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Vancouver Island supports a small but vibrant wine industry made up of more than two dozen wineries. Vancouver Island wineries have a relaxed, informal atmosphere, and most welcome visitors for tours and tastings. Many are small, family-owned, and run by unpretentious, friendly winemakers. Some wineries offer dining or have picnic facilities. The Cowichan Valley, with its “Gourmet Trail,” is an ideal location for food and wine enthusiasts. The Valley takes its name from an Aboriginal word meaning “the warm land” and it enjoys Canada’s warmest mean temperature, ideal conditions for growing grapes and other fruits and vegetables. The Cowichan Valley is British Columbia’s newest wine-growing region and has become known for its Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. The high wine tour season is between April and October, but while some of the wineries take this time, to get rest after the busy growing season, the others of the larger wineries are open and you can still have a great tour during the off season as well.
Some of recommended wineries:

• Averill Creek Vineyard
• Blue Grouse Vineryards
• Chery Point Estate Wines
• Glentarra Vineyards
• Merridale Cidery
• Rocky Creek Winery
• Silverside Farm & Winery
• Twenty Two Oaks
• Venturi SChulze Vineyards
• Zenatta Winery