When most people think of BC wine, the Okanagan comes to mind first. But a couple of hours west, the Fraser Valley has been building a wine scene of its own — one shaped by a very different landscape and climate.

Unlike the hot, dry summers of the interior, the Fraser Valley sits close enough to the Pacific that its vineyards stay cooler and wetter throughout the growing season. That maritime influence — ocean breezes, moderate temperatures, and relatively stable day-to-night swings — encourages even ripening and keeps things lush. The soils tend toward silty, organically rich compositions that hold moisture well, which suits early-ripening grape varieties particularly well. The result is wines that lean toward natural acidity and delicate, aromatic character rather than the bold, fruit-forward styles the Okanagan is known for.

The region does especially well with cool-climate whites like Pinot Gris, Bacchus, Siegerrebe, and Gewürztraminer, along with Pinot Noir on the red side. You'll also find fruit and honey wines made from the berries and orchard crops the valley has always grown — a natural fit for a region where agriculture has always come first. Sparkling and fortified wines are a growing part of the picture too.

The Fraser Valley Wine Passport, returning April 1 through May 31, is a good excuse to work your way through what the region produces. For $30 — taxes included — you get access to tastings at 14 wineries, two cideries, and one distillery spread across Abbotsford, Langley, and Surrey. Half the passport price goes directly to participating businesses; the other half is donated to the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation.

The 17 stops range widely in character. Chaberton Estate, the oldest winery in the Fraser Valley, offers tastings alongside its French-inspired bistro. Festina Lente specialises in honey wines — mead made to wine standards, guided by a mead and wine expert. Krause Berry Farms pours fruit wines made from its 200-acre operation at a western-style tasting bar. Roots and Wings, a family-run craft distillery, throws in a 10 per cent discount on bottle sales for passport holders alongside six spirit samples. Singletree showcases its flagship Siegerrebe and Victory sparkling in vineyard cabanas. And Taves Estate Cidery pours orchard-to-bottle ciders — alcoholic and non-alcoholic — with goats on site for good measure.

Every stop includes a non-alcoholic option, and many locations offer food, patios, or picnic areas. Mother's Day (May 10) is excluded from the program.

Passports are available at any participating location while supplies last.