The Cowichan Wine Festival is here

By Katherine Holford

For the entire month of August, you can sample 13 of Cowichan’s award-winning wineries. If you haven’t purchased your $20 ticket yet, make sure to visit TourismCowichan.com to get yours.

This year looks a little different for the Cowichan wineries. While we have entered into Phase 3 in British Columbia, large gatherings are still limited to 50 people, so while we are not able to host the popular Launch Party, we are extending the festival through the entire month of August and allowing guests to take a self-guided tour of our wine region. This allows our guests to enjoy the region at their own pace, while ensuring the wineries are able to adhere to proper sanitation and capacity protocols. You’ll want to set aside a good amount of time to explore other gems in the Cowichan region though! Take a leisurely walk or hike along one of our incredible trails, stop for lunch or dinner at one of the countless farm-to-table restaurants or locally-sourced bakeries, or extend your beverage tour to include a local craft brewery, distillery, or cidery.

With so many summer plans being cancelled, this is the one to get excited for! Get your wine glass ready and spend a whole month visiting your favourite spots in the Cowichan Valley. Grab your loved ones and offer an experience like no other right now. Visit Cowichan Tourism to book your tickets ahead of time to start your August off right!

So...How Does This Work? Once you purchase your ticket, you can download to your mobile device or print it off. From there, you can begin your tour at your leisure! Simply hand in your ticket at any participating winery to get your branded Tasting Glass and “passport”, which will act as your guide along the way. Be sure to collect your “stamps” at each stop and hand in your completed passport once at your final visit to be entered into a draw to win a custom box of Cowichan wines from the participating wineries. And remember to plan ahead! While all wineries are open their regular hours, guests are encouraged to call ahead and make reservations if needed.

There’s so many ways to discover your next adventure in Cowichan right now and we encourage each of our guests to get off the beaten path and take advantage of this great opportunity to explore your own backyard! If you need a little more inspiration, be sure to check out the Visitors Guide at TourismCowichan.com to plan your itinerary.