Cowichan Valley Wine Festival will take place this year

If you like wine then the Cowichan Valley is the place you’ll want to be in a couple of days.

Organizers of the Cowichan Valley Wine Festival say they are moving ahead with the popular event.

This year’s wine festival features 13 award-winning wineries in the Cowichan Valley that guests can visit between Aug. 1-31.

“It is exciting to hold a festival these days, and the wineries have worked extraordinarily hard at creating safe environments and experiences for the thousands of people who will visit Cowichan not just during the festival, but all summer long,” said Jill Nessel, executive director, Tourism Cowichan.

“We are proud to show-off our amazing food and beverage producers, shops, accommodations, arts and culture, and amazing outdoor spaces to the rest of the province.”

As COVID-19 remains a reality and large gatherings are still limited to 50 people, there will be no launch party this year. But organizers have decided to turn the festival into a month-long event, which they say will not only allow guests to enjoy the Cowichan Valley region at their own pace but will allow wineries to adhere to property safety and capacity regulations.

“The welcomed warm weather allows guests to enjoy an outdoor wine experience [where] people savour the time and space to digest the natural beauty that engulfs the Cowichan Valley. We couldn’t be more thrilled at the quality of Vancouver Island wine. Despite June slipping a gear to an otherwise early 2020 growing season, we are particularly thrilled as growers to see blue skies,” said Chris Turyk, marketing director, Unsworth Vineyards.

Tickets to this year’s event are $20 and those who purchase tickets will be able to download them on their mobile device or print them off. Once they have their ticket they can visit a winery and get a branded tasting glass and “passport” that will serve as a guide throughout the tour.

The passport will also have spaces for stamps, which people can collect by visiting the various wineries. Those who complete their passport will be entered into a draw, organizers say.

Guests are encouraged to call wineries ahead of time and make reservations if needed.

For more information visit www.tourismcowichan.com/cowichan-valley-wine-festival/

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