Going global D I S C O V E R T H E S E F O U R S U R P R I S I N G I N T E R N AT I O N A L G R A P E S G R O W I N G I N O U R O W N B A C K YA R D
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inot Gris, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer. Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon. The top white and red grapes grown in British Columbia are familiar names. These classics are established and respected the world over, so it’s not surprising that they were among the first selected to plant in our relatively young wine region. That youthful, adventuresome spirit is to our advantage. We don’t have the restrictive appellation laws governing varieties that most wine regions do. We are free to plant and produce what we want. It’s fitting for our colourful Canadian melting pot of cultures to have a mosaic of wine grapes plotted across the province; already, more than 60 different wine grapes are grown across B.C., with more being trialled every year. Here are four surprising global grapes that have shown promise in B.C., along with an example worth seeking out.
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