Farms! Wineries! Markets! You are not going to believe what the incredible community of Langley has to offer. The colonists saw the unique and rich character of this region early on– did you know Fort Langley is known as the birthplace of British Columbia with the first Hudson’s Bay trading post sited here? So along with being a delicious food, wine and farm destination, Langley also offers a wonderful history lesson.
“Now home to seven wineries, a brewery and a great array of locally produced products and agritourism experiences, our community offers a lot to those interested in local food and wine,” explains Christina Marchand from Tourism Langley. Circle Farm Tours offer fabulous self guided experiences that lead you merrily on adventures to a variety of specialty farm-gate vendors, open air markets, charming eateries, heritage sites, wineries and other exciting events! They offer a brochure and map for each participating community where you can custom build the tour that suits you best! www.circlefarmtour.com
Travel around and fill your basket full to the brim with delicious local fruits, vegetables, cheeses, bread and charcuterie throughout your tour. The Langley Community Farmer’s Market is a must visit to fully appreciate all that this flourishing farm-rich region has to offer. Vista D’oro Farms & Winery is internationally renowned for their preserves and has a beautiful little farmgate shop to visit that also carries an array of picnic fixin’s to enjoy under the walnut trees. From there, you can follow your nose towards Milsean Shoppe’s famous Demerera Butter Crunch or take a detour and head over to meet the friendly alpacas at Kensington Prairie Farm where you can pick up some lovely gifts too.
If you would rather find a restaurant to relax and enjoy a locally focused meal in, Seasonal 56 would be the answer. Chef Adrian Beaty dedicates his menu to almost exclusively locally sourced products and offers guests a true taste of the local terroir with a BC focused wine list as well. Or, choose to dine with vineyard views at Bacchus Bistro located at Chaberton Estate Winery.
And then there is a full day of wine touring for you to plan! Seven award-winning wineries that have continued to grow and gain acclaim for fine winemaking make Langley a wine region to devour. Tasting your way around the unique terroir that is found in the Pacific Northwest wine appellation will give your palate a thrilling lesson that you will not soon forget as well as rounding out your BC wine education. In addition to grape varietals, delectable fruit wines can also be found in Langley. At Krause Berry Farms & Estate Winery, famous for their piled high custard pies, you’ll also find an array of wines produced from their freshly picked berries. Langley has become a natural extension for a wine lover’s journey across the province towards the sea and through a gorgeous transformation of topography from the deserts of the Okanagan to the lush foliage of the coast – it provides a best of BC experience.
~Jennifer Schell