Though Vancouver Island sits just across the bay from Vancouver, BC, in the part of British Columbia that does not benefit from the "rain shield" effect, it manages to prosper with cooler weather grapes like Gewürztraminer and Pinots Noir, Blanc and Gris. It's also important to note that most of the rain here falls during the time when the vines have settled down for their long winter's nap.
During the growing season, the weather is typically dry and warm. Some of the harsher effects of being on the Pacific side of the Cascades are ameliorated by the modest Vancouver Island Range, which nevertheless provides some sanctuary from grueling winter storms.
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