Scheduled Departures $ 799
2011	2012
Departures by Request	Departures by Request
We reserve the right to cancel any departure not meeting minimum numbers and make full refund of all tour fees 45 days prior to departure.

Day One: Vancouver - Saltspring Island - Victoria - Morning Departure and travel through the agricultural lands south of Vancouver BC, arriving at the ferry terminal at Tsawwassen in time to catch the first morning sailing.

These small islands off the coast of British Columbia that have become known for reclusive poets, privacy seeking movie stars, 4th generation fishing families, and wine growing. The United States group are called "THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS". The Canadian group is known as "THE GULF ISLANDS". We will travel through them by comfortable, and modern car ferry. Onboard you will find a gift shop, coffee shop, restaurant, and plenty of comfortable seating for the hour and a half trip. The cruise through the islands is worth the trip all by itself. Although the ferry schedule is well kept the rest of time seems to run at a different speed here in the islands. Relax.

Arrive Saltspring Island in time for lunch and for Wine tasting and touring on the island.

Salt Spring Vineyards  Winery

Wine tasting of locally grown, sustainably produced grapes, blackberries, and apples.  No use of herbicides or pesticides and all wines are hand-crafted with 100% love.

Garry Oaks Winery

A tour at Garry Oaks involves about an hour spent with either Marcel (viticulturalist) or Elaine (winemaker).  If the group is knowledgeable about wine they may both involved if available.  The tour includes about 20 minutes walking around the vineyard (it’s 10 acres) while we discuss the history of the place and what was done to create the vineyard, character and challenges of the site, varieties planted, annual lifecycle of the vines.  Another 10 – 15 minutes are spent touring the winery and talking about their set up, crush, philosophy of wine making and the lifecycle of a vintage.  We then will taste all the wines available at the time.  They produce 5  wines but some might be sold out by that time of year).  If the group is large enough a special private area for the tasting will be setup to accommodate the group.  

Overnight on Saltspring Island

Day Two - Saanich Peninsula - Victoria

Breakfast Included. Late morning departure on short ferry ride to Vancouver Island, and wine tasting on the Saanich Peninsula.

Chalet Estate Winery

Hidden in Deep Cove on South Vancouver Island is the Chalet  Winery, a small self sustaining, family winery founded by Michael Betts and Linda Plimley.  This boutique winery has been producing fine limited edition wines since 2001.  Fine Wine begins in the vineyard.  We strictly adhere to organic practices  using natural ingredients to fertilize the vines and control weeds.  Extensive Canopy management, hand cropping and picking ensures that only the finest fruit is used in the production of our Award Winning Wines and no sulphites are added to any of our wines.   Owners Jane & Peter Ellmann are continuing that tradition, with Michael Betts as consulting enologist.

Church and State Winery

"The name Church & State symbolizes a balance between the many elements involved in creating the highest quality wine we can produce.

This concept of balance permeates everything we do, a balance between the head and the heart, between change and tradition. We find balance in the climate of this region, in the growing of our grapes, the aging of our wines in French oak barrels in our cellar and in the premium vintages we produce."

Marley Farm Winery

Marley Farm is a family owned and operated winery located in the tranquil Mount Newton Valley, British Columbia. The Marley Family have always dreamed of owning a winery and in the spring of 2000 that dream was born. Beverly, an ardent winemaker of many years, led the charge in getting the business set up. After some considerable research Pinot Grigio, Ortega and Pinot Noir, were planted as being the best suited varietals for the local micro climate, soils and exposure. With the help of family and friends the first vines were planted and Marley Farm had their first harvest, however limited, in the fall of 2002. Prior to that, Vintner Eric von Krosigk sourced grapes with similar characteristics, so that production could commence.

Late afternoon arrival in Victoria, city tour to orientate you to this lovely little city, with evening free.

Overnight in Victoria.

Day Three: Victoria - Butchart Gardens - Vancouver

Breakfast Included. You will enjoy a free morning in Victoria, or accompany your guides on a walking tour of Victoria's inner harbour, where all the main attractions are. The Empress hotel, Legislature building, Wax Museum, Royal BC Museum, Bug Zoo, Maritime Museum, Pioneer Square and Fan Tan Ally, not to mention the inner harbour walkway itself. Entrance to one attraction is included in your tour fee. Victoria, sometimes called the "garden city" is well named. British Columbia's provincial capital and, oldest city it has the quaint charm of old Victorian England.

Late morning departure for Butchart Gardens. The gardens are one of the world's premier floral show gardens. Jennie Butchart began to shape this magnificent landscape in 1904. She established, in the style of the grand estates of the period, several distinct gardens to evoke a range of aesthetic experiences. An abandoned limestone quarry was transformed into the dramatic Sunken Garden, a reflection of the early 20th-century beautification movement, and an exceptional achievement in Canadian gardening history. Through successive generations of the Butchart family, the Gardens has retained much of its original design, and continues the Victorian tradition of seasonally changing the outstanding floral displays. Afternoon Tea at the gardens is included (lunch) and an afternoon to explore this amazing garden before our return trip to Vancouver via the BC Ferry Service.

Departures for Private Groups by Special Arrangement
Participants	Price Per Person
2	$1299
3 - 4	$999
5 - 6	$899
7 -12	$799
Taxes not included. Prices subject to change without notice, and international exchange rates. Larger Groups On Request