10 Wine Tours & Tastings in Vancouver Island That You Shouldn't Miss

Wine, whales and a west coast sunset—it’s the ultimate Vancouver Island experience! Sip some of the region’s best wines and enjoy a sunset tour with whales and other marine wildlife on this full-day combo tour. On a 4-hour wine tour, discover Saanich Peninsula, one of Canada’s must-visit locations for all wine and cider lovers. Enjoy tastings at three wineries. Later, on a 3-hour whale watching tour, hop aboard a comfortable semi-covered or open boat with Eagle Wing Tours at Victoria’s Fisherman’s Wharf. Whales are guaranteed or you come back for free! As the sun melts into the horizon, certified and knowledgeable naturalists will be your guides to the stunning wildlife of the Salish Sea! Hotel transport included.

Inclusions: All taxes, fees and handling charges, Lunch, Wine tasting, Professional guide, Hotel pickup and drop off (selected hotels only), $5 Wildlife fee, Gratuities (for Winery tour portion only)

Exclusions: Gratuities for whale tour portion (Appreciated)

Join an amazing 4-hour winery tour in Victoria, where you'll visit three of the top wineries on the Saanich Peninsula. Your package includes private tastings and samples, a behind-the-scenes tour of one of the local wineries, round trip transportation from downtown Victoria, and discounts on wine at select wineries.

Inclusions: Tasting fees, Driver/guide, Professional guide

Exclusions: Lunch, Gratuities, Custom pick up for groups

The Cowichan Valley ('warm land') offers beautiful vineyards situated in spectacular surroundings. Your 6-hour Tesla Tour will visit three Cowichan Valley vineyards of your choice including a wine tasting at each vineyard. Local growers and family-run businesses love to share their passion for the region and their unique approaches to viticulture results in a bounty of fine wines you won't find anywhere else. Averill Creek Vineyard (AverillCreek.ca), Blue Grouse Estate Winery (BlueGrouse.ca), Cherry Point Estate Wines, Unsworth Vineyards and Vigneti Zanatta are a few of our personal favourites. Our complimentary First Class concierge service is pleased to arrange for a gourmet picnic at your preferred destination or schedule a reservation at a casual fine-dining establishment such as Zanatta's Vinoteca or Unsworth Restaurant.

Inclusions: First Class Concierge Service (restaurant reservation, catered charcuterie picnic), Gourmet reserve wine, spirit, beer and cider tastings, Private tour, Professional driver, local guide, Gourmet charcuterie lunch from Cure Artisan Meats & Cheese (vegetarian & vegan options available)

Exclusions: Gratuities, Fine dining, bottles, cases and drinks available for purchase

Butchart & Beyond is our most popular tour, sampling the sights & tastes of Saanich. Let us transport you into the future of travel in the elegant, sporty luxury of a Tesla Model X, Signature Model S 85 or new Model 3: the world's first fully-electric, solar-powered* touring sedans. Inspired by his grandmother's garden, the Butcharts' transformed their family home & cement factory on Tod Inlet into one of the world's premier floral show gardens. Slake your post-garden thirst at a local craft cafe, vineyard, distillery, or brewery. Your 4 to 6-hour Tesla Tour will visit Butchart Gardens with optional visits to Butterfly Gardens or your choice of Saanich-area vineyards, honey farms, distilleries, & tea-rooms (tasting fees included, admission fees & meals not included). Admission tickets may be purchased at the gate, online, or invoiced with your tour (recommended)

Inclusions: Admission to Butchart Gardens, Private tour, Professional driver, local guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Port pickup and drop-off, Transport by private vehicle

Exclusions: optional: High Tea, Lunch & Craft Beverages, Gratuities

Our Craft Vine, Orchard & Stills tours let you savour the sights & tastes of Saanich at your own pace. Let us transport you into the future of travel in the serenely-quiet, sporty luxury of an Alset Tours' Obsidian Black Falcon-Winged Model X SUV or Signature Red Tesla Model S 85: Burgundár, the world's first fully-electric, solar-powered* touring sedan. Choose your favourite crafty tasting and slake your sightseeing thirst at a local craft cafe, vineyard, distillery, or brewery. Your 3 or 4 hour Tesla Tour includes standard tastings at two to three Saanich destinations: longer 5 or 6 hour tours offer extended gourmet tasting options and may include a visit to the Cowichan valley with time for fine dining at a farm-to-table restaurant or a gourmet catered charcuterie (restaurant costs not included in tour price).

Inclusions: Transport by private vehicle, Private tour, Standard Tastings (extended tastings available for purchase), Professional driver, local guide

Exclusions: Lunch, Food and additional drinks (available for purchase), Gratuities

Customized private tour sampling award-winning, locally crafted wines, spirits, beers and ciders. On this full-day tour, you'll discover four local producers. Stops will be selected based on your drink preferences and availability. There are plenty of food options available thoughout the day and lots of time to relax and enjoy the stunning views.

Inclusions: Tasting fees, Private transportation

Exclusions: Lunch

Great wine, delicious local food, stunning gardens, and live music = a pretty perfect summer evening! We'll start our tour mid-afternoon with tastings at two wineries. Relax, enjoy the views and then in the early evening we'll head to the Butchart Gardens. You'll have time to explore the grounds before enjoying a picnic dinner on the concert lawn. Concerts feature different artists each evening, from pop, folk and rock to classical, jazz and latin. After the concert, enjoy the night illuminations before a comfortable drive home. Tuesday to Friday during July and August. Please call for availability on other dates.

Inclusions: Dinner, Tasting fees, Private transportation, Entrance fees

Exclusions:

Join us as we tour the Comox Valley and visit two wineries, plus one distillery. Discover locally grown products, while we tour various properties and learn about the the process of creating wine and spirits.

Inclusions: Tastings at all three locations, Lunch, Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions:

This no hassle day of wine tasting includes pickup and drop off from your location right in the Cowichan Valley! Pick up is at 11:30am. We spend the day visiting 3 of the renowned wineries of the Cowichan Valley. Crank your favourite tunes between wineries and jump on the karaoke mic. We promise we wont judge you. ;)

Inclusions: Wine tastings, Please let us know of any dietary requirements, Bottled water, Private transportation, GST (Goods and Services Tax)

Exclusions: Gratuities

A visit to the Cowichan Valley isn’t complete without going on a wine & food tour that will excite your senses and leave you longing to return! Only 45 minutes from the bustle of Nanaimo, Cowichan Valley truly is a little piece of the beautiful Island countryside. Your 8-hour tour includes tastings at four different venues, plus a farm-to-table lunch at one of the stops along the way.  Start the day with a wine tasting to get your tastebuds ready for the day. Afterward, nourish yourself with a locally-sourced lunch in the countryside at an amazing local restaurant. After lunch, you'll continue tasting the afternoon away throughout the valley's numerous vineyards and learn firsthand why Cowichan's burgeoning wine industry has earned a well-deserved reputation for award-winning wines. From land to hand, find out how your favorite wines are made and why specific grapes thrive on Vancouver Island.

Inclusions: A farm-to-table style lunch at a local restaurant, Wine tasting, Local guide, Professional guide

Exclusions: Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)