When most wine lovers think of BC, their minds drift to the Okanagan with its shimmering lake framed by golden hills, sprawling vineyards, and a well-worn wine tourism circuit. But tucked away in the Fraser Canyon under the gaze of the towering Coast Mountains, lies Fort Berens Estate Winery, a Lillooet gem that continues to surprise and delight.
We’ve written about Fort Berens before (see our earlier pieces here and here), so rather than rehash their back story, it’s worth re-visiting them with their recent release of 3 Lillooet VQA wines that feel perfectly suited to the cozy, celebratory spirit of the holidays.
When we first met winemaker Alex Nel at Fort Berens Estate Winery back in 2022, our story carried a simple, powerful title: Perseverance Pays Off. At the time, Lillooet’s pioneering winery had weathered heat domes, the growing pains of a young wine region, and the usual roller coaster that comes with farming in a place that tests the limits of viticulture. But none of us could have predicted just how much more perseverance the next few years would demand.
What do you do when travel is restricted and time is limited? When you live in beautiful British Columbia, you make the most of it! Our latest video AdVINEture features Lillooet, a small community in Sea to Sky country just north of Whistler and well worth exploring. If glacier-fed lakes, picturesque jagged mountains, stunning waterfalls, and an award-winning winery sound enticing, take a look at this highlight reel below from our recent visit:
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