Cliff & Gorge Vineyards

Cliff & Gorge Vineyards brings winegrowing to one of British Columbia's most dramatic and least expected settings: the arid benchlands south of Lillooet, where sagebrush canyons and the Fraser River carve through the Coast Mountains. Established in 2019 on the historic Texas Creek Ranch, the winery sits at 18450 Texas Creek Road, about eighteen kilometres south of Highway 99, with the final nine kilometres on a gravel road that is manageable for most vehicles. The journey is part of the experience, and it ends at a property whose name is no exaggeration, with cliff faces and a genuine gorge on the land itself.

The winemaking philosophy here is minimal intervention: the team describes producing clean, honest expressions of their Lillooet-grown fruit, adding nothing and taking nothing away that would alter the natural flavours and aromas, with all wines bottled under screwcap. Visits are unhurried by design. Guests book self-guided tastings by phone or text, and the signature tasting package includes six half bottles of 100 percent Lillooet-grown wine along with take-home tasting glasses, enjoyed at the visitor's own pace. Between pours, the property invites exploration, with dramatic gorge walks and picnic areas overlooking the rugged landscape, and most visitors end up spending two to three hours on site. Lillooet is one of BC's emerging wine regions, with hot, dry summers that surprise first-time visitors, and Cliff & Gorge offers one of the most immersive ways to understand its potential. For travellers driving the Highway 99 route between Whistler, Lillooet and the Cariboo, this is a worthwhile detour for anyone who likes their wine touring with a sense of adventure, though booking ahead is essential given the remote location and small-scale, personal style of hosting.