Zac Brown and Julie Powell. Alderlea Vineyards photo

As palates turn to lighter, crisper flavours, Vancouver Island’s small, pretty Cowichan Valley wine region is attracting new attention.

Now, as the first generation of winery owners begins to retire, younger winemakers are bringing in fresh ideas, like the Charmat-method sparkling Charme de L’île that has become the region’s calling card or the sudden passion for cool-climate Chardonnay.

Among those producers are Zac Brown and Julie Powell, who took over Alderlea Vineyards in April 2017 from the pioneering Roger and Nancy Dosman. Brown and Powell had been searching near and far for a vineyard and winery; when the Dosmans retired, it was the opportunity they’d been waiting for. They have since increased Alderlea’s production from 2,000 cases a year to 3,200 and secured more fruit from a five-acre vineyard near their own 7.5-acre property, all while following sustainable farming practices.

They have also been raking in the awards. At the 2024 All Canadian Wine Championships, they took home double gold for their 2022 Clarinet (Marechal Foch) and 2023 Pinot Gris, as well as gold for their 2023 Bacchus, 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, 2023 Valerie (a blend of Ortega and Viognier) and classic, Right Bank-style 2020 Merlot.

If you decide to visit, the tasting room is open by appointment only. 

In other Cowichan news:

At Unsworth Vineyards, a huge new winemaking facility is in the works, designed to produce up to 50,000 cases a year, up from the current 10,000. Winemaker Dan Wright is going to be one busy guy! All this is the result of investment by Jackson Family of California, which bought the winery in 2020. In 2022, they also purchased Blue Grouse, which since April has a new winemaker, Stacy Hornemann from Sonoma. The winery is also planting new vineyards with a focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Vitis Magazine

Vitis is is an indispensable seasonal guide for vintners, sommeliers and weekend imbibers alike that is dedicated to British Columbia’s rapidly evolving wine culture.