Victoria Wine and Winery Tours on Vancouver Island

We are a family owned and operated winery in a little slice of heaven in the tranquil Mount Newton Valley. We had always dreamed of owning a winery and in the spring of 2000 our dream was born. Beverly, an ardent winemaker of many years, led the charge in getting us set up. After some considerable research we planted Pinot Grigio, Ortega and Pinot Noir, as being the best suited varietals for our micro climate, soils and exposure. With the help of family and friends the first vines were planted and we had our first harvest, however limited, in the fall of 2002. Prior to that, our Vintner Eric von Krosigk sourced grapes with similar characteristics, so that we could commence production.

Welcome to Victoria Estate Winery. Our one-of-a-kind facility is designed to engage the senses and delight the palate of even the most seasoned sommelier. Located a short 20-minute drive from Downtown Victoria, on the beautiful Saanich Peninsula, Victoria Estate Winery is a wonderful place to enjoy a perfectly balanced glass of wine with friends and family. The winery features breathtaking views, daily wine tours, an authentic Mediterranean Deli with a seasonally inspired tapas menu and the only Viticulture Centre on Vancouver Island. At 21,000 square feet, many guests are astounded by the magnitude of this premier winery.

The vineyard at Cherry Point was established in 1990 when founders and wine trailblazers Wayne and Helena Ulrich purchased 34 acres on a former mink ranch a few miles south of Cowichan Bay. Since wine-growing was still new on Vancouver Island they planted the vineyard with several grape varieties, for nobody really knew which grapes suited the island’s soil and climate. After the grape trials, Cherry Point Vineyards became one of the first licensed wineries on Vancouver Island in 1994.

Visitors to our new ciderhouse continually asked for food that would complement the cider, so, in the summer of 2005, we opened la Pommeraie Bistro. The philosophy of our bistro is the same as the philosophy for our cider. We use the best quality ingredients available, grown by people that are passionate about what they do, and process it with care and skill to deliver only the best. As owners, Merridale, our customers and our staff, continue to inspire us. We hope you can taste the passion of our producers and all of us at Merridale. Eat, Drink and Be Merridale!

We make more than 4,800 cases of wine a year, from our 105 acres. Both farms have natural watercourses on them and so forty percent of the land is given over to protecting those waterways and salmon and the many species found naturally in this habitat. This still leaves us room to experiment with other crops and habitat development. Our two current major experiments are growing olives and evaluating the benefits of herb cover crops in the reduction of powdery mildew in the vineyard. On the new farm, we will be investigating the design and structure of blackberry vineyards on non-irrigated hillsides.

Echo Valley Vineyards is a wine growing estate, nestled in the evergreen forests of the Cowichan Valley. Here, on the foot of the Koksilah Ridge mountains, grape vines have been planted on sun catching slopes and on the bottom plains of the valley. On this truly virgin land, the young plants are raised organically and irrigated with clear mountain water from our own wells. Soon we will be able to harvest our organically grown grapes and produce a wine with the flavours of this unique location. In the meantime we have bought grapes from other B.C. vineyards and have made wine thereof in our own way.

Located on Vancouver Island in the Cowichan Valley, our winery is part of a 120 acre farm.  With 30 acres in vines, the remainder of the farm is in pasture, hay fields, forest and old fruit orchards. Using only the fruit from our own Glenora vineyards we are able to produce wines that truly reflect the character of Vancouver Island and of our particular site. Producing since 1990, our original 5 acres (planted in 1986) has grown to 30 acres and includes Ortega, Cayuga, Auxerrois, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Nero and Madeleine X Sylvaner as our main varieties.  There are at least 30 different varieties on site for experimental purposes or for limited specialty wines (varieties such as Castel, Leon Millot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Siegerrebe…).

All grape growers on the west coast had a great year, the non-stop sunshine resulted in a larger than normal crop. At harvest, wineries were busy unexpectedly sourcing more tanks and barrels. Now our little winery is full of wine, and we are struggling for storage space. A great addition to the vineyard was the arrival of Huey and Duey, the Indian Runner Ducks. Bill and I headed out sailing in September as soon as we had finished netting on the grapes. When we were away, Huey and Duey moved in. They do everything in unison, so its a treat to watch them running up and down the rows of vines, searching for slugs. You’ll have to come see it to understand our fascination with them.