Pender Island, BC Culinary Travel
Wine Tours and Fine Dining on the Gulf Islands of British Columbia
British Columbia has become known for its burgeoning wine production. On Pender Island, the young Morning Bay Vineyard & Estate Winery (6621 Harbour Hill Drive, 250-629-8351) is already gaining accolades and winning awards for its handmade wines.
Wine Tours on Pender Island
Morning Bay Vineyard & Estate Winery opened in 2005, growing grapes on its north Pender Island location. Grapes are also custom-grown by other vineyards in the Okanagan Valley and then brought back to be barrel-aged on Pender Island.
“We are very fortunate to have access to such fabulous fruit,” said owner/winemaker Keith Watt about having some of Morning Bay’s grapes grown at Inkameep Vineyard. “Z-Block is clearly one of the premium fruit blocks in the Okanagan Valley and manager Sam Baptiste and all the staff at Inkameep do a fabulous job of growing that fruit every year.”
In its short lifetime, awards include a bronze medal at the 2007 Canadian wine awards (for Morning Bay 2004 Reserve Merlot), and another bronze at the 2008 Fingers Lake International Wine Competition (for Morning Bay’s 2005 Reserve Merlot), to name a couple.
Wine Tasting at Morning Bay
A visit to the winery is the best way to get a feel for the personal attention given to the grapes. A warm welcome and laid back island spirit will start you off on your tour. They start at 1:00pm on Thursdays and Saturdays, and encompass the vines, winery and a wine tasting, of course.
Other special events happen throughout the year to keep things lively. Owners Keith Watt and Barbara Reid invite a Chef from the island each month to dine on local food and sip the vineyard’s wine; the play Shirley Valentine will also return this summer for a three-night run on August 1-3, 2008.
Weddings are also popular events, or just bring a picnic, buy your favourite bottle of Morning Bay wine, and sit out on the patio and lawn for a relaxing lunch.
Another option is to stop at Driftwood Centre, the island’s main village and on the way from Otter Bay ferry terminal. Pender Island Bakery (Driftwood Centre, 250-629-6453) is a gem of baked goods, small meals, hot and cold drinks, and many dessert choices. It’s worth a stop even if you decide to buy your groceries from the Tru Value (Driftwood Centre, 250-629-8335) across the street.
Dining on Pender Island
Aurora Restaurant at Poets Cove Resort & Spa on south Pender Island has a great menu of culinary delicacies. Dishes like West Coast Bouillabaisse ($29) and Slow Roasted Cowichan Bay Farm Duck Breast ($34) round out the menu.
If you haven’t had enough wine, you can order Morning Bay varieties from Aurora’s, or from Syrens Lounge, also at Poet’s Cove.
9801 Spalding Road
Reservations: 1-888-512-POET (7638)
By this time you’ve probably had enough to eat and drink for one day. Stay put at Poets Cove for first class treatment. Rooms offer a variety of options, from hotel-style waterfront rooms to townhouse-style villas and private cottages.
Depending on how long you stay, there’s also a wine tour on Saturna Island organized by the resort. The boat leaves the hotel’s marina and takes guests to Saturna Island Vineyard for a tasting. The three hour excursion costs $109 CDN per person.
How to Get to Pender Island
BC Ferries (1-888-223-3779) has daily sailings from Tsawwassen and other Gulf Islands. Contact them for schedules and prices.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
