It had been a couple of years since we last toured the wineries of the Cowichan Valley, so last week with our friends Richard and Carolyn we climbed aboard the Acura and we headed south.

Our first stop was Averill Creek Vineyard, just outside Duncan. The winery has a lovely tasting room and an even more inviting garden patio. We’d sampled their wines on previous visits, so this time we headed straight for the patio, where the ladies enjoyed a glass of Pinot Gris. None for me, of course—someone had to be the designated driver!

Averill Creek is always worth a visit. Their expansive vineyard climbs the hillside behind the winery, and the vines were absolutely loaded with grapes. The tasting room is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and if you’re feeling peckish, they offer a selection of snacks to enjoy on the patio with a chilled glass of wine.

https://www.averillcreek.ca

With lunchtime approaching, we took a delightful country road that wound its way across the valley before ending about 25 minutes later at Genoa Bay. More about lunch there in a moment.

Our next stop was Merridale Cidery & Distillery in Cobble Hill. This is a wonderful destination, with beautiful grounds, an excellent restaurant, and a well-stocked gift shop. Merridale is best known for its ciders, but it also produces Cowichan Gin,  Vodka, and Brandy, all available for purchase in the shop.

The restaurant menu looked excellent and would make Merridale a fine choice for lunch.

Merridale Farmhouse Eatery Menu

Looking for something a little different? Merridale’s Orchard Picnic is a delightful experience. Begin with a cider tasting to select your favourite bottle, then settle into the orchard with a blanket and a fully prepared picnic featuring a shared charcuterie spread. It sounds like a wonderful way to spend a summer afternoon.

Picnic Experience in Cowichan Valley

And there’s more—you can even spend the night in one of their yurts!

If you’re touring the Cowichan Valley, Merridale is definitely worth adding to your itinerary.

Just four minutes down the road is Unsworth Vineyards, an absolute must-visit. The winery was founded by local residents Tim and Colleen Turyk, who built it into one of Vancouver Island’s premier wineries, producing a long list of award-winning wines. As retirement approached, they sold the business in 2020 to the Jackson family of Kendall-Jackson Wines, the renowned Sonoma, California winery.

Since then, significant investments have been made in both the winemaking facilities and the spectacular new tasting room. It is truly impressive.

Unfortunately, the restaurant—which we’ve thoroughly enjoyed on previous visits—is currently closed for renovations. Although we didn’t do a tasting this time, we couldn’t resist taking home a bottle of their excellent Pinot Gris.

Their website is well worth a visit:

https://www.unsworthvineyards.com

Our final stop before heading home was Blue Grouse Estate Winery, located just north of Duncan. It’s another impressive property with a beautiful winery and tasting room. We skipped the tasting on this visit but have enjoyed it in the past.

Interestingly, Blue Grouse was also acquired by the Jackson family in 2022. Clearly, one of California’s most respected wine families sees tremendous potential in the wines of the Cowichan Valley. That level of investment bodes very well for the future of Vancouver Island’s wine industry.

If you haven’t toured the wineries of the Cowichan Valley, you’re missing one of Vancouver Island’s real gems. We only visited four this time, and there are several more waiting to be explored.

If you enjoy good wine, beautiful scenery, and relaxing country drives, put the Cowichan Valley on your list.

Soon.

Just saying…