June 09, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Duncan, Wineries & Vineyards
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Recently myself and a small group of friends headed to the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island for a small tour of exploring and imbibing the wines of "the warm land".
We started the day with breakfast at Whippletree Junction and hunted for bargains in the nearby antique shops, set in charming restored buildings from the early 1900s. Next stop was Cherry Point Estate Wines, for incredible mussels paired with pinot gris, followed by a tasting in the wine shop with Xavier Bonilla, the friendly owner of the winery. There were crisp ciders to sample at Merridale’s lovely cidery in Cobble Hill and it was hard to resist wandering the sunny orchards afterwards. We finished with refreshing gelato and organic chocolate at Organicfair farm and turned our tour into an overnight trip by camping at Gordon Bay Provincial Park on Cowichan Lake. Sipping our Merridale Scrumpy Ciders next to a campfire under the tall Douglas firs was a great way to end the day.
Next time I head to the Cowichan Valley, I’ll tour via bicycle and make sure to try lunch in the 1903 farmhouse at Zanatta Winery and Vinoteca or maybe time my visit with the annual Cowichan Wine and Culinary Festival.
August 17, 2005 | Tips from Us >
Duncan, Wineries & Vineyards
Find more information about Duncan - Wineries & Vineyards
My husband and I went wine tasting with some friends recently in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island's east side. We got off to a late start and only had time for a few stops, but had a wonderful afternoon. The valley, along with other parts of
Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, has a rapidly-growing wine industry and produces some excellent, award-winning wines. Finding our way from one winery to the next was made easy by the "Wine Route" signs that now direct visitors from the highways to the wineries throughout the province. We started at Merridale Estate Cidery in Cobble Hill just south of Duncan and tasted some amazing ciders made from freshly-pressed apples grown on the estate. Personal favoutites were the Scrumpy and the Traditional Cider. We also visited a few wineries, the highlight of which was Godfrey-Brownell Vineyards in Duncan. Even though we arrived late in the day (after 6pm) we were warmly welcomed and were even treated to a basket of bread and a plate of some delicious Vancouver Island cheeses. The wines were excellent (particularly the Merlot and the French Oak Chardonnay) and the setting is serene and lovely.