Welcome To The Cowichan Valley Wine Festival!

Discover the magic of Cowichan Valley this summer with our month-long wine festival, an unforgettable journey through our premier wine region. From August 1st to 31st, indulge your senses and explore the exquisite offerings of 12 renowned wineries, each with its own unique charm and exceptional wines.

Your map and tasting glass is your ticket to exceptional wine-tasting experiences at 12 Cowichan wineries. Take a day or take the month. We’re waiting for you.

[Click For Tickets]

Aug 1, 2024 at 1:58 PM Permalink

Winery 'Update'!

The Cowichan Valley is amongst the best winegrowing regions in Canada. To help express and share the Cowichan Valley's unique terroir we are updating our winery and building a phenomenal new tasting room. 

Exciting winery additions include, a reimagined crush pad, dedicated red and white wine barrel halls, and a bottling area. On top of which, the relaxed and spacious new tasting room will allow for a wider breadth of wine experiences  – always, in our informed yet unpretentious manner.

Unsworth's current Tasting Room & Restaurant will remain open during the renovations and we hope you will join us in our eager anticipation!

Designed by Vancouver based Simcic Architecture Studio, our new winery is a state of the art fusion of function and form. As you approach, the outside features a low slung roofline, blending into the bucholic farm landscape. Beneath ground are separate red and white wine barrel cellars to allow our wines to mature properly in constant and correct conditions. Unsworth also worked with process flow engineer Gerard de Villiers for the flow of the winery. A resident of South Africa, Gerard has designed process flow for Graham Beck, De Toren, Boschendal, Hamilton Russell, and has also done process design work with the new sparkling wineries for Nyetimber and Gusbourne Estate.

This new phase sets up the winemaking team to continue the luxury of keeping all our vineyards and clones separate throughout winemaking until the final blends are determined. These small lots are hugely important to us as we continue to unlock the many secrets our various vineyards and clones have in store.

Whether you're a first time visitor or an old friend, you'll be welcomed into the tasting room which provides the ideal environement for enjoying Unsworth alongside family and friends. The adjacent patio is a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere to soak in Cowichan's majestic beauty surrounded by thoughtful landscaping.

In crafting Cowichan's coastal legacy, this is an exhilarating next step

Jun 26, 2024 at 3:55 PM Permalink

Toast to the Tides!

Well documented is the affinity between our sparkling wines and the Pacific Ocean's bounty. In celebration of Cowichan's prowess with sparkling wine, Unsworth and Blue Grouse are teaming up to kick off the sunny season ahead.

Join us on Thursday June 6th at The Restaurant at Unsworth Vineyards where Chef Dan Bain and team are hosting our Toast to the Tides dinner, a sparkling wine and seafood centric 5-course dinner, all paired to our sparkling wines!

[CLICK TO BOOK]

[CLICK TO BOOK]

May 15, 2024 at 10:54 AM Permalink

Mother's Day!

Do you have Mother's Day plans yet? Don't worry, The Restaurant at Unsworth Vineyards has you covered. Reservations are open for Mother's Day Brunch. Chef Dan Bain and team have spins on classics both savoury and sweet to please mom on her special day.

[CLICK HERE TO BOOK]

May 13, 2024 at 2:23 PM Permalink

Valentine's Dinner at The Restaurant at Unsworth Vineyards

We have your Valentine's Day covered! Chef Dan Bain and team have created yet another fabulous prix fixe dinner to intrique the senses and spark some emotions. Naturally we have curated Unsworth wine pairings to match. The prix fixe menu starts at $90 with the addition of wine pairings for $35. Reservations are strongly encouraged.
CLICK TO BOOK

Romantic Tasting for Two in The Tasting Room

From February 7th to 14th, Karen and the team at The Tasting room have a package experience for two which includes two curated tasting flights, charcuterie from The Restaurant for two, a box of Folklore Chocolate truffles, and a handcrafted, small bouquet of flowers. Interested in booking before dinner in The Restaurant?
CLICK FOR DETAILS

Feb 14, 2024 at 12:00 PM Permalink

Celebrate The Final Night of 2023 With Unsworth

Come enjoy some round-the-table reflection on 2023, and the promise of the year ahead, with a 4-course New Year's Dinner on December 31st at The Restaurant at Unsworth Vineyards. Chef Dan Bain and team are excited to share this special, celebratory menu with you, and naturally, Sommelier Chris Turyk has curated the suggested wine pairings to make it even more of a culinary adventure!

$100 per guest; suggested wine pairings available
[reserve now]

Dec 31, 2023 at 8:00 AM Permalink

Unsworth Earns 5 Medals at the 2023 National Wine Awards of Canada

Unsworth Earns 5 Medals at the 2023 National Wine Awards of Canada

In WineAlign's recent series of announcements on the 2023 National Wine Awards of Canada winners, Unsworth stepped up to the podium with 5 medals:

GOLD
2021 Pinot Noir: 92 points
Review from Evan Goldstein, Master Sommelier: "Riper red fruit aromatics and a kiss of mintines. Crunchy and bright with nuances of sandalwood and conifer." 
SHOP status: available now for purchase

SILVER
2018 Cuvée de l'île*: 91 points
Review from Jon Szabo, Master Sommelier: "Clean and yeasty in the traditional method. Pronounced, moderately aggressive bubbles, yeasty finish. Good complexity, quite dry and crisp. Good length. Well made, good quality."
SHOP status: Released in the 2022 UV Wine Club Collector case; available for purchase in fall 2023 (pending remaining stock)

BRONZE
2022 Rosé: 89 points
Review from Michaela Morris: "As delicate in hue as it is in aromas Unsworth’s dainty Pinot Noir rosé hints demurely at cherry blossoms and cherry pits. While not terribly concentrated, it is light and lithe with a stony, steely backbone and zippy lemony acidity prolonging the finish. This intentional and sincere rosé with modest alcohol will deliver plenty of summer sipping satisfaction."
SHOP status: available now for purchase

2022 Sunnydale Vineyard Rosé: 89 points
Review from Sharon McLean: "A delicate, juicy rosé that shows restrained orchard fruits wrapped round a core of minerality."
SHOP status: sold out

2021 Chardonnay: 88 points
Review from Heather Rankin: "A nuttiness and oak spice define the nose with fleshy apple notes. On the palate, rounded fruit framed with supporting structure and cleansing acidity."
SHOP status: available in the 2023 fall UV Wine Club Collector case

Aug 1, 2023 at 11:01 AM Permalink

Unsworth Earns High Praise in the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards

Decanter World Wine Awards—the world's largest and most influential wine competition—offers a definitive guide to the dynamic world of wine.

Each year’s results offer surprises and revelations, highlighting growth in quality and consistency—or lack thereof. With 18,244 wines judged from 54 countries, this 19th edition of the competition set an an all-time record for wines tasted.

Unsworth was honoured with the following two medals:

• Our 2019 Pinot Noir earned 91 points and a Silver Medal. Not only is it the highest score ever for a Vancouver Island wine, it’s one of a select few Canadian Pinot Noirs to get 90+ points.
• Our 2019 Chardonnay earned 88 points and a Bronze Medal. Given it was Unsworth’s first crack at Chardonnay, we’re extraordinarily proud of this recognition as well. (Note: the 2019 vintage is now sold out, however the 2020 Chardonnay is available and getting enthusiastic nods of approval as our Winemaker, Dan Wright, continues to find his groove with this most noble grape.)

[COMPLETE DECANTER WINE AWARD RESULTS]

Jun 21, 2022 at 10:23 AM Permalink

Nine British Columbia wines that you need in your collection

The Globe and Mail - Christopher Waters - September 22, 2021

More than 350 wineries spread across British Columbia are actively monitoring their vineyards, looking for signs that it’s time to harvest grapes to make the 2021 vintage. Vintners are keeping tabs on sugar and acidity levels – sugar levels increase and acidity decreases as grape ripen – as well as flavour and seed development in a bid to determine the best moment to bring in their fruit. This year’s harvest got off to its earliest start on record in August, but rain and cooler temperatures have slowed things somewhat.

With more than 80 different varieties planted in more than 900 vineyards that spill over more than 10,000 acres, there’s a lot of ground to cover – and it’s impossible to make blanket statements regarding B.C.’s wine country. Conditions in the Okanagan change dramatically from Vernon to Osoyoos, which is home to more than 80 per cent of the province’s vineyards, to say nothing of differences between Vancouver Island, Fraser Valley and the Lillooet. That said, an almost-universal theme this year is that wineries are facing a third short crop in a row.

Due to unseasonably hot temperatures when grape vines were flowering, fewer clusters of grapes formed. Winemakers are happy with the quality potential they’re seeing, but they wish grapes were more plentiful. There are also continuing concerns about potential issues with the quality of the wines due to exposure to smoke created by this summer’s wildfires. Last year, the yields in the Okanagan Valley, and the other interior regions, were down by 25 per cent to 30 per cent.

Running short at a time when interest in the wines made in B.C. continues to increase – both across Canada and internationally – means that consumers will need to monitor the releases from their favourite wineries almost as closely as the vintners watched their vineyards come to fruition.

This week’s recommendations feature nine wines from B.C., many of which were tasted last week during The Globe and Mail’s Okanagan Valley Wine Tour.

Burrowing Owl Pinot Noir 2019 (Canada), $35
RATING OUT OF 100: 91
True to Burrowing Owl’s ripe and rewarding red wine style, this is a richer model of pinot noir. The warmth of the Wyse family’s estate vineyard location on the Black Sage Bench makes for an intense and complex red, with a mix of ripe and dried fruit flavours that are rounded out by coffee, savoury and meaty notes. Drink now to 2025. Available in B.C. or direct at the above price through burrowingowlwine.ca, various prices in Alberta, $47.99 in Saskatchewan, $39.95 in Ontario (2018 vintage).

CheckMate Knight’s Challenge Chardonnay 2017 (Canada), $95
RATING OUT OF 100: 91
CheckMate’s dynamic array of chardonnays produced in the Okanagan each year boasts tremendous depth, richness and vigour. This one comes from a vineyard located on the Black Sage Bench and offers a mix of ripe fruit, oak spice and a hint of sage/herbal notes common to wines grown in the southern Okanagan. The round and creamy character makes for one of CheckMate’s most accessible styles each year. Drink now to 2027. Available direct through checkmatewinery.com.

Clos du Soleil Fumé Blanc 2020 (Canada), $20.90
RATING OUT OF 100: 91
This enjoyable aromatic white is a blend of sauvignon blanc and semillon grown in Oliver. A mix of tank- and barrel-fermented lots were used to create a wine with refreshing fruit character and flinty and floral accents. The riper, tropical fruit flavours and rich texture make for an easy-to-appreciate wine that’s enjoyable on its own or with a meal. Drink now to 2025. Available direct through closdusoleil.com, various prices in Alberta, $24.15 in Quebec (2018 vintage).

Mission Hill Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2020 (Canada), $22.95
RATING OUT OF 100: 90
A wine with attractive freshness and intensity, this well-made sauvignon blanc comes from estate vineyards in Oliver and Osoyoos. It’s a wine that’s been consciously made to capture an enticing array of fruit flavours, with different harvest dates and a mixture of fermentation vessels (stainless steel tanks, concrete and oak) to contribute to the texture and character. A stylish white that’s ready to drink. Drink now to 2022. Available in Ontario at the above price, $21.99 in B.C. and direct through missionhillwinery.com, various prices in Alberta, $25.49 in Saskatchewan.

Mt. Boucherie Summit 2018 (Canada), $54.95
RATING OUT OF 100: 90
Summit is the flagship red wine from Mt. Boucherie, allowing winemaker Jeff Hundermark to select grapes from the best vineyard blocks available to him from the Okanagan and Similkameen and the best barrels of wine in the cellar. This year’s model is a mix of merlot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, syrah and malbec, which combine for a rich and powerful red wine with winning complexity and age-worthy structure. Decant for best enjoyment if you’re planning on opening soon. Drink now to 2030. Available at the above price in Ontario, $59.99 in B.C. or direct through mtboucherie.com, various prices in Alberta.

Painted Rock Merlot 2018 (Canada), $39.99
RATING OUT OF 100: 92
Painted Rock has established itself as one of the Okanagan’s most ambitious estate wineries, producing a range of small batch wines from its vineyards overlooking Skaha Lake in Penticton. This merlot from the 2018 vintage is developing nicely, with a ripe core of berry and plum fruit flavours that are nicely layered with cedar, spice and savoury notes. The winery’s style has always focused on delivering ripeness and refreshment, which makes this flavourful and polished red an attractive style to enjoy now or later. Drink now to 2030. Available at the above price in B.C., various prices in Alberta, $50 in Quebec (2015 vintage) or $34.99 direct through paintedrock.ca.

Phantom Creek Estates Merlot 2018 (Canada), $42
RATING OUT OF 100: 91
This refined and fruity expression of merlot is produced from Phantom Creek’s vineyards on the Black Sage and Golden Mile benches in the southern Okanagan. There’s a charming mix of floral and spice notes that adds interest to the ripe core of dark fruit. A supple texture and nicely balanced structure (thanks to fresh acidity that counters the sweet ripe fruit flavours) make it approachable now, but I suspect this will reward your patience if you choose to cellar some bottles to enjoy later. Drink now to 2030. Available direct through phantomcreekestates.com.

Quails’ Gate Dijon Clone Pinot Noir 2019 (Canada), $45
RATING OUT OF 100: 91
Part of Quails’ Gate’s retooled Distinction Collection, this richly concentrated pinot noir showcases specific vineyard clones (varieties named 777 and 828 that are prized for the quality of wines they can produce) from estate vineyards in Kelowna. The family-owned winery was amongst the first to plant pinot noir in the Okanagan. The combination of a ripe core of fruit flavours and attractive fragrance makes for a terrific expression of pinot noir to drink or hold. Drink now to 2027. Available direct through quailsgate.com.

Unsworth Vineyards Pinot Noir 2019 (Canada), $34
RATING OUT OF 100: 90
Pinot noir is one of the most important grapes at Unsworth winery, located in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. It is used to produce the base wines for the various sparkling wines produced each year while the very best vineyard blocks are used to create this expressive red wine. This is a lighter and brighter style of pinot noir, with bright and juicy berry notes and a silky texture that makes it enjoyable. Chill and serve with a meal. Drink now to 2023. Available direct through unsworthvineyards.com, various prices in Alberta.

NOTE: To read the original article click here, however please note that a Globe and Mail subscription is required.

Oct 6, 2021 at 4:28 PM Permalink

Sales of Unsworth Vineyard Pinot Noir Supports Local Hospitality Sector

July 27, 2021 - BC Hospitality Foundation

Throughout August 2021, Vancouver Island’s Unsworth Vineyards will donate $1 per bottle of select wines to the BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF). The initiative includes THREE premium Unsworth wines made from Pinot Noir:

• Charme de l’île Rosé
• 2020 Rosé
• 2019 Pinot Noir

[READ PRESS RELEASE]

Jul 27, 2021 at 11:11 AM Permalink