The Fort Berens Fall releases.

There’s a particular satisfaction in opening a wine that overdelivers, then checking the price and finding it’s every bit as impressive as what’s in the glass. Fort Berens continues to give us that experience.

The Lillooet winery’s fall lineup includes two newly released wines, a Pinot Noir and the Alluvium Red blend, with a small-production Cabernet Franc expected to follow shortly.  Together, they make a persuasive case for looking beyond the Okanagan when shopping for BC wine, especially with holiday dinners and gift lists in mind at this time of year.

We’ve followed Fort Berens for years, and its consistency continues to impress us. In our recent feature, Fort Berens: Built for the Future, we explored the transition from Alex Nel to longtime assistant winemaker Seth Jex. Their years working together helped establish the continuity that matters most to anyone buying the wines: confidence in what’s inside the bottle.

The stunning view from the winery patio.

That longer view extends to the vineyard. In 2025, Fort Berens achieved Sustainable Winegrowing BC vineyard certification, with the winery identifying the 2025 harvest as the beginning of its sustainably designated wines. It’s a meaningful milestone for a producer whose future depends on caring for its land through increasingly demanding growing seasons.

But the strongest argument for discovering Fort Berens remains the wines themselves:

2023 Fort Berens Cabernet Franc.

2023 Cabernet Franc | $29.99

Cabernet Franc has become a BC favourite of ours, and this bottle is a perfect reason why. Blueberry, cassis and blackberry give it an inviting aromatic depth, with the dark-fruit character carrying through a smooth, composed palate.

Made entirely from estate fruit grown in the Red Rock and Dry Creek vineyards, it was harvested and sorted by hand, then aged for 15 months in French oak, half of it new. That’s a considerable investment in a wine selling for less than $30. The combination of fruit, texture and approachability makes this exceptional value.

The 2023 is expected to be released once the remaining 2022 Cabernet Franc sells out, which the winery anticipates will happen in November. With a very small 2023 vintage, Fort Berens expects this release to be available for only a few months. It’s one to watch for if Cabernet Franc figures in your holiday plans.

2025 Pinot Noir | $36.99

2025 Fort Berens Pinot Noir.

The Pinot Noir brings a brighter register: raspberry and strawberry fruit, a medium-bodied palate and gentle tannins. Its appeal lies in the way that red-fruit character carries the wine, with a supple texture that invites another sip.

The grapes come from longtime grower Mike Flaherty’s vineyard in Naramata and travel to Lillooet for winemaking. Six months in predominantly neutral French oak (6% new) keeps the emphasis on the fruit. We’d put this alongside salmon, roast turkey or a mushroom tart. At $36.99, it offers quality and versatility that earn it a place at a holiday dinner.

The newly released Pinot Noir is available now from the winery.

2025 Alluvium Red | $24.99

2025 Fort Berens Alluvium.

Alluvium takes its name from the estate’s mix of silt, sand and gravel. Introduced in 2023 with wines from the 2022 vintage, the range gives Fort Berens room to vary its blends with each harvest, drawing on estate grapes and, in some years, fruit purchased from the Okanagan or Similkameen. The aim is consistent: approachable, fruit-forward wines made to be enjoyed young.

The 2025 is just the second Alluvium Red, following the inaugural 2022 vintage. The blend brings together Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon in a smooth, medium-bodied red with enough structure to give it shape and enough generosity to enjoy without ceremony. For this BC VQA release, 37% of the fruit comes from the Lillooet estate, 56% from Osoyoos and 7% from Naramata. A year in barrel, compared with the usual 15 months for the winery’s classic reds, suits its early-drinking intent.

Balance is its greatest asset. It’s approachable without feeling simple, and substantial enough for the table without demanding a special meal. For a casual gathering, a midweek pasta or the extra bottle you’re glad you bought when friends stay for dinner, this is an absolute steal at $24.99. The 2025 Alluvium Red is available now.

[Disclaimer: Wines provided as media samples. All opinions are our own]