Sustainable Practices at Beaufort Vineyard
Health for people—and for the planet—is at the heart of everything that happens at Beaufort Winery in the Comox Valley.
Owners Jim and Suzy Cameron are committed to dynamic leadership in sustainable farming. Their support for innovative techniques in agriculture has helped to position Beaufort at the forefront of modern wine growing on Vancouver Island. With 12 vineyard acres and 10 varieties planted, Beaufort is in the final stages of its transition to organic agriculture with the Pacific Agricultural Certification Society. Full certification for the vineyard and surrounding land is expected in September 2019.
At Beaufort, winemaking starts in the vineyard; the team strives for vine balance, healthy soil and microbiology, and optimal ripeness at harvest. At roughly 2000 cases per vintage, winemaker Freya Timmermans crafts the vintage in small batches and tailors decisions on the crush pad to bring out the very best in each variety. Estate and Vancouver Island grown grapes are championed for an expression of our unique cool climate terroir. Whites are handled gently at crush, and fermented mainly in stainless steel with an eye to preserving fresh varietal aromatics and a bright and balanced acidity. Red fermentations are customized to find the right amount of time on the skins for each grape type, then aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels for upwards of 10 months. French Hybrid varieties will have softer tannins, intense colour, a lot of fruit and an early approachability. Vinifera varieties will have more tannic structure, ageability, and good varietal expression.
The team in the vineyard, winery and tasting room is small, talented, and dedicated to innovation and awesomeness at every level of their work; all Beaufort wines reflect this passion. A warm welcome always awaits visitors to the tasting room.
The tasting room is open seasonally; from May through September on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 5pm. Visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic. Private tastings are by appointment only. Visit their website for more information.
Beaufort is located 5 minutes north of Courtenay off the Old Island Highway
