Vancouver Island Wineries & Vineyards produce wines, ciders and kiwi delicacies that are well recognized in many parts of the world, winning many awards and receiving much praise in major magazines. The Cowichan Valley, Victoria and the Gulf Island regions have the highest concentration of vineyards and wineries.

Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, both located on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada, enjoy long sunshine days and warm temperatures in the summer months - which when mixed with the cool intermittent shifts in the weather conditions produces wines higher in acids and more aromatic. A weather system allowing a long fermentation process which produces a lighter, fruitier wine.

The nutrient-rich soils of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands produces wines of quality, vastly, gaining reputation as the “Napa Valley of the North”. It is clear, to us locals, that none of these fine wines would exist without the combined talents and experience of the brew masters, vintners and winemakers of the area. Cheers to you all!

For a long time the west coast has been nourished by rains and sun, ravaged over billions of years by storms and ice ages. A blender full of weather conditions composing and churning the organic soil over time into fruitful pastures and hills known as Terroir French.

Terroir French soil categorizes the type and quality of the soil… this means what? Well, the microclimate and overall environmental conditions are right for the island’s vineyard and wine making regions to produce quality wines and ciders. Idealistically, the wine growing conditions have created many mini healthy environmental micro eco-systems on the islands providing the Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands’ wineries to flourish in today’s global wine markets.

Vancouver Island and Gulf Island wineries are found everywhere. Some wineries are in-between looming mountains, others are hidden among forests and others, scattered around pristine lakes and rivers, some are even clasping onto the oceans edge. The Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands’ wineries are all unique and proud of their own , individual personalities. All wineries are stretched out over acres and acres of time-enriched island soil.

Organizations like the Vancouver Island Vintners Association (VIVA) oversees the quality, teamwork and marketing of the local wineries and vintners. VIVA celebrates the local wines at special events, festivals, wine tours, dinners and wine tasting venues on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

The spring season, usually around March, the local wineries and vineyards start their wine season by opening their doors to wine tours and wine tasting. We have visited some of the wineries in disguise many times and enjoyed the tours, hospitality and wines. We always buy local wines as gifts and for special events and occasions.

The west coast is blessed with one of the highest concentrations of artists in Canada, so the Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands’ wineries and vineyards celebrate the artists by displaying their works for viewing with wine and cider tasting tours during ART Month, which is also in March.

Spring also brings the ritual of the “Burning of the Vines”. A mostly, April event… where burning the winter prunings from the previous season sends the nutrients back into the ground to Mother Earth. Keeping with the artistic nature of the islands, do not be surprised if musicians and poetry reading is taking place at the wineries during a wine tour and wine tasting experience in the spring.

The summer season brings sunshine and outdoor events, dinners and wine festivals galore to Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. During this season the vintners continue with the ongoing preservation of the wines and protecting the wine from heat. Concentrating on tourism, the doors are open to the vineyards for wine tours daily.

The summer solstice, around the middle to end of June, is usually a time of celebration.

Fall, it is time to get “graped”. This is the season, around October, when picking season kicks in for Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands wineries and vineyards. In particular during “Harvest Weekend” in late October when visitors can see the grapes being crushed up close and personal and experience an important part to the winery making process. This period is when the new wine is fermenting and the old wine is going through final racking and the winery embarks on the turning of the barrels.

Winter climates on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands are mild, so we enjoy moderate temperatures filling up our golf courses all year round. During this season the brew masters and vintners turn their attention to their cellars with preparations for the next wine season. The casks are topped up and fermentation is monitored closely. The barrels are maintained and barrel bungs wiped down in the winemaker’s preferred solution. This is the time of year the wineries celebrate the winter solstice in December to make a toast to good fortunes to all in the upcoming year.

The Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands wineries and vineyards take great pride in their wines and ciders. They are leading the field in new fermentation and processing methods. It should be of no surprise to anyone in the wine tasting industry? Heck… since the early 1800’s Canadians have been known as pioneers in wine making... always willing and eager to experiment with new varieties of grapes and processes to improve the end result … the wine, the cider EH !

Wineries of Vancouver Island