Lillooet Wine, Beer & Agriculture

They say that anything grows in Lillooet. Long summers, mild winters, fertile soil, and an abundance of sunny days year round provide ideal growing conditions for a thriving community of passionate farmers, growers, and ranchers.

Lillooet’s agricultural abundance is no secret; it is yours to discover. Take the wine route less travelled to two winery tasting rooms producing Lillooet VQA wines. Visit the first and only craft brewery and discover Lillooet Wild. Taste local ingredients from farms and shops, or stop by the Lillooet Farmers’ Market to meet local food producers.

Lillooet holds mighty potential to grow into a flourishing BC wine region. Wine grapes were first planted in 2004 and the vines flourished in the long, hot, dry summers, similar to the Okanagan Valley. Lillooet’s terroir is officially recognized as an appellation of origin by the BC Vintners Quality Alliance (BC VQA). The most common varietals are Riesling, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris.

Sip on extraordinary flavours and take in aromas that reflect the unique terroir. Experience farm to table cuisine at the Fort Berens Kitchen and enjoy a picnic surrounded by stunning scenery at Cliff & Gorge Vineyards.

Hops have grown in Lillooet for centuries, there is even an entire neighbourhood called the Hop Farm, as a reminder of the prominence of this crop in times past. More recently, various hop farms were established growing organic hops for breweries in Canada and abroad.

Now, Lillooet has its first brewery. Its doors opened in late 2022, transforming an old go-to place for the farming community into a new gathering place for everyone.

For many years, Lillooet has been known for high quality produce, especially Tomatoes, Apples, and Ginseng. The geography, soil, and mild climate make this area one of Canada's premier agricultural regions and one of the few places where apricots grow wild from seed.