We invite you
to discover B.C.'s fastest growing Wine Country. Enjoy our wineries
and cideries, taste the latest vintage, picnic in a vineyard or orchard
- all with a backdrop of verdant hills and scenic landscapes.
The Saanich Peninsula lies just a few minutes north of Victoria. Considered Vancouver Island's latest viticultural hot spot, the Saanich Peninsula boasts the Island's only certified-organic vineyard. Your next wine tour starts in the Cowichan Valley which is reached via the
Trans Canada Highway or if the prospect of negotiating the steep Malahat
Drive is daunting, B.C. Ferries operates a regularly scheduled service
from Brentwood Bay to Mill Bay.
Your Cowichan Valley wine tour is your opportunity to sample something truly special! The wine route begins at Mill
Bay, at the Merridale Ciderworks, and then heads north to Cowichan
Bay / Cobble Hill and
the Cherry Point Vineyards. Cherry Point offers guided tours three
times a day that provide an in-depth look at grape growing and wine
making at a "farm" winery. Next stop is Venturi-Schulze Vineyards
and the nearby Blue Grouse Vineyards. Follow the Wine Route markers,
it is a fifteen-minute drive north to the southern end of the city
of Duncan and Echo Valley
Vineyards, Godfrey Brownell Vineyards and Zanatta Winery. Just north
of the city is Alderlea Vineyards.
A half-hour drive north to Nanaimo
is the Chateau Wolff Vineyard, and farther north in Port Alberni
is the Chase Warren Estate Winery, the first winery in Port Alberni
and the northernmost tip of the Island’s wine growing region. While the vineyards, wineries, breweries, and distilleries in the Central and North Central Island regions are less concentrated than in other areas of the islands, the passion is just as strong and you'll find many of the shops and restaurants proudly offering fine locally crafted vintages, brews, and distilled spirits.
No two vineyards are alike; each has its own special favourites,
as popular as Chardonnay or as rare as Agria. The region also boasts
near-perfect conditions for growing premium quality cider apples.
The Cowichan Valley mirrors the climate and soil conditions of the
famous cider-growing regions of England and France.
Located in the lee of Vancouver Island, between the island and
the mainland of British Columbia, are the Gulf Islands, and their
near Mediterranean climate. Many of the Gulf Island wineries supplement their production
with grapes grown in the Okanagan Valley. Each of the Gulf Islands
seems to be a world unto itself; travelling between the Southern
Gulf Islands and Northern Gulf Islands can be accomplished in small
hops - each island deserves at least a day or two for exploring.
On Saturna are the Saturna
Island Vineyards, the only island vineyard and winery in Canada
with a resort and restaurant facilities. On Salt
Spring Island, be sure to visit Salt Spring Vinyeards and Garry
Oaks Winery, located between Ganges and Fulford Harbour. To the
northwest of Saturna Island is Thetis
Island, location of Thetis Island Vineyards. Visit Morning Bay
Vineyards on North Pender Island, Gabriola Island Winery and Hornby
Island on the east coast of Vancouver Island is home to three wineries.
BC Ferries have a few sailings each day, so plan ahead. Diehard
wine trekkers will want to hit all the wineries scattered about
the islands; your best bet is to bring a bike and a tent for some
serious Island Hopping.
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