Beaufort Winery is the first organic winery on Vancouver Island and one of the leaders of the British Columbia organic winemaking revolution using sustainable practices.
My recent Vancouver Island winery tour started in the Comox Valley at Courtney’s Beaufort Vineyard and Estate Winery. Since its inception, this boutique vineyard has been at the forefront of sustainable, organic, and eco-conscious viticulture.
The original owners opened the winery in 2007, and in 2014, it was bought by Hollywood legend James Cameron, the acclaimed filmmaker. Cameron built the current tasting room and winery and in 2019 it became the first certified organic winery on Vancouver Island. Since 2021, the vineyard has flourished under the passionate ownership of Alexandre Guertin and his family members, Sylvie Senay and Rolland Tanguay.
The vineyard is 85 acres, with 18 acres planted with vines. The winery currently produces about 2,500 cases or 30,000 bottles annually and plans to increase the vineyard acreage to 19 acres.
The winery has a small, dedicated team that handles all aspects of winemaking, including harvesting and bottling by hand.
“At Beaufort Winery, we believe in producing wines that truly represent our region. Our winemaking philosophy centres around working within the limits of our cool climate, using organic and regenerative methods to bring out the best in our vineyard. Each bottle reflects our dedication to quality and sustainability.” – Alexandre Guertin, Owner
Why Organic Farming and Sustainable Practices Matter
Organic winemaking is a commitment to the environment, terroir, and eco-conscious consumers. Organic certification requires strict adherence to natural farming methods, eliminating synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers.
Beaufort Vineyard practices organic farming, using mineral sprays and a labour-intensive process to manage diseases and weeds. De-leafing done by hand early in the growing season prevents sunburn and disease. Drip irrigation and fish fertilizer are used to maintain the vineyard, with a focus on sustainable practices along with a robust composting program, using grape skins and other organic materials to enrich the soil.
This hands-on approach allows them to closely monitor the vines and grapes to preserve the natural flavours and characteristics of the grapes.
The main varieties planted are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris, with some Ortega and French hybrids like Leon Millot and Lucy Kuhlmann. Beaufort’s most popular wine is the Borealis, a blend of Schoenberger, Siegerrebe, and Pinot Gris, known for its floral notes and off-dry character.
Cool coastal climate wines featured at the Beaufort Winery. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
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Tasting the grapes and following the winemaking process from start to finish
As we tour the vineyard with owner Alexandre Guertin, he explained, “As Vancouver Island’s first certified organic winery, we pride ourselves on sustainable and regenerative practices that honour the soil and elevate the quality of our wines. We have 18 acres of vines planted, featuring an assortment of grape varietals that thrive in our cool coastal climate, including Ortega, Petite Milo, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Noir. Each varietal is carefully nurtured to produce wines that are fresh, vibrant, and expressive of our unique terroir.”
Strolling through the vineyard, we learned about the different stages of vine growth. We sampled grapes straight off the vine, experiencing tannin and acidity firsthand. Guertin talked about their small team that handles all aspects of winemaking, including harvesting and bottling, and the winery’s robust composting program, which uses grape skins and other organic materials to enrich the soil.
Guertin highlighted the importance of manual labour in the winemaking process, from pruning to bottling and riddling, as we discussed winemaking techniques while visiting the crush pad where the harvested grapes are turned into juice.
Beaufort Winery owner Alexandre Guertin walks us through the Vancouver Island vineyard explaining the business of organic farming. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Tasting the grapes and following the winemaking process from start to finish at Beaufort Winery. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
The Netting System
The netting system allows the winery to carefully control the growing environment for the grapes, which is important for producing high-quality fruit in the cool climate. This system also contributes to the quality and character of their wines and allows better protection of the grapes from birds and other pests.
When I asked about the challenges of the netting system, Guertin described the difficulty of using the overhead netting system, “We use hockey sticks and you literally need people in five different rows pushing the nets on. It’s a lot of work, and we need a platform elevator on a tractor. It rips easily. It’s not really hard to put away”.
He explains, “The whole vineyard is transitioning to side netting, so it’s a lot easier for one person and protects the grapes better, too…the side netting is a bit of an easier job for the crew. As we scale up, we need to get more efficient.”
Metal Posts
The winery uses metal posts instead of treated wood posts for the new plantings to meet organic certification requirements. This demonstrates their continued commitment to sustainable practices.
Protecting the grapes with side netting at Beaufort Winery. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
The various stages of vine growth at Beaufort Vineyard Estate Winery. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Young Pinot Noir vines planted in 2023 at the vineyard. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Owner Alexandre Guertin explains the process of using a composting machine at Beaufort Winery. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Challenges of 2024 Wine Growing Season
The 2024 vintage faced challenges due to cold weather. It was one of the coldest years on record, resulting in higher grape acidity. Lots of rain in the spring and summer made it a difficult season as well, impacting the quality of grapes with lots of disease pressure here and elsewhere on Vancouver Island. Despite the difficulties, the winery has managed to produce good fruit quality.
Winemaking
What does Brix mean?
Alexandre Guertin explained the grapes’ sugar content: “Usually it’s anywhere from 20 to 26 Brix, and this will be converted to alcohol. So, for example, around 20 Brix would be about 11 to 12% alcohol. Once it’s fermenting, all the sugar is converted to alcohol. Essentially, one Brix is when there’s almost no sugar left, and then that sugar will be converted to the bubbles in the bottle, where it is captured.
Winemaker Stephanie Clark and a member of her team start to clean up after harvesting grapes at Beaufort Winery. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Stainless steel tanks used in the winemaking process at Beaufort Winery. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
About Winemaker Stephanie Clarke
Winemaker Stephanie Clarke joined Beaufort in 2023 after working at Unsworth Vineyards, another winery on Vancouver Island. Her experience and expertise give her a good understanding of the local climate and growing conditions which helps her make decisions tailored to the winery’s unique terroir.
Clarke has brought fresh ideas and techniques to the winemaking process to elevate the wines at Beaufort, such as:
- Doing partial fermentations in neutral oak barrels to soften the acidity in the wines .
- Allowing the Pinot Noir rosé to go through malolactic fermentation, giving it a creamier texture.
- Experimenting with different cover crops in the vineyard to study their impact on grape quality.
“It was really interesting to try the wine side by side, the stainless and the neutral oak ferment. And it was like night and day. It was like, so different.” – Alexandre Guertin, Owner.
Wine Tasting and Events at Beaufort
Beaufort Winery’s stunning location boasts views of the Beaufort Mountain Range from its cozy indoor tasting room, rustic outdoor patio, and picnic space.
It’s the perfect setting to relax and stay awhile or participate in various events held throughout the year featuring local musical artists and pop-up food vendors.
The winery can arrange intimate wine tastings, barrel tastings, and private tours for a more immersive experience. Find out more about booking a tasting reservation.
Owner Alexandre Guertin stands in front of Beaufort Winery tasting room and the quaint rustic outside patio. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Hospitality Manager Megan Thiel welcomes guests in the tasting room of Beaufort Wines. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Future Plans
The winery plans to increase Pinot Noir production, focus on high-quality sparkling wines, and continue experimenting with new techniques and varieties to enhance its wine portfolio.
With growing production and visitor demand, plans are underway to expand the tasting room and winery facilities. Guertin reminds us that one of the challenges of growing young vines is the need for patience to see the vineyard’s full potential.
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Wendy Nordvik-Carr visited the winery during a press trip with Wine Growers BC, which did not preview or approve this story.
About the Author:
Wendy Nordvik-Carr is a highly regarded travel writer who produces quality, well-researched articles with stunning photography and video.
She seeks out authentic experiences showcasing the people, culture and history that make each destination unique. Her focus is on solo, couple and multigenerational travel through cruising, air and road trip adventures.
Wendy is the editor & writer for LifesIncredibleJourney.com, an award-winning travel site that encourages exploration of destinations near & far.
She is a TMAC Director, Chair, National Governance Committee and Chair of TMAC's BC & Yukon Chapter, as well as a member of SATW, IFWTWA and NATJA.
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