Fraser Valley & Greater Vancouver
Common Grape Varieties: Siegerrebe, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Bacchus
Events: Vancouver International Wine Festival (April)
Average Daily High Temperature (July): 21C
Annual Hours of Sunshine: 1886
Average Annual Rainfall: 1537 mm
Grape Acreage: 200
Soil: Silty and high in organic matter
The Fraser Valley is defined by agriculture and its fertile lands support a broad range of vegetables, field and cereal crops, fruits, nursery products, sod, livestock pasture and, of no surprise, wine grapes.
While it retains its quaint, rural feel, its close proximity to Metro Vancouver makes it highly accessible and provides excellent opportunities for countryside daytrips and urban excursions.
Located in the Indigenous area known as the Vancouver Coast and Mountains, the region is home to the Coast Salish people. including Squamish, Lil’wat, Sto:lo, Musquean and Tsleil-Waututh Frist Nations. It features the traditional languages of She Shashishalhem, Kwakwala, Nle? and Kepmxc’in, among others. Among the Indigenous experiences you can partake in there are dining and culinary tours, galleries feature art and culture, heritage sites and museums, and traditional fishing and adventures.
The valley enjoys warm summers with temperatures that rarely get scorching hot like some of the interior regions. And the winters are relatively mild with the mercury rarely dipping below freezing. So there is little risk of frigid temperatures damaging the vines.
With close proximity to markets, the focus on local, sustainable, farm-to-table food is never more prevalent than in the Fraser Valley.
Even though the Valley is synonymous with farming, it might surprise you that less than six per cent of 1.4 million hectares in the regional district is considered highly productive agricultural land. One per cent is dedicated to settlement purposes, while the remainder is dominated by the Fraser River, dense forest and mountainous terrain.
Still the industry is a major attraction for tourists, thanks largely to the small producers – about 40 per cent of all farms are 10 acres or less in size – who embrace visitors as part of the Fraser Valley Circle Farm Tour.
The Geographical Indication of the Fraser Valley recognized by the BC Wine Authority encompasses Delta, Langley, Aldergrove and Abbotsford and the metropolises of Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond and New Westminster. There more than two dozen wineries considered to be part of the industry producing grape and fruit wines.
Aside from agriculture, the region has a lot to offer travelers, especially those keen on outdoor adventures. There is mountain climbing, salmon fishing, white water rafting, kayaking and canoeing, zip lining, horseback riding, biking and hiking trails. Historic sites, art galleries, craft markets, hot springs and golf courses make the Fraser Valley a well-rounded tourist destination.
Cidery
Information Services
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