Our Wine
A story about a remarkable place.
Wine is defined as much by the sun, grapes, and soil as by the hands that make it and by the people who drink it. Yes, that means you. If nobody drank wine, nobody cared about this complex and beautiful experience, then we wouldn’t be making it and this wouldn’t be a wine-growing region. You, your taste, your support, your interest, and your engagement are not passive. You shape this place. You make our work possible and in doing so, are ultimately part of defining one of the most remarkable new wine regions in the world, the Cowichan Valley.
“The dedication to grape growing and the importance of nurturing coastal Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is really going to put Vancouver Island on the global wine map. Wine nuts and wine freaks are going to be coming to the Cowichan for the next century to savour what will surely be some of the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay made in Canada if not the continent and the world beyond.”
Sun, wind, rain.
A premium wine-growing region like this results from a complex ecological interplay. Our story begins 80 kilometers west, across the Strait of Juan de Fuca, where cool Pacific air traveling up the coast hits the Olympic mountain range in Washington and the Southern Vancouver Island ranges, leaving its moisture behind and creating a rain shadow. This unique climate produces an unusually dry growing season—ideal conditions for producing premium wines—in what is otherwise a temperate rainforest.
Nestled against the Salish Sea on the protected southeast coast of Vancouver Island, the Cowichan Valley benefits from the moderating influence of our proximity to the ocean. The climate is neither scorching hot nor freezing cold. The combined effect is a place capable of growing and ripening premium grapes uniquely shaped by the BC coast, resulting in wines you won't find anywhere else on the planet.
Land and Soil
Vancouver Island is an altogether separate geological formation from the rest of North America. Volcanically formed in the Pacific Ocean, continental drift is slowly pushing us towards the mainland. Repeated glacial advancement and recession carved out the Cowichan Valley, leaving 3 distinct soil types.
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Shawnigan (Glacial Till): Glaciers moving south from the pole during the last ice age carved through hillsides, crushing them into coarse gravel that is churned and mixed with finer silts and loams.
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Qualicum (glacial fluvial): Glacial activity and flooding over thousands of years produce a sorted version of glacial till with a surface of loose, quick-draining rocks above fine, dense soil.
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Fairbridge & Hillbank (marine sediments): When Vancouver Island thrust above sea level several thousands of years ago, we were left with rich agricultural plains full of silty clay loam, the fertile soil the Cowichan Valley is renowned for.
More than vines
Wine's beauty lies in its connection to complex, living systems. Each vintage expresses a unique place and growing season. An ecological dance in a bottle. This deep connection instills in us a profound sense of love, respect, and responsibility for the land.
Our commitment to sustainability is exemplified by Unsworth Viticulturist Felix Egerer. He led the initiative to gain certified sustainable status from Sustainable Winegrowing BC for our four vineyards—the first outside the Okanagan to achieve this rigorous, auditable certification. This is one part of our ongoing commitment to nourish and care for this land that we farm.
"The vines themselves are only a part of the story. The soil and the microscopic life it contains are what feed our vines. Without soil, nothing here would grow. My job is as much about viticulture as it is about stewarding ecosystems that are balanced, vibrant, regenerative, and humming with life.”
- Felix Egerer
Unsworth Viticulturist
Very small. Very special.
Our winemaker, Dan Wright, faces the challenge of transforming the remarkable qualities of our vineyards into a sensory experience worthy of this place. It's a challenge he's more than prepared to meet. Dan's craftsmanship shines through in the Unsworth 2021 Pinot Noir, which scored 95 points at the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards. In this competition, the world's largest with over 18,000 wines entered, our Pinot Noir wasn't just the highest-ranked Canadian entry, it was the only one to win gold.
We're immensely proud to showcase the Cowichan Valley and stand alongside the finest wine-growing regions in the world.
BC is a small wine-producing region with roughly 12,000 acres planted to wine grapes. The Cowichan Valley is even smaller, accounting for less than 300 acres of that total—making our entire region smaller than some individual wineries in the Okanagan. This means every vine we plant, every plot we farm, and every vintage we produce is incredibly special.
Our purpose.
Wine can be beautiful. It can also be intimidating. Not everyone feels welcomed by wine; its culture and history are powerful forces. When the Turyk family founded Unsworth in 2009, they weren't professional vintners or hospitality experts. They simply loved this place and fell in love with wine. They treated the vineyard as their home and visitors as their guests. This document is an invitation to share that love with us—to grow and explore this region together as the Cowichan Valley becomes globally renowned for its remarkable wines. Wine is as much about understanding as it is about taste. The more you know and understand, the harder it becomes not to fall in love.
Be Our Guest.
The best way to experience our wine is to come and visit us. To see the landscape change as you drive through the valley and feel the warm sun and cool ocean breeze. To walk through the vines and hear the life buzzing all around you. To connect each of these sensory experiences to the wine we work so hard to produce. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about this incredible place and it’s wine, we’re really looking forward to meeting you.