A Day Trip to Langley, B.C.
Our little corner of the world seems to have everything: mountains, lakes, and coastline; a fabulous arts scene and unparalleled outdoor activities; great seafood and stellar grass-fed beef, plus some of the best vegan food around! But did you know that we’re also within range of some of North America’s best wineries?
You’re probably aware of the Columbia Valley and Walla Walla Valley regions, but there’s another wine country just north of the border—literally a few minutes from the Lynden crossing—that you might not know about. And you really should.
Fraser Valley is a wine region in British Columbia that produces excellent wines across a wide range of styles, from bubbles to blueberry fruit wine. Langley, a beautiful township right on the Canadian border, is the home of some of the top wineries in the valley; it’s the perfect place for a wine tasting day trip. Plus, the currency exchange is in our favor right now: when I visited in May every bottle I purchased was about 75% of the sticker price when converted to USD.
So next time you fancy a tasting day, why not head north? Here’s a sample itinerary with some of the best stops for food, fun, and (of course) flights!
Breakfast: Belgian Waffles and Berry Wine
Make sure to fill your belly (and designate a sober driver) before you get serious about day drinking. Krause Berry Farms & Estate Winery is a twofer: you can start with one of their delicious waffles before hitting up the tasting room to try their surprising and delicious fruit wines. Actually, make that a ‘threefer’: the shop sells some of the most adorable home decor and gifts ever, and if you buy some of their local fruit to take with you, you can snack on it in the car between wineries.
Sparkling Wine and Sabering
Head to Township 7 Vineyards & Winery to taste their delicious Champagne-style sparkling wines—and learn to open a bottle with a saber, like the badass you know you are! Langley’s tasting room manager, Cody Karman, walked me through the process patiently and set me up with the all-important protective gear, and under his tutelage I absolutely killed it. (Note: while the saber isn’t sharp enough to do serious damage, this is still a good activity to do early on in the day.)
No matter how you open them, Township 7’s wines are all worth tasting. From vine to bottle, every step of the process is meticulous and thoughtful, and the results speak for themselves. If your group is large enough to handle it, I definitely recommend supplementing the bottle you’ve sliced open with a tasting flight.
Lunch: Duck Confit and Divine Views
Now that you’ve worked up an appetite with all that saber-swinging, it’s time to break for lunch—but don’t worry, Bacchus Bistro is onsite at Chaberton Estate Winery, the oldest winery in the Fraser Valley, so there’s more tasting to be done as well.
First, though, take a little break at a table on Bacchus’ lovely outdoor patio, overlooking their estate vineyard. I highly recommend the Duck Confit, which is rarely ever bad but in this case was absolutely incredible, with a glass of Chaberton’s Bacchus white wine to accompany it. You might remember Bacchus from September’s Wine Pick of the Month—a happy coincidence and yet another ringing endorsement of its refreshing, unique flavor.
Stop by the tasting room on the way out to grab yourself a bottle, and taste some of Chaberton’s other exemplary wines.
Small Bites in the Backyard
Take a little break at Backyard Vineyards—taste a flight in the cozy tasting room or, if the weather is warm, relax on their lovely picnic hill with a bottle. I highly recommend the 2021 Social Viognier. And depending on how much you indulged at Bacchus (I hope it was a lot), you may not have room for more food, but if by chance your group is feeling peckish the Charcuterie Board is well worth the stomach space!
Rest and Recuperate
Now, this is a day trip itinerary, but if you want to go a little gentler on your body you could easily spend the night at a hotel—the Sandman Signature Langley Hotel is a great option, close to the wine region and large enough to often have rooms available on short notice. The rooms are comfortable and well appointed, with all the amenities you’ll need for an overnight. And if you do book a room, you can check in and drop your bag before you head out to your tastings and when you’re ready to come back and rest before dinner you can just grab your stuff and go straight to your room for a lie-down.
A Sophisticated Sit-Down
Cap off your day out with a fabulous dinner at Otter Trail Winery’s restaurant, Ortega Bistro. Otter Trail is a recent addition to the Langley wine scene, and they’re already making major inroads with their stunning tasting and dining room, exceptional food, and carefully crafted wines. I had the Steak with a glass of Otter Trail White (yes, a white with steak—sue me. It was hot out) and both were absolutely divine.
So the next time you’re craving a day out wine tasting, give Langley a shot! Just keep an eye on your purchases and stay within the limit so you won’t get hit with too much duty on the way home.
