6621 Harbour Hill Dr., RR1
Pender Island, BC
Journalist Keith Watt was inspired to plant an island vineyard when he spotted grapes being planted on Saturna Island, clearly visible from the deck of his Pender Island home. Morning Bay’s Mount Menzies vineyard rises 80 hectares up a formerly forested slope, into which 20 terraces have been carved.
The winery, completed in 2005, features vast areas of glass, both for views into the winery and for views out onto the vineyard and the stately trees. Morning Bay launched with wines made from Okanagan grapes. The first estate-grown whites were made in 2006 and released in 2007.
The estate vineyard has gewürztraminer, pinot gris, pinot noir, schönburger, maréchal foch and small plots of riesling and léon millot. The winery has transitioned largely to Pender Island fruit and anticipates getting more next year from other island vineyards just beginning to produce.