Victoria: Cowichan Valley Wine Tour & 3 Wineries with Lunch

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Free cancellationExcellent qualityLikely to sell out

1/20

Duration6h

GroupUp to 6

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Three Wineries, One Valley, Six Hours from Victoria

You leave Victoria in the morning, drive over the Malahat with views of three island groups, then spend the day tasting at three wineries with a local guide. Lunch and cheese tastings are included, and the whole day is paced so you can actually talk to the winemakers and enjoy the valley instead of checking off a list. Hotel pickup from downtown Victoria is part of it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Wine tasting and scenic tour

Depart from downtown Victoria hotels
Drive up Malahat Mountain range
Stop for photos at summit viewpoint
Enjoy history and points of interest en route
Arrive at Cowichan Valley wine country
Taste wines at three local wineries
Sample cheese and balsamic tastings (Fri-Sun)
Have picnic lunch with dietary options

The Experience

The van leaves downtown Victoria and climbs the Malahat Mountain range, passing through old growth forest before stopping at the summit. From there you see across the Saanich Inlet to the Gulf Islands and San Juan Islands — the driver points out the geography and the history as you go. By the time you reach Cowichan Valley, which the local First Nations call "the warm land," you've already had a sense of what makes this region different from the city you left behind.

Then the wine starts. You'll visit three local wineries across the day, tasting at each one while the guide talks about how the winemakers work and what grows here. The tastings aren't rushed — there's time to ask questions, to sit with a glass, to understand what you're drinking instead of just moving through. Between stops, the pace stays relaxed because the whole tour is built around six hours, not crammed into four. Somewhere in the middle, lunch arrives: a seasonal picnic filled with local food, and if you've told them in advance, they'll have vegan or vegetarian options ready.

On Fridays through Sundays, there's also a cheese tasting at a nearby farm, and when it's possible, a balsamic tasting too. The guide is local and knows the valley — they're there to make the day entertaining and educational, not to rush you through. Groups stay small, six people or fewer, which means you're not herded around with thirty others. You need to be 19 or older to taste wine, and if you have dietary concerns, just mention them when you book.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from downtown Victoria, the scenic drive over the Malahat with a summit stop, tastings and entry fees at three local wineries, a seasonal picnic lunch with vegan or vegetarian options available on request, and cheese and balsamic tastings at a farm (Friday–Sunday). A local guide drives and shares the history and winemaking insights throughout.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Island Time Tours Ltd.

Is this one for you?Right for wine lovers who want to taste without arranging transport, tasting fees, or lunch logistics themselves. The six-hour pace means you're not rushing between stops — you have time to talk to the winemakers and sit with the views.