elevated-winery-experience-bc-wines
Wineries in British Columbia offer flavourful, vibrant wines paired with warm hospitality and inspiring stories to each guest who walks through their doors. This year more than ever, wineries are elevating the guest experience even further with innovative ways to interact with wine, food, people and place.
A traditional tasting, whereby the guest is introduced to flagship and feature wines, is still a fantastic way to enjoy a stop at a B.C. winery, but there is a notable trend of wineries embracing creativity and ingenuity to offer something more. The Wines of BC calendar of events showcases the plethora of options available, with everything from culinary extravaganzas and educational winemakers’ sessions to crafting workshops, live music, meditation and yoga, local art, magic shows, rescue pet adoption events and more.
Wine and food
Palate-pleasing wine and food offerings range from the light and fresh and the lengthy and luxurious, to the in-the-moment add-on to the book-ahead multi-course experience. Food is a natural wine tasting enhancer and B.C. wineries know what grows together goes together, with many options focusing on local fare. While local options abound, the passionate people behind B.C. wine also represent a diverse group of cultures, making for a wide variety of culinary themes on the menu at any given time in B.C. wine country.
Wine and people
While warm hospitality can be found around every corner, the B.C. winery experience is unique from place to place and innovated year over year. Atmospheres and events are expertly designed in ways unique to the people behind the wine. Winery teams are full of creative people who sit down and ask themselves, “How can we best connect our guests to our wine?” Options include the presence of the winemaker, educational barrel and blind tasting experiences, cellar tours and more.
Wine and place
Wineries are leveraging B.C.’s breathtaking landscapes by organizing outdoor events centered around enjoying their stunning setting. Sunset wine tastings overlooking the water, picnics and vineyard hikes are just a few examples of the outdoor experiences offered. These events not only provide a unique backdrop for tasting wine but also allow guests to connect with the unique sense of place that B.C. wineries celebrate.
The evolution of B.C. wineries’ guest experiences reflects a commitment to innovation and excellence. By offering a diverse range of events and tastings that cater to different interests and preferences, wineries are not only attracting new visitors but also fostering a deeper appreciation for B.C. wineries’ contribution to the cultural and economic fabric of the province.
Tourism is a key driver for the vibrancy of the B.C. wine industry. Wine Growers BC plays a major role in this effort. This year, more than ever, it is important to get the message out that B.C. wineries not only have excellent wine but also offer memorable experiences. By focusing on tourism with Sip, Smile and Stay Awhile campaign messaging, we can help the B.C. wine industry recover from recent climatic challenges and thrive. As part of this effort, winery listings are now active on WineBC.com.
A majority of the Wines of BC brand marketing efforts this summer will be focused on trip planning for audiences in British Columbia, Alberta and beyond, driving people to these listings to shine a spotlight on B.C. wineries and their unique experiences and events.
In addition to marketing efforts, Wine Growers British Columbia is pleased to see the culmination of the Cultivating Experiences program result in the launch of brand-new wine tourism experiences now available across the province. Wine Growers BC and Destination BC partnered together to recruit 10 wineries to participate in a year-long program to develop an experiential offering from ideation to market-ready, with the end goal of elevating B.C. wine tourism. The curriculum was led by Firecircle and featured valuable market research, in-depth workshops, and one-on-one mentorship. The range of experiences developed speaks to the uniqueness of the B.C. wine tourism landscape.
Wine Growers BC invites the wine industry and wine industry supporters to participate in our Sip, Smile and Stay Awhile campaign to promote tourism to B.C. wineries. Tag us @WinesofBC in B.C. wine country adventures and use #BCWine.