I enjoy the wines from Fort Berens anytme, but I especially enjoy their wines at this time of year. The wines are so crisp and refreshing it’s hard not to imagine how good a glass would taste right now.
So my hearty recommendation is to pick your favourite, or two, or three, or more from this list of wines that I will be enjoying. The choice is yours.
All of the wines are available to purchase online or at the winery. Think about visiting the winery to enjoy their outdoor spaces, beautiful views and tasty wines.
Fort Berens invites you to come explore.
2025 Pinot Gris
Tasting Notes
This vibrant and refreshing Pinot Gris is bursting with notes of white pear, quince, melon, and passion fruit. It is a medium-bodied wine with a bright, lively palate and a lingering finish.
Vineyard Notes
BC VQA Pinot Gris Grapes
Winemaker Notes
The grapes were hand-picked, destemmed, crushed, and left on the skins for 4 hours for optimal flavour extraction. The wine was made with minimal oxygen contact to maintain the freshness and fruit-forward flavours. It underwent an extended slow, cold fermentation at 11 degrees to enhance the aromatic profile. Post fermentation, the wine was aged for 4 months on the lees to give a full, creamy texture.
Food Pairings
Savour this wine on the patio, paired with a good book, or a fresh summer salad.
Aging
Optimum drinking time is 1-3 years.
Awards & Accolades
SILVER – National Wine Awards of Canada, 2026
A delicious choice for sipping by the lake, on the patio or anywhere you find relaxing.
Crisp and refreshing, with a great level of acidity that keeps this wine fresh and vibrant. Think cantelope with a hint of tropical notes. A very pleasing wine.
$23.99 available online or at the winery
2025 Rosé
Tasting Notes
A luscious and fruit-forward Rosé with aromatic notes of raspberries, pomegranate, and a hint of watermelon. This elegant Rosé is dry and refreshing with crisp mixed berry notes on the palate, and a medium body with a creamy, textured finish.
Vineyard Notes
100% estate grown grapes – Lillooet VQA
Production Notes
44% Pinot Noir, 43% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc & 3% Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaker Notes
This wine is predominantly made with Pinot Noir and Merlot grapes, with a touch of Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 100% estate grown grapes were hand-picked, destemmed, and crushed to allow for skin contact of up to 12 hours. After the perfect colour was achieved, the grapes were lightly pressed, followed by a long and cold fermentation. The grapes in this wine were sustainably grown, and this wine is certified sustainable from the vine to the bottle.
Food Pairings
Enjoy this refreshing Rosé on it’s own with a good book on the patio, or pair it with pulled pork, grilled salmon, or a fresh green salad on a sunny day.
Aging
Optimum drinking time is 1-2 years.
Another delicious option for afternoon sipping. If this doesn’t say summertime and the living is easy I don’t know what does.
Fruity and inspiring. Think freshly picked raspberries, boysenberries, even a touch of huckleberry add to the yum factor of this dry Rosé. Simply delicious.
$23.99 available online or at the winery
2024 Riesling
Tasting Notes
Fresh and lively, this 100% estate grown Riesling showcases enticing aromas of tropical fruit and lime, with a hint of grapefruit. Beautifully balanced and aromatic, this slightly off-dry wine offers a delicate touch of sweetness, making it a perfect pairing with spicy dishes.
Winemaker Notes
Reductively made with dry ice at the crusher and the press. The grapes were given 12 hours skin contact after crushing where they were then lightly pressed to collect the free run juice. 24 hours of cold settling before racking off the clean juice. Cold fermentation with 2 strains of aromatic thiol rich yeast. Fermentation was stopped by cooling the tank at the optimal sugar level after daily tasting. 4 months lees contact before bentonite was added.
Vineyards Notes
100% estate grown grapes, Lillooet VQA.
Food Pairings
This versatile and food-friendly Riesling pairs well with an array of dishes such as Indian or Thai curry, and beef or pork tacos. For something a little different, try it paired with fried tofu and a mild chili sauce.
Aging
Enjoy the wine now or allow to develop further through to 2030.
It’s no secret that I am a Riesling fan and this one ticks all the boxes. From that faint whiff of diesel to the flavour on the palate this is a wonderful expression of the grape. A Riesling for Riesling lovers.
Just don’t call it sweet because it is off-dry, there is a difference there. The off-dry is distinctive and mellow, more mature. This Riesling is beautiful on its own but it also is a great pairing wine.
Don’t limit it to Asian or spicey dishes, be more adventurous and pair this wine with almost any vegetarian dish. It also goes nicely with poultry, salmon and white fish.
$23.99 available online or at the winery
Reserve Riesling 2023
Tasting Notes
An aromatic Riesling with tropical and yellow fruit notes including quince, with a touch of jasmine, ginger spice, and floral notes coming though. This wine has a sensational palate with a rich, creamy mouthfeel and a soft, yet crisp finish that lingers with flavour.
Vineyard Notes
100% estate grown grapes Dry Creek Vineyard (planted in 2009) and Red Rock Vineyard (planted in 2019).
Winemaker Notes
With cool nights during ripening, the 100% estate grown Riesling grapes were picked later in the season at optimal ripeness from our Dry Creek Vineyard and Red Rock Vineyard. The longer hanging time and cool nights added to the richness in flavour. 40% of the grapes were destemmed and crushed with 12 hours of skin contact for flavour. The other 60% of the grapes were whole-cluster pressed for added mouthfeel. A long and slow natural fermentation took place in a combination of 225L & 400L French oak barrels, and then the wine further matured for 7 months in barrels. 16% second fill French oak barrels were used, with the rest in neutral oak to retain the freshness of the wine.
Food Pairings
This aromatic Riesling is a beautiful wine to enjoy with a sesame ginger stir-fry or pork with garlic and lemon.
Aging
Enjoy this wine now through 2027. With optimal cellaring conditions, this Riesling will age well through 2028.
Awards & Accolades
SILVER – 91 points, National Wine Awards of Canada 2025
SILVER – 90 points, Decanter World Wine Awards 2025
This is a beautiful, classic Riesling that will not disappoint whether you are new to Riesling or an old hand this is a Riesling that makes you want to sit back, relax and enjoy the experience.
Some light stone fruit notes that are enhanced by the delicate floral scents in the background. Soft and pleasing with a touch of oak.
A wine to savour and pair with a wide variety of dishes. The wine has a richness which lends itself to equally rich entrees like Chicken Cordon Bleu or a seafood lasagna with Béchamel sauce. Try it with a creamy alfredo.
$29.99 available online or at the winery
Fort Berens Estate Winery
We are committed to handcrafting award-winning wines that reflect our unique Lillooet terroir. Our vineyards are planted on sagebrush-covered benchland along the Fraser River at the base of towering mountains. We offer a range of food-friendly wines to appeal to a broad audience. Whether you open a bottle of Fort Berens wine after a long day at work or to celebrate a milestone event with friends and family, our wines are about enjoyment and discovery.
TASTING ROOM
Come explore Lillooet’s first winery and sample our latest vintages in our tasting room while looking out at the towering Coast Mountains. Spend some time shopping through our collection of wines, glassware, gift ideas, cookbooks, preserves, and more.
Our tasting room is open as follows:
Jan – Feb: Open by appointment for sales only
(please call 250-256-7788 ext. 207 to book)
Mar – Apr: 10am–4pm Thursday to Monday (Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
May – Sep: 10am–6pm daily (including holidays)
Oct: 10am–4pm daily (including holidays)
Nov – Dec: 10am–4pm Thursday to Monday (Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
We offer drop-in tastings without reservations, and we also offer guided tastings, which require reservations.
Wine notes and tasting opportunity information provided by the winery. My notes (in italics). Images: MyVanCity I received complimentary wine to facilitate this feature.