RONA MS Bike Tour - Cowichan Valley Grape Escape

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Points of Interest (1 & 2 Day Tour)

Day One Points of Interest There are many fascinating stops planned for your tour of the Cowichan Valley. You are welcome to stop and rest for as long as you like while you take in the pastoral views or chat with the owners of the various vineyards, farms & galleries. You may not have time to stop at every Point of Interest so plan your day accordingly. Keep in mind we would like you back at the school by 4:30pm. At the designated rest stops you will find light snacks and refreshments to keep you energized. Most Points of Interest will offer water and washrooms. If you are in need of medical assistance, bike repairs or need a lift home you may use the phone at these locations to contact the help you need. Remember, you will have an opportunity to shop at the Points of Interest listed below and have your purchases delivered to you at the finish of the bike tour.

Enrico Winery: www.enricowinery.com
Owner: Cliff Clarke Address: 3280 Miller Rd. (250-210-1824)

Cherry Point Vineyards: www.cherrypointvineyards.com
Managers: The Cowichan Tribes Address: 840 Cherry Point Rd (250-743-1272) At Cherry Point Vineyards, the welcome mat is out every day. Visit our sponsor vineyard where award-winning wines are produced and Alsatian varieties flourish, producing elegant, complex but approachable wines. Hand crafted premium wines are made entirely on their premises, using 100% British Columbia grapes. Cherry Point Vineyards invite you to their tasting room, art gallery, picnic grounds and offer guided tours of the winery and vineyard. You will also enjoy their wine at the wine tasting & dinner Saturday evening.

Hilary's Fine Cheese located at Cheese Point Farm
Owners: Hilary & Patty Abbott Address: 1282 Cherry Point Rd (250-715-0563) Come visit the producers of ‘Hilary’s Cheese’. The finest local ingredients combined with traditional curing techniques delivers unique European-style full-bodied cheeses. The hand crafted varieties include Camembert, Brushed Rind Tommes, Fresh Cheddar Curd, Chevre and Feta. A selection of Hilary’s Cheese will paired with local wines featured in the evening wine tasting. Remember, the bike tour ‘Sag Wagon’ will have a cooler to bring home e any purchases you make!

Hecate Park (Lunch Stop 10am - 12:30am)
After riding through the quaint village of Cowichan Bay you will come to sea side Hecate Park. This will be our official LUNCH stop for the day. Fuel yourself on the wonderful sandwiches supplied by Power Lunch of Duncan.

E.T. Style Studio: www.evatrinczek.com
Address: 4876 Marshall Road. (250) 746-6132 For Eva inspiration is everywhere, most of all in nature. Much of her creativity was inspired growing up in a modest home where many things were handcrafted. Starting with small watercolour paintings she soon experimented with larger canvases and with different mediums, like pastels and acrylics. Eva's newest endeavours are jewellery making and silversmithing, a career dream since grade ten. Eva's acrylics, soft pastels and rich oil pastels paintings, art cards and jewellery can be found at Imagine That Artisans' Designs in Duncan, BC as well as the Duncan Centre for the Arts and Oakleaf Gallery in Chemainus.

Keating Farm Estate: www.conservancy.bc.ca/keatingfarm
Owner: The Land Conservancy of British Columbia. Address: 5250 Miller Road (250-889-2406) On your way to Gem ‘O the Isle stop by TLC's 27-acre Keating Farm Estate for a stroll through the heritage orchard and a tour of the 1880s 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. This property, which is part of the Agricultural Land Reserve, continues to hold great agricultural potential and the Keating Community Farm Co-operative has been established to explore this potential.

Gem 'O the Isle: www.thegem.ca
Owners: Ben Verduin & Patty John Address: 2465 Koksilah Rd (250-715-0426) Enjoy a walk through the lovely art-garden displaying unique brass sculptures. There is also an art gallery featuring paintings done by several Dutch artists and items from other local artists.

Godfrey-Brownell Vinyards: www.gbvineyards.com
Owner: Dave Godfrey Address: 4911 Marshall Rd (250-715-0504) The farthest point of the Grape Escape Bike Tour but well worth the ride. Take a well-deserved rest on the delightful flower-filled patio of this estate winery and enjoy the patio music and view. Here wine is produced in small batches, and aged in oak barrels. Grapes are grown organically & pesticide free. During the wine tours you will get an introduction to wine-making, learn the history of the wines now aging in oak or still and you may even see the winemaker at work. If you join the vineyard tour, you’ll first see the historical roses and a variety of herbs in our patio gardens. Tours are offered every hour.

Vigneti Zanatta (opens at 12:00): www.zanatta.ca
Owner: Loretta Zanatta Address: 5039 Marshall Rd (250-748-2338) This property has been owned and operated by the Zanatta family since 1958. Italian educated winemaker Loretta Zanatta’s forté is champagne style wines with a strong emphasis on wines for food pairing. All Zanatta wines are produced 100% from grapes grown on their vineyards giving total control over quality and true Vancouver Island wines. As well as grapes the property grows much of the food served in the family’s Italian restaurant, Vinoteca, located on the estate. Vinoteca is open from 12:00pm - 5:00pm.

Neel Creek Alpaca Ranch (Rest Stop)
Owner: Warren & Joan Sawyer Address: 4275 Howie Rd (250-746-0708) Visit a working llama/alpaca ranch with a herd of over four hundred. The owners will be on hand to answer questions about these gentle creatures. Shop in the country store for hand crafted garments made from the luxurious fleece of these animals and created by local artisans. Shop highlights include sweaters, scarves, hats, shawls, socks, mittens and alpaca yarn.

Blue Grouse Estate Winery (Rest Stop) www.bluegrousevineyards.com
Manager: Sandrina Kiltz Address: 4365 Blue Grouse Rd (250-743-3834) Blue Grouse Estate Winery is one of the founding estate wineries of Vancouver Island, started by Dr. Hans and Evangeline Kiltz from Germany. This ten-acre vineyard is renowned for its exclusive premium wines, which are 100% estate grown, produced and bottled. Visitors will be offered a taste of their remarkable wines while you enjoy picturesque views of the Cowichan Valley and the estate.

Hillbank Pottery: www.hillbankpottery.ca
Potter: Joan Tuff Address: 4145 Hillbank Rd (250-743-6686) Joan Tuff has been potting for twenty-five years. Her work consists of both functional and decorative ware. Demonstrations and studio tours will be given and lemonade will be provided! Check out the showroom where you will see Joan’s work including dinnerware sets, masks, gold-fired pots, garden lanterns and one-of-a-kind items. All major credit cards accepted and no tax will be charged for bike tour participants!

Rocky Creek Winery: www.rockycreekwinery.ca
Owner: Linda & Mark Holford Address: 1854 Myhrest Road (250-748-5622) 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 (Rest Stop): www.damali.ca
Owner: Alison Philp Address: 3500 Telegraph Road (250) 743-4100 Take some time to stroll among rows of fragrant lavender and pathways of young vineyard and discover unexpected delights such as artichokes, olives and figs. This is a haven of relaxation, invigoration and inspiration. Pick fresh lavender from the fields, sip lavender lemonade or tea on the sundeck or wander and ponder in the labyrinth. The Lavender Shoppe showcases an array of aromatic and therapeutic treats made from products grown right on the farm. The new B&B will be open for those who may wish to stay a little longer to 'Indulge your Senses & Savour the Lifestyle'.

Day Two Points of Interest
2740 Dundas Shawnigan Village: www.destinationshawnigan.com
2740 Dundas, Shawnigan Lake Village, BC, V0R 2W0 Visit several unique galleries, specialty shops, eateries and the Sunday Lavender market all at 2740 Dundas in beautiful Shawnigan Village. Includes:
The Finer Things Gallery - featuring the truly exceptional work of Vancouver Island artists, artisans & jewelers.
Moziro - fabulous coffee & chocolate!
Soul Sister - fantastic selection of women's shoes & handbags.
Pipi & Dragonfly - unique hand painted home accessories, & hand made soaps & body products.
Lavender Market - Sundays outside 2740 Dundas.

GBS Glass Studio: www.glassblow.ca
Owners: Anne & Grahame Fowle 678 Shawnigan Lake Rd (250-743-5666) Come & meet the gracious hosts of this fascinating studio. Grahame trained in the art of Glassmaking in the North of England. Come see him create his unique wine glasses & oil lamps.

West Shawnigan Lake Provincial Park (Rest Stop):www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/w_shawn/
Owner/Operator: BC Parks This small day-use park provides a sanctuary for Douglas fir forest, as well as lakeside beach access on the northwest shores of Shawnigan Lake. This popular summer recreation area offers a wealth of outdoor activities, including swimming, paddling and fishing in the trout-stocked waters. Park facilities include pit toilets, picnic tables and short walking trails.

Dragonfly Dreaming:www.dragonflydreaming.com
Owner: Beth Lischeron Address: 3616 Garland Ave. (250-743-8036) Dragonfly Dreaming is a special treasure - utterly natural body care products that wed the uplifting beauty and aromatherapeutic properties of pure essential oils with the herbal healing traditions of many cultures. 'Aesthetic healing' for body and spirit... established in 1997, on lifetimes of experience.

Silverside Farm (Rest Stop) www.virtualtown.net/silversidefarm
Jean Aten 3810 Cobble Hill Rd Cobble Hill BC V0R 1L0 250-743-9149 A new stop for 2006 Silverside farms has lots to offer. Try their delicious yogurt cones, take home jams, jellies & fresh blueberries. Home made pies as well as blackberry, raspberry & blue berry port wines.

Glenterra Vineyard
Owner: John Kelly 3897 Cobble Hill (250-743-2330) The goal at Glenterra is to create premium wines with concentrated flavours. This is accomplished by careful attention to gentle pressing, minimal filtration and the use of French and American oak barrels for both ageing and fermentation. John's passion for the finely crafted wines is reflected in the quality and character of Glenterra's wines. Since opening in May '99, the pinot gris and meritage have won medals at the All Canada Wine Championships

Merridale Ciderworks www.merridalecider.com
Owner: Janet Docherty Address: 1230 Merridale Rd (250-743-4293) Visit British Columbia’s first estate cidery. Take a stroll through the orchard where they grow their own apples and chat with the cider makers about their craft. See the apple mills and presses and the fermentation casks where the fresh apples and champagne yeast become, “the best English-style cider in Canada”! Then enjoy a complementary sample of your favourite cider in the rustic farmhouse. Tours of Merridale Ciderworks are available at 1:00pm. and 4:00pm.