Trip planning: British Columbia wineries

I'm going to be in Vancouver for a couple weeks in September. I'm looking for recommendations for wineries to visit in the area, and also for wine tour services. Anybody live there, been there?

Dave, it depends on what you're looking for. IMO the only serious wines in B.C. come from the Okanagan Valley. West of the Cascades, in the Fraser Valley, you'll find wineries, but they are making fruit wines and wines from grapes such as Bacchus and Chaberton Blanc.

The Okanagan Valley is more than four hours from Vancouver. The wines are top notch, with lovely reds and whites from the classic varities. I found the Southern Okanagan to have the best wineries, and they are all located within easy driving distance.

I found this web site useful when I planned a trip:

http://www.winesnw.com/bchome.html

[Jenise]

Adding to what Bucko said, a couple of the Okanagan Wineries have tasting rooms in the Vancouver area, Dave. They're not neccessarily the don't-miss wines, however. Don't know about wine bars that pour exclusively BC wines, but if you're going to be there a couple weeks you'll be able to do well with tasting flights in good restaurants. And oh, there are good restaurants! Perhaps you'd be up for an offline.

Ditto on whta Randy and Jenise said above. If the drive is too much, then there are a lot of flights that go into and out of Kelowna which is right at the north end of the things you's like to see. Rent a car and drive out towards Penticton and you'll be on the right track. Some places to see, Mission Hill, Quail's gate, Golden Mile Cellars (nice cab franc), Gray Monk Estate Winery, Poplar Grove Winery, etc,.. There are a number of them within a short drive from Penticton so makes for a nice day running around the area. Inniskillin Okanagan and Jackson-Triggs are slightly further southwest of the area but are bigger producers.

If you need to stay in the Vancouver Area, just south east of the city, in the Fraser Valley are are two wineries, Domaine De Chaberton and Peller Estates. I've not been to either but Peller has a large winery in Ontario and produces some decent products.

Oh...one more thing. In Yaletown (one of the night life area in Vanq), there is a restaurant called Cru http://www.cru.ca/. They have a pretty decent wine list with a nice amount of local wines. CinCin on Robson street also has a good list and serves decent italian meals.

A good hole in the wall for an informal tapas style dinner and a very limited but inexpensive wine list is Bin 941 (http://www.bin941.com/).

One of my favourite Japanese restaurants in the area is on the popular Robson Street (near the west end though). It is called Hapa Izakaya. Reservations are definitely recommended.

You guys are the best! Thanks!