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| BC DIVERSITY |

FORT BERENS CHARDONNAY BC VQA $23.99 558171 Made from 100 percent estate-grown Lillooet grapes, this is a versatile Chardonnay showcasing bright citrus and orchard fruit with integrated oak and a smooth finish.

Lillooet While Lillooet has a storied history in gold and other minerals, the grape rush may have just begun! Indeed, experimental vinifera vineyards were first planted in Lillooet in only 2004, but since the region boasts hot and dry summer days similar to the Okanagan (and with cooler nighttime temperatures), the wine-growing potential has quickly been realized. These long growing days and significant diurnal swings work well with grapes such as Riesling, Chardonnay and Merlot. Fort Berens Estate Winery has been the biggest Lillooet wine proponent to date, and their estate- grown Chardonnay provides a great first-hand sip of the region.

Lillooet, BC

Similkameen Valley

West of Osoyoos but also with a lengthy produce-growing history, the Similkameen Valley provided a natural spillover progression for BC wine as wine growers looked beyond the Okanagan. Of course, the region has its own distinct character—not to mention its own distinct, mountain-surrounded beauty. With significant winds keeping things relatively pest-free, and bolstered by the heat-reflecting qualities of rocky outcrops retaining heat into the night, the Similkameen is reputedly the organic capital of Canada. This is borne out by the regional typicity of Clos du Soleil’s flagship Bordeaux blend, Célestiale.

Similkameen Valley, BC

CLOS DU SOLEIL CÉLESTIALE BC VQA $29.99 21249 This full-on, rich- yet-elegant BC Bordeaux-style red blend features all five big red grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc,

Malbec and Petit Verdot.

bcliquorstores.com

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