Wineries on three Gulf Islands

Taste and buy local wines on Salt Spring, Pender and Saturna islands

Gulf Islands Tourism: Salt Spring Vineyards

Gulf Islands Tourism: Harvesting grapes on Salt Spring

Top: the picnic spot at Salt Spring Vineyards. Above, harvesting the grapes, a relatively new agricultural product in the Gulf Islands.

The growing of grapes and the creation of fine wines is a relatively new agri-industry on the Gulf Islands. But it's one that has put the spotlight on the region as a great place to visit for that reason alone.

• Salt Spring Vineyards, located in beautiful Fulford Valley, is just minutes away from the ferry by bus or by car. Joanne and Dev McIntyre, with winemaker Paul Troop, produce award-winning hand-crafted VQA wines totally from island fruit. They are committed to doing this "island-style," sustainable for land and community. Wines include Karma, traditional method champenoise blended from estate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir; Pinot Gris; Aromata (the 2009 version was a silver medal winner at the 2010 Canadian Wine Awards, along with the 2009 Blattner White); Millotage; Pinot Noir reserve, among others. Their Blackberry Port is becoming legendary. Visitors experience warm Salt Spring hospitality, tasting wines paired with local foods, often with live music. Licensed picnic grounds provide a lovely pond setting to enjoy. Watch for special events such as their Solstice Celebration in June and the Harvest Grape Stomp in October.

• In 1999 Marcel Mercier and Elaine Kozak left the corporate world to follow their dream, purchasing a 100-year-old farm on Salt Spring Island and establishing the Garry Oaks Winery. Garry Oaks Winery produces a "Classics" series label, including Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Blanc de Noir, and an "Original" series with Prism, Fetish and Zeta products. Its most recent awards, among many received over the years, are a gold medal for its 2009 Pinot Gris, and silver medals for the 2009 Blanc de Noir and 2008 Pinot Noir, all from the 2010 Northwest Wine Summit.

Garry Oaks Winery is located at 1880 Fulford-Ganges Road and open daily from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving and by appointment from March through mid-May.

• Partner couples Ian and Wendy Baker, Dave and Lenora Baker, and Cliff Broetz and Barb Steele opened Mistaken Identity Vineyard to the public in June 2009. With a beautiful new tasting room, deck overlooking the certified organic orchard and licensed picnic area, Mistaken Identity is proud to serve its clean and crisp wines. Two medals have already been earned at the Canadian Wine Awards for its Pinot Rosé and Pinot Gris 2008. Mistaken Identity is located at the corner of Norton and Lower Ganges roads, just a short distance from Ganges.

• Pender Island has Morning Bay Vineyard and Estate Winery, located at 6621 Harbour Hill Drive. The winery uses grapes from the Okanagan as well as those grown on its terraced, waterfront vineyard on the slopes of Pender's Mount Menzies. The winery itself utilizes a unique gravity system housed in a building with a barn design.

• Saturna Island Vineyards has been producing wine since 1998 on a 60-acre property, making it one of the largest winery operations in B.C. With a wine shop, tasting room and bistro, visitors can sample wines, enjoy a gourmet lunch and then carry home their favourite vintages for a future treat.

If you can't make it to the doorstep of one of the islands' wineries, be assured that local liquor stores tend to have a good selection of island-made wines for purchase.