Day 1 Points of Interest
- Cherry Point Estate Wines
www.cherrypointvineyards.com
At Cherry Point Vineyards the welcome mat is always out. Visit our sponsor vineyard where award-winning wines are produced and Alsatian varieties flourish, producing elegant, complex yet approachable wines. Hand crafted premium wines are made entirely on their premises, using 100% British Columbia grapes. Cherry Point invites you to their tasting room, art gallery, picnic grounds and offer guided tours of the winery and vineyard. As a sponsor of the RONA MS Bike Tour, Cherry Point will be hosting the wine tasting and providing wine for the dinner at Brentwood College Saturday evening.
- Hilary’s Fine Cheese at Cheese Point Farm
www.hilaryscheese.com
Come visit the producers of ‘Hilary’s Cheese’. The finest local ingredients combine with traditional curing techniques to deliver unique, full-bodied European-style cheeses. The hand crafted varieties include Camembert, Brushed Rind Tommes, Fresh Cheddar Curd, Chevre, and Feta. A selection of Hilary's Cheese will be available for tasting Saturday evening.
- Hecate Park Cowichan Bay – REST STOP 10:30am – 2pm
After riding through the quaint village of Cowichan Bay you will come to seaside Hecate Park. This is our official lunch stop for the day. Fuel yourself on the wonderful sandwiches prepared by our dedicated volunteers and enjoy some musical entertainment.
- Gem O’ The Isle
www.thegem.ca
Enjoy a walk through the lovely art-garden displaying unique brass sculptures, take a break on their beautiful lawn, or enjoy the art gallery featuring paintings done by several Dutch artists and items from other local artists. Look for this heritage B&B as part of a Cowichan Valley package in our auction.
- Keating Farm Estate
www.conservancy.bc.ca/keatingfarm
Stop by The Land Conservancy's 27-acre Keating Farm Estate for a stroll through the heritage orchard and a tour of the 1880’s farmhouse with it's unique Great Hall designed in 1894 by architect John Tiarks. TLC is a non-profit, charitable Land Trust working throughout British Columbia to protect special places with ecological, historical, cultural, agricultural, and scientific value. TLC recognizes the value of conserving farmland for its environmental, economic, historical, and social benefits.
- E.T. Style Studio
www.evatrinczek.com
At the E.T. Style Studio you will find a variety of artwork including soft pastel paintings, vibrant acrylics and watercolours as well as colourful banners and fabric art. Other items available are hand painted mailboxes, hand crafted jewelery, tiles and more.
- Godfrey Brownell Vineyard
www.gbvineyards.com
The farthest point on Saturday is well worth the ride. Put up your feet and relax on the flower-filled patio of this estate winery. The wine here is produced in small batches and aged in oak barrels. The grapes are grown organically and pesticide free. They offer wonderful and informative vineyard tours every hour.
- Zanatta Vineyards
www.zanatta.ca
This property has been owned and operated by the Zanatta family since 1958. Italian educated winemaker Loretta Zanatta's forte is champagne style wines with a strong emphasis for food pairing. Using only the fruit from their vineyards, they are able to produce wines that truly reflect the character of Vancouver Island and the Cowichan Valley.
- Neel Creek Alpaca Ranch – REST STOP 11:00am – 2:00pm
250-746-0708
Visit a working llama/alpaca ranch with a herd of over 400 animals. Owners Warren and Joan will be on hand to answer questions about these gentle creatures. The farm features a country store with handcrafted garments, including sweaters, scarves, hats, shawls, socks, and mittens, all made from the luxurious fleece of these animals.
- Blue Grouse Estate Winery – REST STOP 1:00 – 3:00pm
www.bluegrousevineyards.com
Blue Grouse Estate Winery is one of the founding estate wineries on Vancouver Island. This ten-acre vineyard is renowned for its exclusive premium wines, which are 100% estate grown, produced, and bottled. Enjoy the picturesque views of the Cowichan Valley and the estate while sampling their wonderful wines.
- Rocky Creek
www.rockycreekwinery.ca
Rocky Creek Winery is a boutique winery that offers high quality wines from grapes grown on Vancouver Island. All of their wines are produced in limited quantities and are known for being dry; they love to work with the lively acidity of cold climate grapes. Their wines and blackberry ports have won several silver and gold medals.
- Damali Lavender Farm & B&B
www.damali.ca
Indulge your senses and savour the lifestyle. Take some time to stroll among rows of fragrant lavender and pathways of young vineyard to discover unexpected delights such as artichokes, olives, and figs. This is a haven of relaxation, invigoration, and inspiration. The Lavender Shoppe showcases an array of aromatic and therapeutic treats made from products grown right on the farm.
- Enrico Winery
www.enricowinery.com
Enrico Vineyards is located on a 50 acre parcel of land purchased by Henry Newton Smith ten years ago for a cow-calf operation. In late 2006, the owner sold the cattle and commenced redevelopment of the property as a vineyard and estate winery. The first phase of the vineyard development includes seven acres of Pinot Gris, three acres of Pinot Noir, three acres of Ortega, 2.5 acres of Cabernet Libre and 1.5 acres of Cabernet Foch. The first grape harvest will be in the fall of 2009, by which time plans call for an estate winery to be operating on the property.
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