Fall on Vancouver Island, British Columbia means crisp air, colourful forests, and the perfect excuse to cozy up with a seasonal drink! From pumpkin ales and spiced ciders made in Saanich to bold reds grown in the Cowichan Valley, the island’s breweries, cideries, and wineries shine brightest this time of year. Whether you are planning a tasting tour or simply want a few bottles to enjoy by the fire, this guide will help you find the best fall sips.
If you are visiting the island, make your getaway extra special with a stay in one of our cozy Vancouver Island cottages, oceanfront homes, or luxury estates! After a day of tastings, there is nothing better than curling up in comfort with your new favourite drink.
Craft Breweries Worth Visiting
Vancouver Island’s craft beer scene is one of the most exciting in Canada! From Victoria to Port Alberni, breweries are known for their creativity, rotating taps, and seasonal releases that keep locals and visitors coming back for more. Whether you stop in at a tasting room for a flight or pick up a few cans at a local shop, there’s always something new and distinctive to discover!
Here are some of our top picks on the island that are a must-visit for beer lovers:
Driftwood Brewery
Victoria
A mainstay in Victoria’s beer scene, Driftwood is beloved for its hop-forward ales and approachable dark beers. Their tasting room is a must for anyone exploring the city’s brewery district.
Hoyne Brewing Co.
Victoria
Family-owned and community-focused, Hoyne consistently delivers balanced, flavourful beers that are easy to enjoy. Their warm, welcoming tasting room is a local favourite.
Phillips Brewing & Malting Co.
Victoria
One of the pioneers of craft brewing in British Columbia, Phillips is known for its creative branding and a wide range of beers, from light lagers to bold stouts. Their beers are widely available across the Island.
Check out our favourite breweries in Victoria! Flights of Fancy: Explore Breweries in Victoria!
Category 12 Brewing
Saanichton
Known for their scientific approach and bold recipes, Category 12 offers a rotating lineup of IPAs, lagers, and experimental brews that highlight the innovation behind the Island’s beer culture.
Twin City Brewing
Port Alberni
This small-town brewery has gained a big reputation thanks to inventive recipes and a lively taproom atmosphere. A great stop if you’re venturing into the central Island.
Longwood Brewery
Nanaimo
With a focus on sustainability and local ingredients, Longwood offers a variety of beers that reflect the character of the Island. Look for their rotating seasonal taps when visiting Nanaimo.
Crisp & Cozy Ciders
Vancouver Island is just as well known for cider as it is for beer, thanks to its rich agricultural roots and a landscape dotted with orchards and apple trees.
The cideries here lean into tradition while embracing innovation, producing everything from classic dry cider to creative blends infused with honey, spices, and botanicals. Many are small-scale and award winning, offering a real sense of place with every glass.
In these cideries, you can walk through orchards, learn about the cider making process, and then settle into a welcoming tasting room with a flight of seasonal options. Alongside their bottles of delicious cider, many cideries now also produce sparkling, still, and even craft cider variations that highlight local fruit and careful fermentation techniques. Whether you are visiting Saanich, the Cowichan Valley, or the Gulf Islands, there is always something new to discover.
Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse
Saanichton
This cidery is a must-visit for anyone in the Saanich Peninsula. Known for heritage cider apples and carefully managed fermentation, Sea Cider produces a wide range of styles, from sweet and fruity to robust and spiced. Their orchard and tasting room are as inviting as their bottles.
Merridale Cidery & Distillery
Cowichan Valley
One of the most recognized names in Canadian cider, Merridale combines tradition with creativity. Their lineup includes approachable dry cider as well as more adventurous blends. With food, tours, and events at their orchard, it’s an essential stop for anyone interested in authentic cider making.
Tugwell Creek Meadery
Sooke
While focused on mead, Tugwell Creek belongs on any cider tour. Their honey-based creations are often spiced or oak-aged, delivering the kind of complexity you’d expect from an award winning producer. If you are staying near Sooke, a visit to their farm is a perfect afternoon outing.
Salt Spring Wild Cider
Salt Spring Island
On the largest Gulf Island, Salt Spring Wild Cider highlights wild cider apples and foraged botanicals in its small-batch releases. Their craft cider lineup is always evolving, and they offer refreshing still and sparkling styles that are perfect for pairing with food.
North Haven Cider
Cowichan Valley
One of the newest additions to Vancouver Island’s cider scene, North Haven focuses on producing craft cider that reflects the character of the Cowichan Valley. Using locally grown cider apples and careful fermentation methods, they create balanced, approachable bottles that highlight the region’s orchard heritage. Their tasting room is a welcoming stop, especially for folks exploring around Duncan.
Big Bang Cider
Nanaimo
Farm-based and proud of its roots, Big Bang Cider is one of the few fully heritage apple orchards in British Columbia. Their farm sits among apple trees, and their focus is on traditional dry cider made with real cider apples. They make sure the fermentation captures vintage, season, and place. The tasting experience at the farm is rustic and authentic, with a chance to try flights, walk the orchard, and enjoy their offerings on site.
Tugwell Creek Meadery
Sooke
Mead lovers will appreciate the Solstice Metheglin Mead, a ginger-spiced honey wine aged in French oak. It pairs beautifully with fall dishes and feels festive on a stormy night.
Warm Wines for Chilly Nights
The wine scene on Vancouver Island has grown into something truly special. Thanks to the mild maritime climate, vineyards here enjoy long growing seasons and cooling ocean breezes that create wines with bright acidity, elegant aromatics, and subtle complexity. Many wineries focus on small-batch production, sustainable practices, and capturing the unique character of the island’s soil and climate.
Visiting a winery here is as much about the experience as it is the wine. You can sip in modern tasting rooms, stroll through rolling vineyards, or linger on patios with sweeping views of the Cowichan Valley. From crisp whites and sparkling wines to bold Pinot Noir, Vancouver Island offers a wine experience that blends West Coast charm with European-style craftsmanship.
Church & State Wines
Brentwood Bay
One of the largest and most recognizable wineries on the island, Church & State pairs a striking setting with an impressive portfolio. Their tasting room is a showstopper, and their sparkling wines and blends have made them one of Vancouver Island’s most award winning producers.
Blue Grouse Estate Winery
Duncan (Cowichan Valley)
This family-owned estate is celebrated for its stunning vineyard views and commitment to sustainability. With a modern tasting room and a reputation for polished whites and reds, Blue Grouse has become a cornerstone of the Cowichan Valley wine scene.
Averill Creek Vineyard
Cowichan Valley
Averill Creek is known for its premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, reflecting the island’s cooler-climate terroir. The tasting room is sleek and contemporary, and their wines are often praised for their freshness, balance, and precision.
Enrico Winery
Mill Bay
Set against the beautiful landscape of Mill Bay, Enrico Winery offers a welcoming tasting room and a wide range of varietals. Their versatility makes them a favourite stop for both casual sippers and dedicated wine enthusiasts.
Cherry Point Estate Wines
Cobble Hill
As one of the more established wineries on the island, Cherry Point offers both history and hospitality. Their vineyard is picturesque, and their diverse lineup ensures there is something for every palate.
Alderlea Vineyard & Winery
Duncan
Alderlea is among Vancouver Island’s older vineyards, respected for its consistency and charm. Visitors enjoy a relaxed tasting experience and a lineup that highlights elegant whites and balanced reds.
Zanatta Estate Winery
Cowichan Valley
Zanatta combines old-world inspiration with island character. Their estate-grown varietals, such as Ortega and Pinot Noir, showcase just how much potential the Cowichan Valley has as a wine region.
Fall Wine & Cider Events on Vancouver Island
These events are the perfect way to experience the island’s craft beverage culture and connect with local makers!
Victoria International Wine Festival
October 2nd, 3rd & 4th, 2025
Victoria Conference Centre, Victoria BC
Three-day festival featuring grand tastings, seminars, and wine-dinners. Great chance to sample wines from BC and beyond.
Merridale Harvest Cider Festival
Sunday, September 21st, 2025
1:00pm–4:00pm
Merridale Cidery & Distillery, Cowichan Valley BC
Features farm-based cideries from across BC. Includes tastes, pop up liquor store and food.
Sea Cider: Paint and Cider Night
September 18th, October 16th, November 13th, 2025
Evenings, 6pm-9pm
Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse, Saanichton
Evening events combining cider tasting with art (guided painting). Tickets required.
Sea Cider: Apple Day
September 28th, 2025
11:00am-4:00pm
Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse, Saanichton
Annual celebration of apples & cider — family friendly, live atmosphere.
Where to Stay on Vancouver Island
There’s nothing better than relaxing in a cozy Vancouver Island vacation rental after a long day of tastings!
Our handpicked homes across Vancouver Island, from Sooke and Sidney to the Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo, Parksville, and the Comox Valley feature fireplaces, hot tubs, and full kitchens, making them ideal for enjoying your favourite fall finds!
Explore our Vancouver Island vacation rentals today and start planning your autumn getaway!
Cheers to Fall on Vancouver Island!
From pumpkin ales to spiced ciders and bold Cowichan reds, fall on Vancouver Island is bursting with flavour. Whether you are exploring breweries in Victoria, sipping cider in Cowichan, or tasting wines on a vineyard hillside, there is no better way to celebrate the season. Pair your adventure with a cozy EMR rental, and you will have all the ingredients for a memorable autumn escape!
