Wine Guy: Surprise discoveries of wine, beer and gin during Vancouver Island field trip

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Summer is the time for getting away, ideally combining a little exploring with some rest and relaxation. Fortunately you don’t have to travel far for amazing experiences. Whether portaging to the coast or gallivanting to the interior, heading up North or simply crossing a bridge, fabulous adventures await. And when on tour it’s great to check out the local offerings, which was the case from my recent weeklong trip to Vancouver Island.

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Ucluelet Brewing Company Tragically Wit Belgian Witbier, Ucluelet

($16 for four 473mL cans, available at the brewery)

Vancouver Island truly is its own ecosystem, about as diverse an area as possible in the Canadian landscape. This is highlighted in the diversity of its products, which from a libations standpoint means everything from beers to spirits — and all the mead, cider, wine, and vermouth in between. On the island’s rugged west coast, Ucluelet Brewing has created a comforting space with poignant sips in Safe Harbour — all pointed to the locality of place. Their Tragically Wit is a Belgian-style Witbier brewed with Canadian grown and malted wheat along with freshly ground coriander and bitter orange peel. It’s smooth and citrusy, with banana aromas and a lick of spice.

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Bottom line: B+, Pair with West Coast sunsets.

40 Knots Winery 2021 White Seas, Comox Valley

($25.99, #34465)

There are numerous wine regions on Vancouver Island. The most northern is focused around the Comox Valley near Courtenay, which is where you’ll find 40 Knots Winery. One of the largest wineries on the island, 40 Knots prides itself on farming sustainably across their estate vineyards. The grapes grown are both familiar and unique, tailored to the cooler coastal influence. For example, the White Seas blend is comprised of Petit Milo, Epicure, Siegerrebe, and Pinot Noir. In the glass this bright white comes across very fruit-forward and aromatic. It’s off-dry with tropical fruit and peach gummy notes before a fresh finish.

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Bottom line: B, Serve with seafood or a cheese plate.

Stillhead Distillery London Dry Gin, Cowichan Valley

(from $38.26 for 750mL, available through the distillery and select private liquor stores)

Nothing like a patio-side gin and tonic to parlay summer vacay vibes, and yes, the Island has numerous distilleries ready to support the cause. A new one for me is Duncan’s Stillhead, and similar to many island proprietors the operation brings a real pride of place. This shows in their vision to hand craft small batches of spirits using only grains grown in B.C. — along with local foraged fruit, such as in their notable Wild Blackberry Gin. But a G&T calls for London Dry Gin, and Stillhead’s is juniper forward with a heady blend of botanicals bringing engaging citrus and spice. 

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Bottom line: A-, Bracing but smooth.

The Swirl: Steveston Beer Fest

It’s still summer in September, and indeed this year’s Steveston Beer Fest squeezes in as a potential last hurrah for the season as it takes place 7-9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 at The Gulf of Georgia Cannery at 12138 Fourth Ave., Richmond. Organized again by O’Hare’s GastroPub and Liquor Store, for 2024 the Steveston Beer Fest will feature more than 100 B.C. craft beers alongside sweet and savoury bites from local restaurants. Tickets are $75, for more details and to purchase check out ohares.pub/steveston-beer-fest. 

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