12 wineries. 31 days. 36 unforgettable wines.
New memories are waiting for you at the 2021 Cowichan Valley Wine Festival.
Relax and experience summer in the vineyards, taste award-winning wines, and meet the winemakers just as special as the wine they produce.
All on a self-guided tour of the world-class terroir called Cowichan.
This event is now SOLD OUT, but wineries are still keen to welcome you for regular wine tastings.
cowichan’s commitment to winemaking
Cowichan is home to numerous family-owned and operated wineries that have been part of the valley for generations.
In 2020 the Cowichan Valley was officially recognized as a significant area known for its grape-growing and winemaking, with a new sub-geographical indication. This designation is a protected term under B.C. law, and commits to consumers that Cowichan wine was produced with a minimum of 95% of grapes grown from the region. The Cowichan Valley is the BC’s first sub-GI outside of the Okanagan.
When you drink Cowichan wine, you’re tasting decades of dedication, passion, and hard work from its committed winemakers. Savour it.
discover cowichan – your wine festival passport
Spend 31 hot summer days savouring a bouquet of rosés. Refresh with soft and crisp whites. And let the heavenly-bodied reds lull you into a summer dream while you gaze out over the vineyards. Your passport is your ticket to 12 wine-tasting experiences across Cowichan’s prestigious wine-producing region.
Click on “PURCHASE TICKETS” and follow the directions to complete the transaction. This is the only fee to participate in the festival. There is no cost at any of the wineries.
Download or print your digital ticket from Eventbrite. Check the hours and reservation requirements of each winery before heading out! Your passport is your map to each winery.
Take your proof of purchase to any of the participating wineries to start your personal festival. Remember, only 6 guests per group.
Exchange your proof of purchase for a keepsake tasting glass and your passport. Bring your tasting glass and passport to each winery, and enjoy 3 tastings at each stop.
Enter to win a case of 12 premium Cowichan wines. When your passport is full of stamps (12), submit it at your last tasting for your chance to win.
PARTICIPATING WINERIES
Averill Creek Vineyard – 6552 North Rd, Duncan – 250-709-9986
Hours and Bookings
Please make reservations online at https://www.averillcreek.ca.
Unsworth Vineyards – 2915 Cameron Taggart Rd #1, Mill Bay – (250) 929-2292
HOURS AND BOOKINGS
Open daily 11am – 5pm, reservations not required.
The popular on-site restaurant is open Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm-8pm. For reservations, please call: 250-929-2292 or Book Online
Divino Estate Winery – 1500 Freeman Rd, Cobble Hill – (250) 743-2311
HOURS AND BOOKINGS
Open Sunday through Friday, 1pm – 7pm. Saturdays by appointment only. Wine Festival tastings start at 1:15 pm, on a first-come-first-served basis.
Please note, the Winery will be closed from August 18-24. There are no public washrooms on-site at Divino. They apologize for any inconvenience.
Please see Divino’s website for more information.
Enrico Winery – 3280 Telegraph Rd, Mill Bay – (250) 733-2356
HOURS & BOOKINGS
Open Wednesday through Sunday, 12 pm – 5pm. Reservations not required.
Grab a coveted spot on the patio overlooking the vineyard to enjoy your tasting!
Deol Estate Winery – 6645 Somenos Rd, Duncan – (250) 746-3967
HOURS & BOOKINGS
Open Wednesday through Sunday, from 11am-5pm, reservations not required.
Glenterra Vineyards – 3897 Cobble Hill Rd, Cobble Hill – (250) 743-2330
HOURS & BOOKINGS
Open Friday through Monday, 12pm-5pm, reservations required. Book Online.
Thistles Café, is also open Saturdays & Sundays from 12pm to 4pm. Please call: 250-510-1677 to make a reservation.
Rocky Creek Winery – 1854 Myhrest Rd, Cowichan Bay – (250) 748-5622
HOURS & BOOKINGS
Open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am-5pm, reservations required. Reservations are very easy and we only have online bookings, no phone calls please. BOOK HERE and please select the experience for Cowichan Wine Festival Ticket Holders to have the tasting fee waived.
Damali Lavender & Winery – 3500 Telegraph Rd, Cobble Hill – (250) 743-4100
HOURS AND BOOKINGS
Open Thursday through Sunday, 11am-4pm, no reservations required.
Enjoy a stroll through the lavender fields while you sip your wine for an added unique experience!
Venturi Schulze Vineyards – 4235 Vineyard Rd, Cobble Hill – (250) 743-5630
HOURS AND BOOKINGS
Open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am-4pm, reservation required. BOOK HERE. Make sure you select the “Wine Festival” booking option to bypass the tasting fee.
Cherry Point Estate Winery – 840 Cherry Point Rd, Cobble Hill – (250) 743-1272
HOURS AND BOOKINGS
Open daily, 10am-5pm, reservations strongly recommended.
The on-site bistro, La Terraza Bistro, overlooking the vineyard, is open Thursday to Sunday from 11:30-3pm.
Reservations for both the vineyard and the restaurant: 250-743-1272
Blue Grouse Estate Winery – 2182 Lakeside Rd, Duncan – (250) 743-3834
HOURS AND BOOKINGS
Open Wednesday to Sunday, 11 am-5 pm. Reservations are required. Book Online or Call: 250-743-3834.
Vigneti Zanatta Winery – 5039 Marshall Rd, Duncan – (250) 748-2338
HOURS AND BOOKINGS
Open Wednesday-Sunday, from 11am-4:30pm, reservations not required.
You can also order a charcuterie to enjoy with your wine on the verandah!
Walk-ins are welcome but reservations are recommended and you can preorder your charcuterie board as well. Please call: 250-748-2338
TOURS & TRANSPORTAtION
Enjoying responsibly means everyone arrives home safely.
Many tour operators offer custom winery tour packages, as well as hourly rates (where applicable). Book your travel with a professional driver and tour guide, and enjoy your tour safely and worry free. See more about Tourism Cowichan’s tour operators here.
We are a Vancouver Island private tour and transportation company located in the Cowichan Valley. We tour wineries, brew pubs, local tourist spots, and provide transportation such as wedding shuttles, and can pick up and drop off anywhere on Vancouver Island. We will customize any tour or transportation required. We service Vancouver Island. Our home base is located in Ladysmith, BC. Our rates are by the hour, not per person (some exceptions apply).
Reservations required 250-732-1120
www.mygo.ca
We are the local experts offering tours all over Vancouver Island: wine tours, cycling the old rail trails, custom tours and more. Borrow one of our Electric Bikes or bring your own, we have bike racks. Tour ideas: Malahat Skywalk, The Raptors, Hand of Man Museum, float down the Cowichan River on an inner tube, Cowichan Bay and more. Small group tours of 6 people this season due to Covid-19 regulations. Save luggage space, we offer local delights in our online shop with shipping across Canada.
Reservations required 250-477-3322 www.IslandTimeTours.com
Canada’s 1st expertly-guided private luxury tours to gardens, vineyards & craft gems in a Signature Tesla S, 3 & X, touring from Victoria around Vancouver Island BC. Visit exquisite gardens, find hidden gems and discover special events, both modern & classic. Eat as local as it gets: visit the growers, producers and purveyors of Vancouver Island’s gourmet fare. Explore the innovative breweries, distilleries and youthful terroirs of Cowichan, Saanich & Sooke.
Reservations required 1-877-789-8752 www.alsettours.com
They are the largest fully diversified ground transportation company on Vancouver Island. Their fleet includes late model Lincoln, Cadillac, and Mercedes sedans, Lincoln Navigator SUVs, executive and shuttle vans, stretch limousines, and Navigator SUV limousines. In addition to luxury limousine buses with seating capacity for up to 26 passengers and luxury mini buses with seating capacity for up to 31 passengers.
Reservations required 250-390-9000 www.LALimo.ca
Know Before You Go
Safety for our guests and employees is paramount, and wineries have been preparing to receive guests in a safe and healthy environment. All provincial health officer’s requirements and restrictions will be followed including protocols to maintain physical distancing, provide sanitized tastings, and limiting the number of people on premises.
Please check with each winery ahead of your arrival for the latest information about reservations and safety precautions. Some wineries require reservations for all tastings.
If you have additional questions that are not answered here, feel free to contact the event organizers.
