Drinks

6 Wines We Loved at the 2025 Swirl Around BC Expo

Last week we tasted dozens of diverse wines from local makers. Here are some of our B.C. favourites.

By Sandrine Jacquot /

I’m no sommelier—and let’s be honest, most people aren’t. But there’s one thing we all have in common: we know what we like. And the more I sample different wines, the more I find myself learning how to recognize different notes (tannins? Oaked or unoaked? Minerality? I’m getting there…) and narrowing in on what appeals to me.

I put my tasting skills to the test last week when I sampled dozens of wines at the 2025 Swirl Around BC Expo hosted by Wine Growers BC. The event showcased dozens of winemakers sharing the best they have to offer in celebration of the local industry. Here were a few of my favourites.

1. Township 7: seven stars POLARIS

If you’re in search of a nice bottle of bubbly without the price tag of champagne, the 2021 seven stars POLARIS by Township 7 is a great place to start and end. With unoaked chardonnay grapes sourced from vineyards in Oliver and Naramata Bench, the seven stars POLARIS is a vibrant, sparkling wine for a celebration. As somebody who typically doesn’t enjoy sparkling drinks, I was very impressed with how easy it was to sip.

2. Gold Hill Winery: Grand Vin

There’s a reason why Grand Vin is Gold Hill’s flagship wine. A blend of Bordeaux staples (cabernet franc, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and malbec), the Grand Vin has soft tannins and a hint of vanilla. You can definitely taste the maturity in this wine that’s barrel aged for 18 months before it’s bottle aged for another five years. This red’s great for a celebratory moment or really nice meal (like an upcoming Thanksgiving dinner, perhaps?).

3. Backyard Vineyards: 2023 Rosé

Rosé is probably my favourite wine (yes—anytime of year), so I was on the hunt for some good local picks. The 2023 rosé by Backyard Vineyards in Langley is light, refreshing and delicious with notes of strawberry and raspberry. Crafted with grapes from the Fraser Valley, this beauty is best served chilled, of course, and would pair nicely with fresh fruits or charcuterie.

4. 3Benches Estate Winery: 2022 Hillside White

Maybe there’s a trend but I really like a nice blend (and I can rhyme too), so the Hillside White by 3Benches Estate Winery was a hit with me. This brother-sister duo winery is new to the Similkameen Valley, opening in 2023. But the craft runs much deeper in the family, having had the property for over 60 years. The white blend made of 65 percent riesling, 25 percent chardonnay and 10 percent pinot gris has a nice balance of acidity with the alcohol—it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser. Plus, it won gold in the 2024 BC Top 50.

5. Gneiss Wines: 2023 Pinot Gris

Named after the metamorphic rock in the South Okanagan, Gneiss (pronounced “nice”) makes a nice glass of pinot gris. The family-owned winery opened in 2021 but the proprietors have been in the industry for decades. Aside from the lovely notes of crisp pear and peach with a balance of citrus and floral notes, I also love that the label for this wine was painted in-house.

6. Domaine Artema: 2024 Gamay Village

Domaine Artema is another newer winery to the Okanagan winery scene, and it’s the region’s first chardonnay and gamay-focused vineyard. This nuvo-French style winery makes a great gamay for those who like the variety. With notes of cranberries, blackberries and white pepper on the finish, this 2024 bottle is a light-bodied gamay that is best served a little bit chilled.

Sandrine Jacquot

Sandrine Jacquot

Sandrine Jacquot is the BCLiving editor and brand partnerships writer for Canada Wide Media. She loves writing about all things B.C.—travel, food, wellness, shopping, current events and local business stories. Send pitches or get in touch with her at [email protected].