This summer we went to the Cowichan Valley and I want to let you in on a little secret.
The Cowichan Valley is what I believe to be a hidden gem on the Island. If you travel on Vancouver Island for pleasure or business you may have traveled past without realizing that it exists.
Now you are probably asking yourself where is this hidden gem? Well, It is located west of Duncan BC (Click on map)
Cowichan Valley Map (click on Link to see Map)
Now that I have let the secret out; this hidden gem is waiting for you to discover.
Let me tell you about the places we visited.
Fairburn Farmstay and Guest House (Click on link to visit website)
Fairburn Farmstay and Guest House is a working dairy farm where they have water buffalo. YES water buffalo. The Farm produces the milk which goes into Fairburn Buffalo Mozzarella.
This was our chance to get up close and personal to a Water Buffalo or should I say Water Buffalo's! BUT be careful approaching these majestic beasts.
The rooms were very comfortable, the breakfast fresh and filling; the host and hostess were very accommodating, they could answer alot of our questions on places to visit and let us know about the awesome biking trails to discover.
Click on "Fairburn Farmstay and Guest House above to discover more on this B&B!
Wineries
There are a few Wineries in the Cowichan Valley. I will talk about the ones we visited on our visit to the area. The Cowichan Valley has over 15+ wineries and we only visited a few of what is avaiable in the area. So in no particular order here are the wineries we visited. You can also click on the winery name to get to their web site:
Averil Creek Winery (Click on link to visit website)
The wine from Averil Creek is Estate Grown from their 40 acres. This winery produces
small-lot plantings of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and a few others.
The wines we tasted:
Pinot Gris - Medium bodied; Nose - Pear, Vanilla, and Honey; Palate - Citrus, and Lemon Peel
Pinot Grigio - Nose - Citrus; Palate - melon, crisp, citrus fruit with a nice clean finish
We enjoyed these two wines on the patio over looking the winery and the ocean!
Cherry Point Winery(Click on link to visit site)
Cherry Point Winery is another Cowichan Valley winery that produces Estate Wine from there 24 acres. They produce "ten main varieties and eight limited varieties" - noted from their website. Cherry Point Winery is south from Averil Creek Winery in the Cobble Hill Area. Cherry Point has a choice of Red, White, Sparkling, and dessert wines.
The wines we tasted:
Cherry Point Pinot Noir - Light body, Nose - Raspberry, Red fruit; Palate - Sour Cherry, and Raspberry
Bete Noire (Pinot Noir, Agria, and Castell) - Dark Red; Nose - Earthly, Dark Cherry; Palate - Oak, high tannins, Black Currant, and Cherries with a long finish. I am going to lay this one down for a couple of years! Hoping it will mellow the tannins
Now you are probably asking yourself where is this hidden gem? Well, It is located west of Duncan BC (Click on map)
Cowichan Valley Map (click on Link to see Map)
Now that I have let the secret out; this hidden gem is waiting for you to discover.
Let me tell you about the places we visited.
Fairburn Farmstay and Guest House (Click on link to visit website)
Fairburn Farmstay and Guest House is a working dairy farm where they have water buffalo. YES water buffalo. The Farm produces the milk which goes into Fairburn Buffalo Mozzarella.
This was our chance to get up close and personal to a Water Buffalo or should I say Water Buffalo's! BUT be careful approaching these majestic beasts.
The rooms were very comfortable, the breakfast fresh and filling; the host and hostess were very accommodating, they could answer alot of our questions on places to visit and let us know about the awesome biking trails to discover.
Click on "Fairburn Farmstay and Guest House above to discover more on this B&B!
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| Water Buffalo on the way to milking |
Wineries
There are a few Wineries in the Cowichan Valley. I will talk about the ones we visited on our visit to the area. The Cowichan Valley has over 15+ wineries and we only visited a few of what is avaiable in the area. So in no particular order here are the wineries we visited. You can also click on the winery name to get to their web site:
Averil Creek Winery (Click on link to visit website)
The wine from Averil Creek is Estate Grown from their 40 acres. This winery produces
small-lot plantings of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and a few others.
The wines we tasted:
Pinot Gris - Medium bodied; Nose - Pear, Vanilla, and Honey; Palate - Citrus, and Lemon Peel
Pinot Grigio - Nose - Citrus; Palate - melon, crisp, citrus fruit with a nice clean finish
We enjoyed these two wines on the patio over looking the winery and the ocean!
Cherry Point Winery(Click on link to visit site)
Cherry Point Winery is another Cowichan Valley winery that produces Estate Wine from there 24 acres. They produce "ten main varieties and eight limited varieties" - noted from their website. Cherry Point Winery is south from Averil Creek Winery in the Cobble Hill Area. Cherry Point has a choice of Red, White, Sparkling, and dessert wines.
The wines we tasted:
Cherry Point Pinot Noir - Light body, Nose - Raspberry, Red fruit; Palate - Sour Cherry, and Raspberry
Bete Noire (Pinot Noir, Agria, and Castell) - Dark Red; Nose - Earthly, Dark Cherry; Palate - Oak, high tannins, Black Currant, and Cherries with a long finish. I am going to lay this one down for a couple of years! Hoping it will mellow the tannins
Unsworth Winery (Click on link to visit site)
This is a new Winery to the Cowichan Valley in the sense that it has new planting. They source their grapes from the Cowichan Valley and make the wine at their winery. Not only is the wine impressive the restaurant that is located on the Estate is just as impressive. Amuse on the Vineyard was an excellent place to enjoy some excellent local food and wine. Visit there web site at Amuse on the Vineyard.
The Wines we tasted:
Unsworth Pinot Gris - Pale Lemon; Nose - Peaches, Lemon; Palate - Citrus Lemon/Lime. We enjoyed this one on a hot summer day back home.
Unsworth Allegro - A blend of Grapes with aromatics of flowers; Palate - Citrus
One worth getting again on my next visit to the winery or use there website to get the wine delivered to my house.
Ovation - This port style wine; almost garnet in color; Nose - Dried Fruit, Prunes, Chocolate; Palate - Black and Red fruits, cocoa. This would be great made into a reduction and poured over ice-cream DELICIOUS! or on its own for an after dinner drink.
Merridale Cider Works(Click on link to visit site)
The last place we visited was a cidery that is located up the road from Unsworth Winery. This was a change from wine to Apple Cider. I am talking true apple cider, not that commerically sweet cider. On our visit we were told that it is "hand crafted, all natural and made from 100% undilited juice from Cowichan Valley Apples" they also state this on their website. If you have the chance stop by and sample their Ciders, Fortified Wine, and Spirits. I must say the Winter Apple was awesome; the first time I smelled this I thought it was Apple Pie in a glass! If you do not have a chance to make it over to the island visit their website which I have attached for your enjoyment. (click on name above)
Hope you enjoyed my little tour of the Cowichan Valley, I have only touched on places we visited and some of the wines we enjoyed. This area is ready to be discovered and enjoyed by all! I know we will be planning a trip back in the future!
Ciao!
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| Chickens from Fairburn Farms |
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