Vancouver Island puts the VI in Vino
Overview
Exploring Cowichan Valley's wine country, AKA the Napa of the north
You wouldn't think a little patch of land so far north would make for great viticulture. In fact, not many people did until the 1980s, when a few hobby vintners tipped the government that Vancouver Island was sitting on a veritable gold mine. People pay big bucks for wine. And the Cowichan Valley is really good for the main ingredient in wine: Grapes.
Sure, Islanders grew loganberry for wine as early as the 1920s. But grape farming for wine production didn't exist as an option until 1986, the year the Duncan Project summarized a trial based on that earlier tip. Among other things, the committee concluded that wine-grape production wasn't just viable on the island; it was downright favorable for certain uncommon varietals like Auxerrois, Maréchal Foch, Ortega, and Siegerrebe. The first winery opened its doors in 1992.
Since then, that number has grown to 32 according to www.winebc.com. While most of the 432 acres of grapes grow in the middle of the Cowichan Valley, farms dot the landscape around Nanaimo, Saanich Peninsula, and Victoria.
Cowichan's not-so-secret weapon is its weather. Its warm climate, 25-degree average summer temperature, and 2,000 annual sunshine hours inspired the Salish name Khowutzun, which translates to "Warm Land." This temperate climate—the warmest in all of Canada—also happens to make for fantastic outdoor life. Cowichan Valley boasts a network of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails, freshwater lakes, and access to the Pacific Ocean.
It may not be the first name to roll off a wine snob's tongue; however, Cowichan Valley boasts some of the finest wine in the world, second in Canada only to Okanagan. To visit Vancouver Island without at least one stop for a taste truly would be a case of sour grapes.
Wineries
Alderlea Vineyards, Duncan
1751 Stamps Rd, Duncan, BC V9L 5W2, Canada
250-746-7122
Averill Creek Winery, Duncan
6552 N Rd, Duncan, BC V9L 6K9, Canada
250-709-9986
Blue Grouse Vineyards, Duncan
2182 Lakeside Rd, Duncan, BC V9L 6M3, Canada
250-743-3834
Chase and Warren Estate Winery, Port Alberni
6253 Drinkwater Rd, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 8W6, Canada
250-723-9463
Chateau Wolff, Nanaimo
Subd. A, 2534 Maxey Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9S 5V6, Canada
778-441-2625
Cherry Point Vineyards, Cobble Hill
840 Cherry Point Rd, Cobble Hill, BC V0R 1L3, Canada
250-743-1272
www.cherrypointestatewines.com
Church & State Wines, Brentwood Bay
1445 Benvenuto Ave, Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1J5, Canada
250-652-2671
Deol Estate Winery, Duncan
6645 Somenos Rd, Duncan, BC V9L 5Z3, Canada
250-746-3967
Divino Estate Winery, Cowichan Valley
1500 Freeman Rd, Cobble Hill, BC V0R 1L3, Canada
250-743-2311
Glenterra Vineyards, Cobble Hill
3897 Cobble Hill Rd, Cobble Hill, BC V0R 1L5, Canada
250-743-2330
Marley Farm Winery, Victoria
991 Wascana Parkway , Regina, SK S4S 2R3, Canada.
306-781-6987
Merridale Estate Cidery, Cowichan Bay
1230 Merridale Rd, Cobble Hill, BC V0R 1L0, Canada
250-743-4293
Morningstar Farm, Parksville
403 Lowrys Rd, Parksville, BC V9P 2B5, Canada
250-954-3931
Deep Cove Winery
11195 Chalet Rd, North Saanich, BC V8L 5M1, Canada
250-656-2552
Rocky Creek Winery, Ladysmith
1854 Myhrest Rd, Cowichan Bay, BC V0R 1N1, Canada
250-748-5622
Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse, Saanich Peninsula
2487 Mt St Michael Rd, Saanichton, BC V8M 1T7, Canada
250-544-4824
Silverside Farm & Winery, Cobble Hill
3810 Cobble Hill Rd, Cobble Hill, BC V0R 1L5, Canada
250-743-9149
Starling Lane Winery, Victoria
5271 Old West Saanich Rd, Victoria, BC V9E 2A9, Canada
250-479-4769
Tugwell Creek Honey Farm & Meadery, Sooke
8750 W Coast Rd, Sooke, BC V9Z 1H2, Canada
250-642-1956
Venturi Schulze Vineyards, Cobble Hill
4235 Vineyard Rd, Cobble Hill, BC V0R 1L5, Canada
250-743-5630
Victoria Estate Winery, Victoria
1445 Benvenuto Ave, Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1J5, Canada
250-652-2671
Zanatta Winery, Duncan
5039 Marshall Rd, Duncan, BC V9L 6S3, Canada
250-748-2338