Garry Oaks Winery is located on a terraced ten-acre vineyard carved out of the south-facing gravel slopes overlooking the Burgoyne Valley on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada.

In 1999, Marcel Mercier and Elaine Kozak left the corporate world to turn their love of the country and good wine into a way of life. They purchased a hundred-year old farm on Salt Spring Island and began the long process of converting it from sheep-grazing to wine-growing.

Over the next three years, seven acres were planted to vine, and a winery built. A century-old orchard of apple, pear, plum and cherry trees was rehabilitated to enhance the beauty of the site and retain the diversity of its flora. A stand of magnificent Garry Oaks was preserved and gives the winery estate its name.

Garry Oaks seeks to produce premium wines of character and complexity that are an expression of this unique Gulf Island site, and its winemakers' talents. Garry Oaks released its first wines and opened its tasting room to the public in May, 2003.

While drawing on long-established traditions, Garry Oaks also explores new directions in winemaking. For example, Garry Oaks grows grape varieties such as Zweigelt and Leon Millot, which are new to British Columbia, and is the first winery in the province to age wine in Garry oak (Oregon White Oak) barrels.

Garry Oaks wines are available through our farmgate winestore or by special order. Our Spring 2003 releases are:

Pinot Gris 2002 Blanc de Noir 2002 Gewurztraminer 2002 Pinot Noir 2001 Labyrinth (our proprietary red wine)

Garry Oaks Vineyard and Winery is located on Salt Spring Island, the largest of a string of islands located in the Strait of Georgia between the British Columbia mainland (the metropolitan Vancouver area) and Vancouver Island (the city of Victoria). Salt Spring Island can be reached by BC Ferries from Vancouver (Tsawwassen terminal), Victoria (Swartz Bay terminal) or upper Vancouver Island (Crofton terminal).

Garry Oaks Vineyard and Winery is located two miles north of the Fulford Harbour ferry landing and six miles south of Ganges.

Vineyard Location:
Garry Oaks Winery
1880 Fulford-Ganges Road
Salt Spring Island
British Columbia
Canada V8K 2A5