Our oldest son Philip has a custom wood milling business, which was beneficial as we created most of the unique spaces in our tasting room and outdoors with his beautifully milled cedar and fir.”, Bonnie continued, “Our son in law had the interest in planting berries to start the winery and our youngest son is a commercial bee keeper on the farm. Matt and Natalie Riga are the owners of Chateau Wolff Estates, one of the few wineries on Vancouver Island near Nanimo. Wineries and vineyards on Vancouver Island with information of their city location, address and phone number. Our small kitchen, which serves basic light meals keeps a smile on each customers face while they enjoy a wine tasting.”, Enrico Winery’s resident winemaker Daniel Cosman’s understanding of hybrid grapes has proven to be rewarding for the winery. Glenterra Vineyards is located in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, this is a very well established area with the largest concentration of wineries on the coast and has shown substantial growth in recent years. In 2007, John and Catherine Windsor grew De Vine Vineyards & Spirits from a strong love of wine, community, and Vancouver Island. The wines here are natural and also feature the currently trending orange method. She was a local resident of Victoria and Shawnigan Lake and introduced the family to the area. Donica Jeffery from Church & State Wines shared the meaning being the name, “it is meant to embrace the idea of the head + heart. Add these and more to your travel plan The farthest north wineries on Vancouver Island are located near the city of Comox. Vancouver Island's climate is ideal for producing quality grapes. Look beyond the vinis vinifera vines and you’ll find a gorgeous glamping site, Hornby Islands most unique accommodation. On the ferry, you travel across the water. The scenic winery is one of the most romantic wineries on Vancouver Island to host an outdoor wedding. We are in an excellent location close to all amenities including world class private schools, outdoor recreation, shopping and only 45 minutes to Victoria. The kitchen crafts a curated menu showcasing fresh local ingredients. Giordano and Marilyn Venturi first established Venturi-Schulze Vineyards on Vancouver Island in 1988. Visitors can enjoy a wine tasting and purchase the families vinegar and house-made jams in the retail shop. I like wines that are versatile and highly drinkable. Zanatta Winery is now located on a 27 acre vineyard. The current owner of the Enrico Winery is Jim Smith. Beyond wine, Venturi-Schulze Vineyards also produces balsamic vinegar using an ancient method from Modena, Italy. DOBBERNATIONLOVES is an award-winning lifestyle site created by Toronto-based writer and photographer Andrew John Virtue Dobson. With the help of designer Vasco Pavlov, Johnston embraced the opportunity to work with the inherent landscape, “Guided by gravity and slope, our facility incorporates three buildings structured together, allowing wine to flow down from one stage to the next without the need for pumps. Looking to sip and slurp the best Vancouver Island Wines? Your support helps us to produce comprehensive content. Gulf Islands ferries have a few sailings each day, so plan ahead. Powell explained, “Alderlea is probably the hottest vineyard site on Vancouver Island with a sloping, south-facing vineyard over a lake, in the rain shadow of Mt. In 2012, the family launched Ravens Moon Craft Cider, adding hand-crafted fermented apple products to its already booming wine list. You’ll also find a large patio area, best enjoyed on beautiful summer days. The Vancouver Island wineries grass patios are a great spot to sip and savour. Previously the vineyard had a very high quality reputation as a grape grower that supplied other wineries in the area. Church & State Wines is a Vancouver Island Winery that first opened its doors 15 years ago. We also wanted to have special food related functions on the farm so we built a commercial kitchen and an intimate dining room that could accommodate small gatherings of up to 16 people. There are also wineries in Victoria, Saanich, Nanaimo, Sooke, Port Alberni, and the Comox Valley. The valley’s name comes from the Salish word Khowutzun which means ‘warm land’, thanks to its temperate year-round climate. Vancouver Island Wine Trails Comox Valley Wineries. Andy Johnston is the founder of Averill Creek Vineyard in Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. Nibble on all-natural products such as charcuterie, smoked salmon, cheeses, fresh-baked baguettes, chutneys, roasted nuts and dried fruits, and the winery’s famous pickled grapes. He makes small batch wines that are distinctly Vancouver Island. The entire property is approximately 80 acres. The family grew over 20 acres of loganberries for Growers Winery, which was established in 1921 as the first commercial winery in British Columbia. We also took silver for our blackberry dessert wine.”. Layne Robert Craig and wife Brenda Hetman-Craig purchased 40 Knots Estate Winery in July, 2014. Mark and Linda Halford first opened Rocky Creek Winery in 2005. The Parsell and Miles families arrived on Vancouver Island as early pioneers and farmers in the late nineteenth-century, and by the 1920s were growing loganberries for the peninsula's first wineries. Beaufort was the first winery in the Comox Valley. Owners Lamont Brooks and Pat George has been farming the land with their family in Central Saanich since 1959. Looking to book a tour or VIP experience on holiday? So yes, these Vancouver Island wines are vegan friendly! Some of the links in this story use affiliate links. He acquired the Vancouver Island winery from his dad, Harry Smith the original owner. Mead is “wine” made from honey and water, often flavoured with herbs, fruits, spices and other botanical elements. Enrico Winery’s General Manager Lorin Inglis explained, “In 2009, we converted one of the original buildings into our tasting room. The Canadian province is home to more than 250 wineries and 150 craft breweries. During the Winter and Fall, guests can enjoy Soup Saturday from 12-3pm, where kitchen staff prepare homemade seasonal soups. Cherry Point Estate Wines was originally established on Vancouver Island in 1989. George explains the meaning behind the Vancouver Island wineries name, “Symphony Vineyards came from working the land and our feeling that the creation of wine from farm to glass has the emotion and physicality of the 4 movements of a classical symphony.”, George continued, “Our focus is very much on farming and winemaking. We suggest these comfortable walking shoes for urban adventures or these waterproof hiking boots when embarking on a hike holiday. The Wineries on Vancouver Island are spread out from the Saanich Peninsula near Victoria to Comox up north. Glenterra Vineyard’s farming practices include extensive canopy management to create airflow through our vineyard, which greatly reduces mildew and botrytis pressure, mechanical weed control under the vine rows to create a mulch which suppresses the weeds and creates organic matter and moisture as it breaks down. Thistles Cafe offers indoor and outdoor patio dining. Jim Moody is the resident winemaker, joining the business when he married Loretta in 1992. Life Style. During Spring and Summer, weekends are busy at Blue Grouse Winery. Discover the history and passion behind every bottle with the best wine tours in Vancouver Island. The Camerons enlisted the help of a small and dedicated team to manage the Vancouver Island winery and farm land. Cherry Point produces all estate wines, best enjoyed on its sun-soaked outdoor patio. The Venturi family share a passion for Pinot Noir, dry bottle-fermented sparkling, racy whites, and a unique process to create naturally sweet wine, the Brandenburg No.3. The struggle between the two, and delicate balance that is found.”. While not technically one of the Hornby Island wineries, Middle Mountain Mead produces an ancient fermented beverage using honey instead of grapes. The winery also produces unique port-style wine and vin d’cure from botrytis Pinot Gris. Layne has the hands-off approach in the cellar and a hands-on approach in the vineyard, with the philosophy that great grapes make great wine. Timeline Photos . Executive Chef Desiree Perrin pair Church & State Wines with dishes such as Baked Dungeness Crab Dip, Crispy Polenta Fries and handsome cheese & charcuterie boards. Review Our Travel Checklist When Planning Your Next Adventure! Rathjen Cellars first vintage was in 2015 and its first wines were released during Christmas in 2017. Today, the majority of Wineries on Vancouver Island are located in the Cowichan Valley and Saanich Peninsula. In addition there are now smaller diversified vegetable and mixed agriculture operations. Vancouver Island Wineries ~ Saanich Peninsula - South Island ~ Cowichan Valley ~ Central - … The Damali vineyard was originally planted in 2006. Vancouver Island is home to a dedicated community of family grapegrowers and winemakers. The winery is the only known current producer of a Black Muscat wine in the country. The wine-growing season here is long and characterized by temperate temperatures and low risk of frost. Visiting cocktail aficionados should also pay a visit to Wayward Distillery (honey-based vodka and gin) and Shelter Point Distillery (vodka and single malt whiskey). If you have time we suggest hopping on a car ferry bound for Denman and Hornby Island, located just south of Comox. 11/26/2020 . In 1989, Vigneti Zanatta was created and licensing was finally issued in August of 1992. 10/31/2020 . Pioneering British Columbian viticulturist John Harper planted an experimental vineyard on the site starting in 1986 with more than 150 different types of grape vines, some of which are still producing to this day. Symphony Vineyard planted its first vines in 2004 and focussed on crisp dry aromatic white wines, rosé, and lightly barrel aged fruit forward reds. We are helping Vancouver Island and BC Wineries advertise their wineries for sale The Briar Hill Group at RE/MAX Camosun Operating as usual. Just north of Victoria along the Saanich Peninsula, mild temperatures, fertile valleys and expert vintners offer quality wines across the spectrum. Mike Rathjen and Colin Mann are the owners of Rathjen Cellars, one of the Wineries on Vancouver Island located in the Saanich Peninsula. Vancouver Island & Victoria Brewery Map. Blue Moon Winery first opened in June, 2009 as a fruit winery. Vancouver Island Wine Tours operates tours beginning early in the spring up until the end of harvest time in the fall. 1854 Myhrest Rd, Cowichan Bay, BC V0R 1N1, Canada. Wine was first made on Vancouver Island in the 1920s from berries other … So what inspired the winery’s name? Matt Riga is Chateau Wolff Estates’ resident winemaker. The wee tasting room was designed by Victoria-based architect JC Scott and features locally salvaged maple and arbutus counters and windowsills created by local artisan Joe Gelinas. Seasonally, we are also happy to offer our wooden open beam Winery Crush Pad; a beautiful unique outdoor covered location of 1200 sq ft.”. The Vancovuer Island winery has a picnic licence and offers locally produced snacks to purchase such as an artisan meat packs, candied local salmon and local cheeses. Isla de Lerena Vineyard is another one of our favourite Hornby Island Wineries. The winery building was built new as a barn to house cows until the original owner realized that the land’s terroir is better for grapes than pasture. Today the winery tends to over 23 acres acres of vineyards. The Divino Estate Winery was constructed using the wood from the trees felled to plant the grapes. The first winery on Vancouver Island was Zanatta Winery, which opened in 1992. Today, the diverse lifestyle content on DOBBERNATIONLOVES is written by a team of Toronto writers who share the publications playful and professional ethos “Fancy Food. Book effortlessly online with Tripadvisor. Popular Comox wineries include 40 Knots Winery, Beaufort Vineyard, Coastal Black Estate Winery and Blue Moon Winery & Cider Worx. The Vancouver Island Winery first opened its doors in 2009. The Cowachin Valley winery would be Tim Turyk’s retirement project from the fishing industry. The estate-grown vineyard is certified organic and has been farmed without pesticides or sprays since day one. The majority of Vancouver Island wineries are located in the Cowichan Valley, located between Victoria and Nanimo. On Sundays during the high season, guests enjoy Sunday EATS, lunch specials offered in partnership with local caterers and food trucks. The Zanatta family began experimentation of vinifera varieties in 1981. Vancouver Island Wine Tours. The wheat grown and milled on-site is used to bake breads fresh daily. It is close to 5 feet under ground, which keeps the temperature in the building very consistent. Regardless of why you choose to visit Vancouver Island, you pass through the ocean to get here. Symphony Vineyards first opened its doors as a Vancouver Island winery in 2012. This is the first time a wine region outside of the Okanagan has been given such a distinction.”, He continued, “Some of the most planted grape varieties are Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir but there are hosts of others that have become local favourites including Ortega, Marachel Foch, Sauvignette and Petite Milo.”. Colin’s family picked up the property in 2011 and did a beautiful job fixing it up and restoring the fields to gently sloping pasture. Vancouver Island Wineries - 40 Knots Vineyard, Biodynamic farming resulting in clean natural wines with juicy acidity. "The Enrico winery is one of the first of the 30-odd Cowichan Valley wineries that you encounter driving north from Victoria, and we really enjoyed a recent visit to their spacious tasting room." Wines are vegan and gluten free Victoria Craft Brewery tour photographer who likes stories... Wine shop, which opened in June, 2009 as a cedar tree the... 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