Cherry Point Estate Wines

Cherry Point Estate Wines holds a special place in Vancouver Island wine history. Established in 1990 on a former mink ranch south of Cowichan Bay, it was among the first licensed wineries on the Island, and it remains a family-owned producer committed to making wine exclusively from estate-grown grapes using sustainable, environmentally sound practices. The property sits at 840 Cherry Point Road in Cobble Hill, in the heart of the Cowichan Valley about fifty kilometres north of Victoria, which makes it an easy stop along the Vancouver Island wine route for day-trippers from the capital or travellers heading up-Island.

Visitors will find a welcoming, working winery rather than a polished resort. The tasting room is open daily from 10am to 5pm, pouring a range that spans whites, reds and dessert wines, with staff happy to walk newcomers through the cool-climate styles that define this maritime growing region. Guided tours and tastings offer a closer look at the vineyard, and an on-site bistro operates seasonally from late spring, serving lunch Thursday through Sunday with reservations recommended. The grounds, with their vineyard views and garden settings, have also made Cherry Point a popular venue for weddings and special events. For anyone exploring Cobble Hill, Cowichan Bay and the surrounding farm country, the winery pairs naturally with the area's cheesemakers, cideries and seaside villages, and it slots easily into a relaxed afternoon of touring. Because the bistro runs on seasonal hours and the tasting room occasionally closes for private events, checking the winery's website or calling ahead is wise in peak summer. As one of the Cowichan Valley's original estates, Cherry Point offers visitors a genuine taste of how far Vancouver Island wine has come, poured by the people who helped start it.