.
We found these wine kits impressive because they offer a wide range of flavors and styles to suit different preferences.
But if you’re not in the mood to make your own wine and just want to sample readily available wine, you’re in for a treat. The Fermented Grape serves hundreds of local and international wines, which we liked.
Gotta mention their facilities too — they’ve got this roomy wine-making spot and a sleek wine shop that’s not over the top. We were also in awe of the gorgeous view of their vineyard, as it definitely creates a relaxing ambiance.
In the end, we think that the Fermented Grape is the perfect place for wine enthusiasts to try out their skills and enjoy a glass of wine in a beautiful setting.
Pros
- Offers wine-making to customers
- Wide selection of local and international wines
Cons
- No wine membership option
Customer Reviews
Amazing winery with delicious wine
“This place is absolutely amazing! We’ve been coming here for years to bottle wine and we’re never disappointed. The wine is always delicious…”
-Becky B.
Knowledgeable staff and convenient location
“Great wine and convenient location, but best of all is the wonderful staff! They always give a warm welcome and are very knowledgeable…”
-Denise B.
4. Pacific Breeze Winery
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Location | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Wine Quality | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Tasting Experience | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Winemaking Techniques | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Variety of Wine | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Food Pairing | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Facilities | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Winery Atmosphere | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Accessibility | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
If you don’t mind the half-hour drive, the Pacific Breeze Winery is also an option worth considering. What makes this company stand out is that all of their wines are 100% vegan.
Here, they’re super picky about their grape varietals, going for the cream of the crop from BC’s top vineyards. And let us tell you, they go all out with each barrel, making sure it’s high quality, which we appreciate.
The Pacific Breeze Winery produces red and white wine, and we think it’s worth mentioning that they have wines made from 100% Okanagan-grown Gewürztraminer, which is known to have a rich and sweet taste.
Apart from that, guests can also indulge in wines from the Columbia Valley of Washington and Obsidian Ridge Vineyard in Lake County, California.
But perhaps our favorite part of sipping on wine here at the Pacific Breeze Winery is the fantastic patio and lounge they have. It’s nothing too grand, but we loved the laid-back and cozy atmosphere it provides.
And hey, they’re not just about the wine; they’ve got chips and charcuterie to go with it. Just a heads up, though: the charcuterie is only available on weekends.
Despite this, we think the Pacific Breeze Winery is one of the best local wineries in Vancouver, as they serve 100% local and international vegan wine in a variety of flavors.
Pros
- 100% vegan wine
- Food pairings available
- Laid-back patio and lounge
Cons
- Limited lounge seating
- Few membership benefits
Customer Reviews
Great people, great wine
“Love Pacific Breeze! Great people, fantastic wine and fun, regular events! Abbey the rescue dog is a lovely new addition!.”
-Damaris K.
Attentive staff and interesting wines
“Friendly and attentive staff, interesting wines, a great place to hang out with friends!…”
-Dina C.
5. LuLu Island Winery
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Location | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Wine Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Tasting Experience | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Winemaking Techniques | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Variety of Wine | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Food Pairing | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Facilities | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Winery Atmosphere | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Accessibility | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
The story of LuLu Island Winery is quite impressive, as they’re the first ever vineyard. The founders, John and Allison, moved to Canada from Taiwan in 2001, and they provide Canadian wines.
They have many farms in the Okanagan and Richmond where they grow various grape varieties. We discovered that they’re a full-circle farm, meaning that they put as much back into the earth as they extract, which we appreciate.
We took a winery tour with LuLu Island Winery, and aside from the gorgeous tunnel garden, we were mesmerized to see the extensive variety of wines, some of which are grown right in their backyard.
Once you’re in, you’ve got a range of options: fruit, ice, white, and red wines. But let us tell you, blueberry wine is divine. It’s a local favorite, crafted from the very blueberries they pick at their Richmond farm.
They also have a comfy seated wine tasting room where they serve wine paired with carefully selected cheeses and crackers to match the flavors of their wines.
Overall, we’re very confident in recommending LuLu Island Winery, as it’s one of the best local wineries in Vancouver that grows its own ingredients to create unique wines.
Pros
- Wide selection of Canadian wines
- Modern, seated wine tasting facilities
Cons
- Some complaints about reservation process
Customer Reviews
Beautiful spot with live music
“Beautiful spot. Close to home. The tunnel covered in grape vines was beautiful. Live music was a nice touch at the summer picnic event…”
-Raj B.
Great place to drink wine
“This is a really charming estate. It’s not gigantic but the scenery is fantastic, it’s really a great place to relax and enjoy high-quality wine!..”
-Rayne M.
FAQs about Local Wineries in Vancouver
There you go. We hope these local wineries make your list of places to visit for good wine in Vancouver. These places are a great way to experience the flavors of local wine here in Vancity.
Now, just in case you’re short of time but you still want to get a taste of Vancouver’s wine scene, here’s an article about the best wine shops in Vancouver.
