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25-747: In addition, there are other classifications of wine in Canada. British Columbia has a category known as "Wines of Distinction" , Nova Scotia has "Wines of Nova Scotia" and Quebec has " Vins du Québec ". All must be 100 percent made from grapes grown in British Columbia, Nova Scotia or Quebec, respectively. Cellared in Canada is a completely separate category. In addition to the requirements regarding sources of grapes, VQA wines may be made from Vitis vinifera grape variety and approved hybrid varieties . In British Columbia, VQA wines are made primarily with vinifera grapes, while Ontario uses

50-465: A common misnomer for the entire Gulf, which includes waters such as Active Pass (between Galiano Island and Mayne Island ), Trincomali Channel (between Galiano Island and Saltspring Island ), Sansum Narrows (between Saltspring Island and Vancouver Island), and Malaspina Strait (between Texada Island and the mainland around Powell River ). "The Gulf" refers to all such waters collectively, and to those communities and shores surrounding it. Only

75-446: A complement to the existing national park reserve. In most parts of Canada , olive trees cannot thrive; the long, harsh winter and short, humid summer and spring make it difficult for olives to grow comfortably and properly, but Pender Island , Saturna Island , and Salt Spring Island have a Mediterranean style climate that permits olive production. Banana Joe Clemente was one of the first Islanders to introduce olive trees to

100-723: A larger archipelago that also includes the nearby San Juan Islands of the state of Washington in the United States . The major Southern Gulf Islands are: The Northern Gulf Islands are located near the northern end of the Strait of Georgia , including all islands south of Savary Island , the southernmost island of the neighbouring Discovery Islands . The major Northern Gulf Islands are as follows: The islands and surrounding ocean are rich with ecologically diverse plants and sea life including Garry oaks , wild lilies, kelp beds and Orcas . The Gulf Islands are home to one of

125-518: A misnomer, to distinguish the original "Gulf Islands" from the rest, which are sometimes called the "Northern Gulf Islands". BCGNIS further notes that Quadra Island is increasingly described as the "northernmost of the Gulf Islands". The division of the Gulf Islands into two groups, the Southern and Northern Gulf Islands, is relatively common. The dividing line is approximately that formed by

150-437: A range of vinifera varieties and notably permits the use of Vidal , particularly in the production of some of Canada's icewines. VQA wines may be made with grapes from relatively small agricultural yields per vine (which increases quality), they meet specific sugar or brix levels at harvest, and the use of additives is regulated. There are also standards regulating the use of certain types of packaging and closures. To receive

175-703: A reputation for having a cold climate, much of the British Columbia Interior has a mild or dry climate which is ideal for growing grapes. Within the Interior, the Okanagan Valley in particular is known for both the high quality of its wines, and for its increasing number of respected wineries, smaller pockets such as the Creston Valley have been emerging of late, with very high quality first epoch vitis vinifera varietals. On

200-637: Is approximately 20,000 tonnes In addition, the Ontario Wine Appellation Authority recognizes the following emerging regions, which are not yet recognized as official appellations: (total production for 2012 27,000+ tons) British Columbia (wine) [REDACTED] Canada portal British Columbia wine is Canadian wine produced in the province of British Columbia . Wines made from 100% British Columbia grapes can qualify for classification under one of British Columbia's two classification systems, depending on

225-784: The Coast, the Cowichan Valley and Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island , the Gulf Islands , and the Fraser Valley in the Lower Mainland are also wine-growing regions. Experimentation with vines has also happened in various other southerly areas of the province. The most prominent varieties of grapes grown in British Columbia are: For red wine and rosé production: For white wines: Based on their unique terroir , there are five official viticultural areas in

250-622: The Southern Gulf Islands in 1993 growing dozens from seed. In 1994/1995, planting a grove of the seed-grown olive trees around a Botchi pit on Salt Spring Island. He also distributed them to Islanders for their private gardens. Banana Joe is also responsible for introducing Musa basjoo , a hardy species of Banana plant to Salt Spring Island. Farm owner Andrew Butt planted his first olive tree in 2001 at his farm on Pender Island, using Frantoio and Leccino cultivars that he obtained from California . He uses kelp obtained from

275-685: The VQA classification. Wines which are neither labelled VQA or Wine of Distinction, and from certain producers (given special rights under the 1988 Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement ), can use foreign bulk wine to produce a third category of wine which is labelled as Cellared in Canada . Significant parts of the wine industry, and respected wine writers in Canada and abroad, are quite concerned about this practice. There are several classifications of winery, represented by numerous organizations. The smallest are known as "farmgate" wineries. "Land" wineries are mid-sized operations. Although Canada has

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300-495: The VQA designation, wine must undergo testing by the regulating bodies. The VQA logo does not have a standard location on the bottle, and for some VQA wines the producer has chosen not to display the logo at all. If a consumer wishes to purchase wine from 100% Canadian grapes, extra care must be taken to ensure that the wine is what they believe it to be, and not an "International Canadian blend" (formerly known as " Cellared in Canada "). Total production for Ontario appellation wines

325-679: The city of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, and the mouth of the Fraser River on the mainland. The islands of the Discovery Islands , Howe Sound , and Fraser River delta are not considered part of the Gulf Islands. The Southern Gulf Islands are near the southern end of the Strait of Georgia , forming an intricate network of waterways between them, collectively referred to as part of the Salish Sea . The Southern Gulf Islands include hundreds of islands and islets, and form part of

350-530: The ecosystem endangered . Since then, GOERT has been working to motivate public and private restoration of the rare ecosystem and promote conservation activities. [1] The unique ecosystem of the islands has been a focal point of conservation efforts for decades. BC Parks operates a variety of provincial parks on the islands, the oldest being Mount Maxwell Provincial Park on Salt Spring Island . In 2003, Parks Canada established Gulf Islands National Park Reserve to protect ecologically important regions of

375-608: The last remaining pockets of Garry oak ecosystems . Only about five percent of Garry oak ecosystems remain in their natural state, landing 91 of the approximately 350 species it supports on the province's list of species at risk . The unique Mediterranean characteristics of the islands' climate supports the Garry oak ecosystem. Garry oak ecosystems are home to more plant species, such as the camas , than any other terrestrial ecosystem in coastal B.C. and are one of Canada's most at-risk natural habitats . Today, Garry oak meadows exist in

400-451: The major cities of Nanaimo and Victoria on Vancouver Island as well as Vancouver on the mainland. None of the islands are linked to another island by bridge, the exception being Pender Island which was artificially divided into two by a canal dug in 1903. Various proposals have been made to link one or more of the islands to another island, or with the mainland coast of the province, without success. Challenges include high capital costs,

425-498: The name "Gulf Islands" was originally intended and commonly understood to refer to the archipelago at the southern end of the Strait of Georgia; from Gabriola Island in the north to Saturna Island in the southeast and D'Arcy Island in the southwest. During the 1990s, however, the name began to be applied to all the islands in the Strait of Georgia, resulting in the introduction of the term "Southern Gulf Islands", which BCGNIS calls

450-621: The province which are recognized by the VQA. Wines bearing the name of a viticultural area are produced from a minimum of 95 percent of the grapes grown in the designated area. There are also emerging regions: The Association of British Columbia Winegrowers (ABCW) is an association of winemakers located in British Columbia . Most of the member wineries are small lot producers (less than 5,000 cases produced each year), family owned and operated. Their wines are all made from 100% BC-grown fruit. The ABCW's 57 members account for over 70% of

475-464: The province's wineries. Gulf Islands The Gulf Islands is a group of islands in the Salish Sea between Vancouver Island and the mainland coast of British Columbia . The name "Gulf Islands" comes from " Gulf of Georgia ", the original term used by George Vancouver in his mapping of the southern part of the archipelago and which before the San Juan Island dispute also

500-640: The shallow and exposed soil of valleys , rocky foothills and southern slopes —areas that the settlers of the past 150 years have found unsuitable for agriculture or development . The Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team (GOERT), a partnership of a number of governmental and non-governmental agencies that comprise 22 individuals, was established in 1999 after the delegates of the First International Garry Oak Ecosystem Symposium met in Victoria and declared

525-540: The southeastern Gulf Islands. As a National Park Reserve , the long-term goal is to protect most of the southeastern Gulf Islands. In 2012, Parks Canada published a feasibility Study for the proposed Southern Strait of Georgia National Marine Conservation Area Reserve. The goal of the National Marine Conservation Area is to protect ecologically significant marine habitats and ensure sustainable use of marine resources. It would also serve as

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550-408: The surrounding straits as fertilizer and uses a pruning method that enhances the sunlight exposure on the trees. Michael Pierce and colleagues established an olive tree nursery on Saturna Island in 2009 that supplied olive trees to the region. The larger populated islands are served by BC Ferries , which operates various vehicle and passenger ferries between the Gulf Islands and to terminals near

575-477: The term "Strait of Georgia" remains in the provincial gazette although its use as a synonym for the Gulf is unofficial, while the term Gulf of Georgia remains in current use though not in the provincial gazette. The term Salish Sea was adopted in 2010 to refer to the Strait of Georgia, the Strait of Juan de Fuca , Puget Sound , and all connecting and adjoining waters. According to BC Geographical Names (BCGNIS)

600-812: The variety, the winemaking techniques employed, and various other restrictions. Originally, the British Columbia Wine Institute handled regulation and marketing of the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA), which is also an appellation system. More recently, the British Columbia Wine Authority was formed by the provincial government to regulate part of the industry. It created a second classification, "Wines of Distinction", to be also from 100 percent British Columbia grapes, but with less stringent quality control. In practice, it has strengthened

625-577: Was taken to include what have since been called the San Juan Islands . While geopolitically divided, the San Juan Islands and Gulf Islands geologically form part of the larger Gulf Archipelago. Strictly speaking, the Strait of Georgia is only the wide, open waters of the main strait between the mainland and Vancouver Island , and does not officially refer to the adjoining waters between the islands and Vancouver Island but has become

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