Robert Bell's
Wines of Canada
Since 1992
Off the Beaten Path

Fort Berens Estate Winery - Lilooet, British Columbia ~
Coast Mountain Photography
Adventurous winemakers are continually expanding the areas
where grapes are grown and wine is produced
Columbia River Valley
The
Rocky Mountain Trench, also known as the Columbia Valley, is surrounded
by the Rocky Mountains on the east and the Bugaboos on the west.
Both
are impressively high, rugged ranges. Equally impressive is the
Columbia River, which rolls through the southern part of the valley.
The broad waterway is an important stopover on the semiannual migration
route for wildlife. Canada geese nesting platforms dot the marshier
sections of the Columbia River on the stretch of Hwy 95 from Parson
to Golden. Highway 93/95 links Cranbrook at the south end of the Columbia
River Valley with Golden, about 230 km north.
Lillooet

Fort Berens Estate Winery Ltd
Lillooet is located on the Fraser River, 325 km north of Vancouver.
The community is one of the oldest in the province, it was a supply
point for miners heading to the Cariboo gold fields when the gold rush
began in 1858.
When the gold rush was at its peak, Lillooet boasted a population of
15,000 and was the second largest settlement north of San Francisco and
west of Chicago. While the town site itself was small, shantytowns and
tent cities such as Parsonsville, Marysville and Cayoose Flats sprawled
across the river benches, filled with men desperate to find their fortune
in the mud, rock and gravel of the Fraser River and its tributaries.
In 1859, the Hudson Bay Company planned to build Fort
Berens on a sage brush-covered river bench across from Lillooet. The
fort was intended to serve as a trading post and supply outlet for the
miners flooding north through the Fraser Canyon but that did not take
place.
Cliff and Gorge Vineyards and Winery
18450 Texas Creek Road,
Lillooet, B.C. V0K 1V0
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Located on the spectacular ( 165 Acres) Texas Creek Ranch. Behind us is a 3000’ CLIFF with mountain close to 10,000’ behind that. We are a plateau bordered by the deep and dramatic GORGES of Texas Creek and the Mighty Fraser River.
Modern agriculture began in this area starting with apple and pear orchards at Earlscourt around 1864. Its been said of our region that if you can get water on it, you can grow anything here. Indeed.
Eckhard Zeidler is the owner and winemaker. He purchased Texas Creek Ranch along with co-owner Brad Kasselman in 2008 and began with the experimental vineyard the following year. It has been a patient process of deciding on what we now grow a lot more of. Flavours, disease resistance (we farm organically) production and growth characteristics.
The vineyard is 7 acres divided into 3 blocks. Auxerrois, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Maréchal Foch and a bunch of others in the experimental bloc.
There is a modest tasting facility (by appointment). Spectacular walking trails along Texas Creek and Fraser River Gorges
Winemaking Philosophy: We are farmers first. We grow the soundest fruit we can and minimize interventions in the winery. We aim to provide the purest, cleanest expression of the vineyard in the bottle.
Winemaker: Eckhard Zeidler

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Fort Berens Estate Winery Ltd
1881 Highway 99 North
PO Box 758
Lillooet , BC V0K 1V0
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One hundred and fifty years ago the Hudson Bay Company began
construction of Fort Berens on the east side of the Fraser River,
at Lillooet, British Columbia . The trading fort was never completed
and the fertile river bench was used instead for the growing
of melons, tomatoes and alfalfa.
Now the historic site is home to Lillooet's first commercial winery and vineyard. Is Fort Berens Estate Winery the harbinger of BC's newest wine region? The winery is managed by Heleen Pannekoek and Rolf de Bruin
In the Spring of 2009 they put 20 acres of river bench under
vine with 36,000 plants, consisting of six varietals; Riesling,
Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Three years from now, the vineyard will hang ripe with grapes,
ready to be turned into carefully crafted wines.
Fort Berens Estate Winery is located at the junction of Highway 99 North and the Gold Nugget Arterial, just east of the Bridge of the 23 Camels, across the Fraser River from downtown Lillooet.
Fort Berens Estate Winery is less than two hours north of Whistler,
three and a half hours from Vancouver and two hours south-west
of Kamloops, on the scenic Highway 99 route from the west coast
to the interior and is included in the the circle tour from Vancouver
Fort Berens Estate Winery is a culmination of the dreams, vision and pioneering spirit of eight entrepreneurs – Heleen Pannekoek, Rolf de Bruin, Hugh Agro, Sean Harvey, Jason Neal, John McConnell, Dan Barnholden and Patrick Downey. The owners of Fort Berens share a common belief in the incredible winemaking potential of the area and a shared vision to make Fort Berens into one of Canada’s leading producers of fine wine
Best Marketing and Store Experience" award. 1923
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Left Field Cider Company
Mamette Lake , BC V1W 4A5
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Established in the heart BC's interior, Left Field Cider Co. is a family owned business, making traditional cider in small batches. Proprietors are Gordon and Debbie Garthwaite, Kate Garthwaite, Theresa Pedersen two sister and their parents. Production 1,500 cases. Kate and Theresa, sister, handle the daily operations.
The idea of producing Cider came to Kate out of no where. Thus the name Left Field from the expression Out of Left Field. Kate. The first cider was made in Kate's home kitchen.
She spent a year in Herefordshire, England apprenticing with a well-known cider maker and is the most knowledgeable in apple varieties and blends. All the owners have a role in producing their cider.
The ciderhouse is open from May Long Weekend to Labour Day on Fridays from 3pm-7pm and Saturdays and Sundays from noon-6pm. We are happy to give customers a tour of our facility. All of our products are full juice. They do not use concentrated or artificial flavouring. They blend English and French cider apple varieties with dessert apples that are typical to BC.
Winner of Best Beverage at the 2012 Okanagan Fest of Ale
Signature Ciders: Big Dry and Little Dry
Cidermaker: Kate Garthwaite
Philosophy: Real cider is made from apples. We don't capitalize and pride ourselves on making a full-juice cider

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Penticton
Located in the Okanagan Valley of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada, situated between Okanagan and Skaha Lakes. In 2006, its population was 31,909, while its census agglomeration population was 43,313Penticton is the gateway to the Naramata Bench.
Kizuna Sake
3450 Skaha LAke Road
Penticton , B.C., V2A 6G4
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A small city winery producing Sake. Owned by Tatsuo Kan who in 2017 moved from Japan to Penticton opening Kojo Sushi.They use spring water from Mt Greybeard. They offer Junmai Sake, Nigori Sake,Koshu-XO Sake and Sizuku Sake.
Junmai can be translated as "pure rice" it is only water, rice koji and special yeast. it is Sake in its elemental form.
Nigori literally means "cloudy", it is an unfilterd sake. it is a traditional rustic style of sake that is delicious with spicy foods.
Koshu-XO sake: is an aged sake which develops rich, fragrant aromas, and flavours wihich are unique to it. Dried fruits, almonds, butter and cinnamon are some of the words that are often used to describe its aromas. It is reminiscent of great sherry.
Sizuku: is a premium sake using the free-run from the unpressed sake bag. "Sizuku" means "drops" because only the sake that drips freely form the bag. The flavours are elegant, complex and refined. fragrant and a soft texture on the mouth, with a very clean smooth finish.
Winemaker:
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TIME Family of Wines
361 Martin Street
Penticton, British Columbia
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The winery was orginally founded by Harry Mcwatters. Ron and Shelly Mayert purchased the winery along with the Evolve Cellars brand and the Mcwatters Collection July1 2020. The holding company is Five Vines Cellars, the private family owned business of Ron and Shelley Mayert as of July 1, 2020. Since the purchase of the winery in July 2020 by Ron and Shelley Mayert, new parent company Five Vines Cellars has injected new energy into the TIME Winery, Evolve Cellars and the McWatters Collection labels.
Wines are released under the Chronos label. Chronos is the name of a Greek god associated with time, among many other things. There currently are six wines under the Chronos label
. The grapes come from various vineyard through out the Okanagan. TIME has open a satellite wine shop in the new District Wine Village beside Highway 97 north of Oliver.
The Mayerts plan a major expansion of the facility that will include a roof-top patio, two private meeting and dining rooms, an epicurean restaurant, a second-floor tasting room with an expanded market area adjacent to the ground-floor tasting bar.
The former PenMar Cineplex was turned into a new Urban Winery for the South Okanagan.
Chronos Brut best Sparkling Wine at All Canadian Championships 2023
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Prince George
Is the largest city in Northern BC.
Prince George is located in the Fraser-Fort George Regional District near the transition between the northern and southern portions of the Rocky Mountain Trench. The cutbanks of the Nechako River are one of Prince George's many interesting geological features
Local wild edible fruit include bunchberries, rose hips, blueberries, huckleberries, cranberries, chokecherries, strawberries, raspberries, Saskatoons, currants, gooseberries, and soapberries (from which " Indian ice-cream " is made). Morel mushrooms are also native to this area.
Northern Lights Estate Winery
745 Prince George Pulpmill Rd
Prince George, BC V2K 5P4
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Northern Lights Estate Winery (NLEW), a division of Family Fast Foods Ltd. started construction in 2013 with the Winery opening in the summer of 2015. The winery is
named for the impact the Northern lights had on the history of the area it is built, along with the history of the local first nations culture, and the cut banks in which sits
NLEW will produce a variety of fruit wines and blends using fruits primarily produced on site including blueberry, strawberry, haskap, gooseberry, apple, cherry, raspberry, black current, and rhubarb. The orchard will include over 2 acres of land at the bottom of the Nechako cut banks and leading up to the banks of the Nechako River. The production facility and wine tasting room will be built into the cut banks and overlook the orchard, Nechako River, and the downtown of Prince George
The winery is owned by shareholders, Pat Bell, Brenda Bell, Doug Bell, and other shareholders of Family Fast Foods. Ltd
Northern Lights plans to become a premier tourist destination center expanding the presence. acceptance, and knowledge of quality fruit wines.
The tasting room displays Native Art and features The River House Restaurant.
The property will include an outdoor natural amphitheater which will follow the natural contours of the Nechako cut banks and overlook the orchard
They have add a restaurant.
Winemaker: Christine Leroux consulting winemaker
Philosophy:

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Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast is a 180 km stretch of paradise that’s tucked into the southwest corner of mainland British Columbia . It stretches from Howe Sound to Desolation Sound and is accessible only by ferry, boat, or plane.
Sunshine Coast Winery
5245 Selma Park Road
Sechelt, B.C., V0N 3A2
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May be closed
Winery is the owners life long journey. Specializing in fruit wines. They produce a few grape wines.
Her dream comes true in July, 2014. “TABLEAU” is one of the brands from Sunshine Coast Winery, ready for friends to share and enjoy.
Winemaker:
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Naksup
Valley of the Springs Winery
890 Alexander Road
Naksup
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The name of the winery basically sums up there location. Located on a ridge with breathtaking panoramic views of Nakusp and the Arrow Lakes Valley of British Columbia, in an area renowned for its natural and developed Hot Springs, is the family owned and operated Valley of the Springs Winery. Naksup is a small village a vibrant, safe and friendly lakeshore community nestled on the shores of Upper Arrow Lake in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia. The village is surrounded by the beautiful Selkirk and Monashee mountain ranges, natural and developed hot springs and the historic Arrow Lakes.
Jody Scott owns the winery and he is willing to be the first to grow grapes in this region. Naksup is 194 km east of Vernon. Jody's father was an amateur fruit winemaker and he followed along.
Jody is a graduate of the Vineyard Management program at Okanagan College and was the co-chair of the Arrow Lakes Grape Growers Society (ALGGS). The mandate of the ALGGS was to promote grape growing in the Arrow Lakes Valley, to collect data from climate research, and to manage a research test plot which studied the feasibility of commercial scale grape growing and wine making in the Arrow Lakes.
His wife Brenda is a Red Seal Chef who has worked as a Pastry Cook at Sparkling Hill Resort, and under Chef Tyler Leeson at Halcyon Hot Springs and the Broadway Deli.
They began by planting their vineyard with Siegerrebe and other varitial to see what would grow best.
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Lindell Beach BC
Cultus Lake Winery
1385 Frost Road
Lindell Beach
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Cultus Lake Winery is located in Fraser Valley of British Columbia province. On the street of Frost Road and street number is 1385.
Lindell Beach is a rural farming village in the Columbia Valley of the Lower Mainland region of the province of British Columbia. It is located at the south end of Cultus Lake which is the main waterbody in the Columbia Valley in the South Fraser Valley, and just north of the boundary of the United States.
Winemaker:
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*Creston is about 213 miles east of Osoyoos Creston
does not change its clocks in the spring or fall. In the summer,
Creston has the same time as Vancouver and Nelson; in the winter,
Creston has the same time as Calgary and Cranbrook.
Mamette Lake is south east of Kamloops
Please see our newest region for BC Thompson River Valley
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