FLASHBACK TO THE ISLAND.....just found this in the archives and had to share it with you all

My girlfriend Teresa manages a pub and beer and wine store on Vancouver Island in Nanaimo. She is a great lover of good wine, and gave me the opportunity to go along with her and her manager from the beer and wine store to a private tasting at a island winery.

Averill Creek Winery is located just on the outskirts of Duncan (about a 45 minute drive south of Nanaimo)


When you come to the property gates you have to make a bit of a climb up the mountain to get the the winery itself, but when you turn around, the view is amazing....that is the valley of Duncan below and about "11 oclock" in the picture is the ocean. I believe it to be Cowichan Bay. Very stiking view. The vineyards are both on the left and the right of this picture. The owner of the winery didn't realize how great of a view he had until he had all the trees and brush cleared away...and then "viola". Beauty abounds

The patio leading to the deck on the side of the winery....as you can see it is still spring here on the island and the trees look a little bare. The day was very warm and bright actually.

You will see that the owner took pride in making this winery a very upscale area to enjoy a sip of wine and a great view.
This is the back patio at the winery. Great rock work.

And leading back to the enterance of the winery...so pretty. Oh and by the way, the wine is FABULOUS. Averill Creek winery holds awards for their Pinot Noir for 2006. Yummy stuff. They also make a wine called Cowichan Black. It is not called a port but has the same richness that port does. I believe that they have to call it a fortified wine as it doesn't come from Portugal and as such cannot be called port. But let me tell you it has a wonderfull flavor of blackberries that transport you back to eating warm blackberries off the bush as a child. Very good.