Our History

Pairing History & Flavor: Fruit Wines at The Fort Wine Co.

At The Fort Wine Co., we take immense pride in crafting exceptional fruit wines that celebrate the rich bounty of the Fraser Valley. Nestled in the heart of Glen Valley, just minutes east of Fort Langley, we are honored to be part of the area's vibrant history and natural beauty.

Our journey began as a humble cranberry farm, and in 2001, we transitioned into a winery dedicated to creating unique, grape-free table and dessert wines. Today, we are the only fruit winery in the Fort Langley area, producing 11 distinctive wine varieties made from cranberries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, apples, and pears. Our 10-acre cranberry bog continues to supply us with the fruit for our signature wines, while we source other fruits from local farms to create the rest of our portfolio.

Cranberries remain the heart of our story. Our flagship red cranberry table wine, Mighty Fraser, is a tribute to our roots and the original owner, Wade Bauck, who was both a tugboat captain and cranberry farmer. Ghost of the Bogs, our crisp white cranberry table wine, captures the ethereal beauty of the autumn fog that often graces our cranberry bogs.

Contrary to what many believe, not all fruit wines are sweet. Our fruit table wines are refreshingly off-dry, making them versatile pairings for various dishes. On the sweeter end, our fortified dessert wines, such as Saucy (cranberry), Finger Fruit (raspberry), Isle Queen (blackberry), Cold Snap (apple), and Sweet Nothings (blueberry), are a decadent indulgence. These wines emulate the style of ice wines, sherries, or ports. We are especially proud of Saucy, our richly textured cranberry dessert wine, which has won a Double Gold medal at the All Canadian Wine Championships.

Our name, The Fort Wine Co., honors the local history of Fort Langley, often called the birthplace of British Columbia. This region’s peat bog soil is ideal for cranberries, and we are proud to grow this ‘red gold’ on-site. Historically, cranberries played a crucial role in trade between the First Nations and the Hudson’s Bay Company, with their high acidity and vitamin C content making them invaluable for long voyages and preventing scurvy.

Every October, we celebrate our cranberry heritage with an annual harvest festival, where visitors can witness the beauty of a wet harvest demonstration. Watching ruby-red cranberries float on flooded bogs, gently freed by our water reels—or “eggbeaters”—is a sight to behold. During the festival, we also run a shuttle between the Fort Langley National Historic Site and our winery to ensure guests can fully enjoy the experience.

Year-round, we invite visitors to explore our cozy tasting room, complete with a bistro and outdoor patio. Whether sampling our wines, indulging in a cheese platter paired with a glass of wine, or savoring our signature Valley Girl Sangria made with our blueberry table wine, there’s something for everyone. For culinary enthusiasts, we offer a selection of aged Italian balsamic vinegars infused with cranberry, raspberry, blackberry, or blueberry.

As one of British Columbia’s largest producers of cranberries and a pioneer in fruit wine, we remain dedicated to showcasing the incredible potential of non-grape wines. From the soil of the Fraser Valley to your glass, we are thrilled to share the fruits of our labor with you.