The Secret of 40 Knots Wines [Pssst... it is the terroir]

In late 2024, 40 Knots Winery had the privilege of diving deep into the land that shapes our wines — our terroir — alongside one of British Columbia’s foremost experts in vineyard geology. We welcomed Scott Smith, M.Sc., P.Ag., to our coastal vineyard and the surrounding landscape on the Comox Peninsula. A professional geoscientist based Penticton, Scott specializes in Quaternary geology, soil science, and viticultural landscapes, bringing decades of insight into what lies beneath the vines. His visit was not only enlightening but reaffirmed the unique character and potential of our terroir, rooted in ancient soils and shaped by coastal influence.

At 40 Knots Vineyards, located on the coastal Comox Peninsula of Vancouver Island, the journey from vine to glass is deeply rooted in something ancient, enduring, and undeniably local — the land beneath our feet. This is a vineyard not just shaped by its people, but by the glacial and marine legacy of the coastal Peninsula soils, creating wines that are truly reflective of their origin.

🌍 A Rare and Remarkable Coastal Terroir

The vineyard blocks at 40 Knots and its adjacent Knotty Vineyard are planted on lands sculpted by glacial and oceanic history unique to southeast Vancouver Island.  These vineyard soils were formed through millennia of glacial retreat, marine sedimentation, and wind activity — creating a soil profile that is rare across British Columbia and truly distinct to this coastal Peninsula location.

These ancient coastal soils, combined with modern sustainable farming, create the foundation for wines of finesse, depth, and authenticity.

🧪 Peninsula Soils and Their Influence on the Vine

The vineyards of the Peninsula are rooted in a patchwork of diverse soil types that tell the story of the region’s unique geological history. At 40 Knots Vineyard, the primary soil is Tsolum, classified as imperfectly drained.

So, what does that mean?

Water lingers in the soil longer than in well-drained types, but it still eventually filters through—offering a natural advantage. After rainfall, the root zone remains moist for longer periods, allowing vines at 40 Knots to access water directly where it matters most.

Beneath the surface lies a clay or compacted layer that slows water movement, while the loamy topsoil provides rich nutrients and structure ideal for healthy vine growth. It’s a balanced environment—not waterlogged, but perfectly poised to support sustainable, dry-farmed viticulture.

🌬️ Coastal Climate & Maritime Microclimate

As a coastal vineyard on the eastern edge of the Peninsula, 40 Knots is blessed with a tempered maritime climate. The constant breezes off the nearby Salish Sea naturally reduce disease pressure, moderate temperatures, and extend the ripening season. Combined with long daylight hours and filtered sunshine, these coastal influences yield grapes with exceptional balance, aromatic lift, and natural freshness.

The proximity to the sea also acts as a buffer against extreme weather, making the Peninsula site both consistent and resilient — ideal for growing high-quality wine grapes year after year.

🌱 Stewardship on the Peninsula: Sustainable Vineyard Practices

While the coastal terroir sets the scene, it's the 40 Knots team’s commitment to thoughtful, ecologically sound practices that ensures the land is not only preserved — but improved with each vintage.

✨ Certified Sustainable, Naturally Coastal

40 Knots follows a sustainability model rooted in organic farming principles and bolstered by advanced regenerative agriculture techniques tailored to coastal Peninsula conditions. With a complete avoidance of synthetic inputs, the team relies on:

Cover cropping to build soil health and protect against erosion

Low-impact cultivation to preserve the integrity of Peninsula topsoil

On-site composting to enrich vineyard biodiversity

These efforts are carefully designed to support long-term vine health while expressing the true character of the Comox Peninsula’s coastal landscape.

🐞 Living Ecosystems

Supporting a healthy coastal vineyard ecosystem, 40 Knots incorporates habitat zones for beneficial wildlife and pollinators. From swallow boxes to pollinator corridors, the vineyard is designed to function as a self-sustaining, balanced system.

This approach is particularly suited to the mild coastal climate of the Peninsula, where fewer environmental extremes allow for more natural pest and weed control.

🚜 Minimal Intervention for Maximum Expression

Yields are kept low and vines are managed with a gentle hand to ensure quality over quantity. Precision work in the canopy ensures that each vine receives just the right amount of Peninsula sun and sea air. Grapes are harvested and fermented with care — with the guiding philosophy that the less interference, the more the coastal terroir can shine through.

🍷 The Result: Wines with Coastal Elegance and Peninsula Precision

The results speak for themselves. 40 Knots produces wines that offer a distinct sense of place — a glass of Pinot Noir that echoes the minerality of glacial subsoils, White Seas that beams with coastal freshness, and Traditional Method sparkling Spindrift and Soleil Rosé that reflect the precision and purity of Peninsula farming.

Each wine is an invitation to taste the story of the land — from ancient marine deposits to present-day sustainable stewardship.

🌿 Experience the Comox Peninsula Terroir Firsthand

Visitors to 40 Knots Winery don’t just sip wine — they walk the vineyard, feel the coastal breeze, and experience the land that shapes every vintage. Whether you're strolling through the Knotty Vineyard or relaxing with a glass overlooking the vines, every visit connects you to the essence of the Peninsula.

Come see our monolith!  As part of his work with us, Scott Smith constructed a striking soil monolith — a vertical cross-section of our vineyard’s soil — now proudly displayed in our tasting room. This living snapshot of our terroir offers guests a rare, tangible connection to the layers of earth that shape every bottle of wine we produce. It’s a beautiful reminder that great wine truly begins in the soil.

Come discover wines born from ancient coastal soils and crafted with respect on the Comox Peninsula.
Explore the terroir for yourself at 40 Knots Winery — where land, sea, and sustainability meet in every glass.