A taste of Island wineries

Kiwanis Club hosting wine tour starting in Parksville Sept 8

A wine tour will start with Mooberry Winery at the Morningstar Farm Sept 8. Above, winemaker Phil Charlebois serves up a fruit variety at a past event.

A wine tour will start with Mooberry Winery at the Morningstar Farm Sept 8. Above, winemaker Phil Charlebois serves up a fruit variety at a past event.

LISSA ALEXANDER

reporter@pqbnews.com

Experience Vancouver Island wineries, sample some cheese and enjoy a gourmet picnic while supporting local community projects.

It’s the Parksville Qualicum Beach Kiwanis Club’s annual Wine Tour happening Sunday, Sept. 8, and this year will begin at Morningstar Farm, home of Little Qualicum Cheeseworks and Mooberry Winery, before traveling to the Cowichan Valley to visit three established wineries.

Vice president of the Parksville Qualicum Kiwanis Club Pat Weber came up with the idea for the tour six years ago and said it’s a sell-out every year.

“It’s a fun fundraiser, it’s fast, it’s limited, and it fills a gap during a month when there’s really not much going on,” he said.

At Little Qualicum Cheeseworks ticket-holders will enjoy some cheese and sample a special breakfast wine. They will then be taken by coach to Cherry Point Winery for a tour of the vineyard and some wine samples.

A gourmet picnic lunch will be served at the Blue Grouse Winery with fresh ingredients from the local valley. After sampling wine and a sparkling variety, the group will head to Averill Creek Winery for some more wine swirling before heading back to Morningstar Farm.

Tickets are $99 including the tastings, tours, lunch, transportation, taxes and gratuities.

For more information call Pat at 250-951-1159 or Fred at 250-752-9921.

 

Parksville Qualicum Beach News