Whether it is a moment of celebration, narrated by the popping of a cork—or a hearty meal with friends that requires the sharing of a full-bodied malbec—wine is often a social thing. In this spirit, let us introduce you to some of our favourite Island’s wineries and their finest bottles of vino.

Deep Cove Winery

Deep Cove Winery’s location in North Saanich hosts wine tastings of its vintages on weekends. Using grapes from its own three-acre site and from the Okanagan and Osoyoos, the winery offers up five varieties of wines. These include classics like ortega and schonburger as well as their own blends like Alchemy, a combination of cabernet sauvignon and merlot.

Address: 11195 Chalet Rd., North Saanich
Hours: Saturdays and Sundays, 11am-4pm
Instagram: @deepcovewinery

Church and State Wines

Church and State Wines in Brentwood Bay is the Island’s largest winery and has been named Canada’s Best Red Wine producer seven times since 2009. Some of its award-winning wines include its syrah and its Lost Inhibitions Rose. Wine flights are available at its indoor tasting room.

Address: 1445 Benvenuto Ave., Victoria
Hours: Wednesday-Friday and Sunday, 11:30am-5:30pm; Saturday, 11:30am-3pm
Instagram: @churchandstatewines

Symphony Vineyard

Symphony Vineyard’s family farm has been operating in Saanichton for six decades, and all of its grapes are grown on site. It specializes in dry, aromatic whites, like ortega and gewurz, which can be tasted at the drop-in patio.

Address: 6409 Oldfield Rd., Saanichton 
Hours: Friday-Sunday, noon-5pm
Instagram: @symphonyvineyard

Invinity Sparkling Wine House

Invinity Sparkling Wine House in North Saanich creates small batch sparkling wines using traditional and natural methods. Chardonnay, pinot gris, and marechal foch are among the sparkling wines on offer. Invinity offers tastings at the North Saanich Market on Saturdays. If you’re looking to purchase wine, call 250-812-5680 and you can pickup it at the winery; or, purchase on its website for free weekly delivery in Greater Victoria (minimum 2 bottles).

Address: 10755 Madrona Dr., North Saanich
Hours: North Saanich Farmers Market, Saturday, 9:30am-noon
Instagram: @invinitysparklingwinehouse

Rathjen Cellars

Rathjen Cellars draws on Old World traditions to create its wines, using grapes from its own vineyard and also sourced from across the Saanich Peninsula and the Cowichan Valley. Its wines include the bunker series, named after the unfinished basement where the winery had its origins, which features a red blend of gamay noir, foch, and pinot noir as well as a white blend of pinot blanc, auxerrois, and ortega. The winery intends to close later this summer, so best to visit sooner than later.

Address: 334 Walton Pl., Victoria
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, noon-5pm
Instagram: @rathjencellars

Salt Spring Vineyard

Salt Spring Vineyard focuses on small-scale production that entirely takes place on Salt Spring Island. Available to try at its tasting room, it specializes in wines that are dry and crisp like its pinot noir rose and aromata. It also creates dessert wines including a blackberry port and an apple pie dessert wine.

Address: 151 Lee Rd., Salt Spring Island
Hours: Weekends & Holidays, 11am-5pm
Instagram: @saltspringvineyard

Sea Star Vineyard and Winery

Located on 26 acres on Pender Island, Sea Star Vineyard and Winery grows its grapes on site, producing award-winning wines like its blanc de noir and ortega. A tasting room and patio is available to sample its current white and sparkling offerings.

Address: 6621 Harbour Hill Dr., Pender Island
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, noon-6pm; Friday and Saturday, noon-8pm; Sunday, 11am-4pm
Instagram: @seastarvineyards