Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands support a vibrant wine industry with more than two dozen wineries. The vineyards complement Vancouver Island’s thriving farms, breweries, cideries, and dining scene.
Take a self-guided or guided wine tour of the four scenic wine regions that make up the “Wine Islands.” Taste blackberry port at Cherrypoint Vineyards in the Cowichan Valley. Relax at a bistro overlooking vineyards at Muse Winery on the Saanich Peninsula. Or discover hidden gems like Salt Spring Vineyards in the Gulf Islands or the Comox Valley’s Blue Moon Estate Winery.
Vancouver Island wineries have a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Most welcome visitors for tours and tastings. Many are small, family-owned, and run by friendly winemakers. Some wineries offer dining (mostly casual or informal) or picnic facilities, and host special events like live music. All four wine regions offer palate-pleasing vintages and some also produce fruit wines.
Wine Regions of Vancouver Island
- Cowichan Valley: The Cowichan Valley is the largest and most prominent grape-growing region on Vancouver Island.
- Saanich Peninsula: A strip of rolling farmland near Sidney (just north of Victoria) with winding country roads, wineries and orchards.
- Gulf Islands: The Gulf Islands include several small, family-run wineries spread out over Salt Spring Island, Pender Island and Saturna Island.
- Comox Valley: Boasts a rich agricultural tradition and several wineries near Comox and Courtenay.
Popular Wineries
In the Cowichan Valley, sample award-winning blackberry port at Cherry Point Vineyards, or admire the stunning views from Averill Creek Vineyard, Vancouver Island’s largest estate winery. Enjoy the relaxing ambience at Silverside Farm and Winery in Cobble Hill (south of Duncan) and try a delicious fruit wine or port-style dessert wine.
Near Sidney, enjoy wine pairings at Muse Winery’s Bistro Muse, where their 100-Mile Diet ethos highlights local, seasonal foods. At Zanatta Winery and Vinoteca in Duncan, dine in a lovingly restored 1903 farmhouse and pair local wines with country cuisine.
Listen to live summer jazz in the vineyard at Salt Spring Vineyards, or pair their wines with artisan cuisine from Salt Spring Island’s famous Saturday Farmers Market. Stay at a local B&B to explore the wineries on Pender, Saturna and Salt Spring islands, savouring the famously laid-back island lifestyle.
Boutique Wineries
Small-scale boutique wineries like Garry Oaks Winery, Blue Grouse Vineyards, Starling Lane Winery and Venturi-Schulze Vineyards offer more intimate settings and experiences. Meet the winemakers for personalized tours and tastings.
Fruit Wines
North of Courtenay, Coastal Black Estate Winery produces blackberry, blueberry and raspberry wines, and features a falconry and beehive (try the signature blackberry honey). Wine tours at Blue Moon Estate Winery's on-site kitchen can include snacks, lunches, or dinners – all custom-made with culinary treasures from the nearby Comox Valley Farmers Market.
Self-Guided Wine Tours
Spend a day or more driving to wineries on a Vancouver Island wine tour. Ask local Visitor Centres for winery information and maps, and follow the burgundy-and-white wine route road signs. Print out a Wine Passport from Wine Islands as a handy guide.
Most wineries are clustered in the southeast corner of the island along the Saanich Peninsula or the Cowichan Valley, within easy driving distance from Victoria, or BC Ferries terminals near Sidney or Nanaimo. Two scenic routes connect the peninsula to the valley: a drive over the Malahat Pass on Highway 1 or a trip on the Brentwood Bay-Mill Bay “shortcut” ferry.
The Gulf Islands, accessible via BC Ferries, have fewer wineries than Vancouver Island. Consider combining a self-guided wine tour with other favourites: browsing art studios, cycling through the rolling landscape, or tasting locally grown produce. Spend up to a week island-hopping, or just focus on one or two islands.
Guided Wine Tours
Let someone else do the driving with a guided wine tour. Most winery tour operators offer half or full day trips, visit between three and five wineries, and leave from Victoria. Alternate pick-up points can sometimes be arranged.
A guided full-day cycling tour of the Cowichan Valley is a great way to enjoy scenery, fresh Pacific air, and Vancouver Island vintages.
Guided wine tours of the Gulf Islands are limited; some kayak or boat cruise operators can offer a winery visit during a guided tour or private charter.
Cowichan Wine & Culinary Festival
Celebrate Vancouver Island food and wine at September’s Cowichan Wine & Culinary Festival, a gathering of wineries, chefs, artists, and musicians. Meet local wine and food makers and enjoy winery tours, wine and food tastings, and free culinary seminars.
When to Visit
Most wineries are open May to September for tours and tastings; some are open year-round. To make the most of a wine tour, visit on a weekend. Most wineries welcome visitors Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and are closed on Mondays or Tuesdays.
During the week or in the “off” season, call ahead to see if they offer tastings and tours.
Practical Points
- Nominal fees may be in effect for tastings.
- It is recommended to call before visiting – some wineries have variable visiting hours.
- Local Visitor Centres are a good source of information.
- The minimum drinking age in BC is 19.
- For Gulf Island travel, check the BC Ferries sailing times.
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