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Summer is fast approaching in the Cowichan Valley and that means one thing to music fans on Vancouver Island. The Islands Folk Festival will be coming up soon, specifically July 23rd through the 25th, 2010 at Providence Farm near Duncan. Tickets are available through the Cowichan Folk Guild as well as numerous Vancouver Island businesses. Information is at Islands Folk Festival Tickets.
Want some incentive to go? Kevin at Cowichan Valley Photos photographs the festival seriously every year. Visit the photo galleries below to see what a great festival this is!
 Islands Folk Festival, Providence Farm, Duncan, British Columbia Are you Vancouver Islands next great songwriter?
The Cowichan Folk Guild, the folks who produce the Islands Folk Festival, proudly present the very first “Islands Singer Songwriter Contest.” Nine contest finalists will perform in front of a panel of music professionals and the entire audience on the opening Friday night of the 2010 Islands Folk Festival’s main stage.
Artists from a wide variety of genres are encouraged to submit their best song. The grand prize winner will receive $1,000 worth of studio recording time at Woodshop Studios, radio airplay of their song and television features. The winner will also be awarded an Islands Folk Festival performance during the closing ceremonies on Sunday afternoon, an award certificate and the career building bragging rights of being the 2010 Islands Singer Songwriter winner. Second and first runner up will also receive prize packages.
Sponsors to date include Woodshop Recording Studio, ‘A’ Channel BC, Sound Advice Productions CHLY Radio and the Cowichan Folk Guild.
Now in its 26th year, The Islands Folk Festival is an annual celebration of music and culture. The event will be held July 23-25th on the beautiful grounds of Providence Farm, near Duncan, Vancouver Island, Canada. Photographs of last years 25th anniversary Islands Folk Festival are at Islands Folk Festival Photographs.
For additional information please visit the Cowichan Folk Guilds web site at 2010 Islands Singer Songwriter Contest.
 15th Annual Wooden Boat Celebration on May 22& 23, 2010. It’s that time of year again. Maple Bay Marina is hosting the 15th Annual Wooden Boat Celebration on May 22& 23, 2010. As always there will be many wooden boats for viewing, a few for sale (I bought one of the boats last year…) lots of stuff for the kids and in general a good time for everyone.
If you enjoy wooden boats this is one of the better celebrations with “real” boats that actually get used. I get a little disappointed with some festivals where the boats are looked at as “art objects” not to be touched or used.
For more information, please email Carol or call Maple Bay Marina at 250-746-8482 or 866-746-8482.
 Grape vines at the Blue Grouse Estate Vineyards, Cowichan Valley Blue Grouse Estate Vineyards, which started out as a hobby for Hans and Evangeline Klitz, is located approximately 28 miles north of Victoria on Vancouver Island in the Cowichan Valley. Hans and Evangeline along with their two children, Richard and Sandrina, pay attention to every little detail that goes into making their wines from hand-pruning and harvesting their grapes to marketing their winery. They take great pride in the fact that their vineyard is one of the founding Estate wineries of Vancouver Island.
The wines available at Blue Grouse Estate Vineyards are: White: Bacchus 2007, Müller-Thurgau 2007, Ortega 2006, Pinot Gris 2007, and Siegerrebe 2007; Red: Black Muscat 2006, Gamay Noir 2006, and Pinot Noir 2004. You will not find their wines in any liquor stores. However, you may find a few of their wines in select resorts and restaurants on Vancouver Island.
Blue Grouse Estate Vineyards is open April through December, Wednesday through Saturday 11 am – 5 pm. You may also visit them on Sundays 11 am – 5 pm April through September.
You may contact the winery by telephone at (250) 743-3834 or by mail at 4365 Blue Grouse Road, Duncan, BC V9L 6M3 Canada. If you should have any questions or comments regarding the winery, you visit their website at www.bluegrousevineyards.com.
 Glenterra Vineyards, Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island Glenterra Vineyards which opened in 2000, is home to organically grown grapes. Thistles Cafe is also available for you’re dining pleasure. Thistles offers a dinner for two special each Friday night beginning in April. There is a 10% discount on wine when purchasing this dinner for two.
The wines available at Glenterra Vineyards include: 2009 Vivace, 2009 Gerurztraminer, 2007 Brio, 2007 Merlot, 2007 Pinot Gris, and 2007 Pinot Noir. Their wines can be found at many fine wine and liquor stores on Vancouver Island.
The winery is open April 2nd through September 30th, Thursday through Monday 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You may also make an appointment during their closing hours. There is a $3/per person tasting fee which is refunded with the purchase of a bottle of wine. The cafe is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s, 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Glenterra Vineyards welcomes groups to the vineyard by appointment only.
If you should have any questions or comments regarding Glenterra Vineyards, you may reach them by phone at (250) 743-2330 or by mail at 3897 Cobble Hill Rd, Cobble Hill, B.C, V0R1L5 Canada. You may also visit their website at www.glenterravineyards.com.
Venturi-Schulze Vineyards, Cobble Hill, Cowichan Valley Venturi-Schulze Vineyards, located in rural Cobble Hill on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, is truly a family run business. Giordano and Marilyn Venturi, both former teachers, and their daughter, Michelle Willcock Schulze, have owned the vineyard since 1988. Giordano and Marilyn have always shared a love of fine wine and ultimately instilled that into their daughter who has worked in the vineyard since she could walk. The family home, built around 1893, has been renovated and expanded to include a room for special events.
The vineyard, which is pesticide and herbicide free, sets on 20 acres of land. The Venturi-Schulze Vineyard not only specializes in fine wines, but they also have a vinegary on the property. Balsamic vinegar, like wine, has to be aged to perfection. They also produce a product called “Verjus”, originally from the Middle Ages, which is made from the unfermented, pure grape juice pressed from unripe grapes. It has once again gained popularity as a versatile condiment. The family home, built around 1893, has been renovated and expanded to include a room for special events.
The following wines are available at Venturi-Schulze Vineyards: Millefiori 2008, Bianco di Collina 2008, Brandenburg No. 3 2007, Brut Naturel 2006, Brut Naturel 2007, Kerner 2006, Schönburger 2007, Pinot Noir 2007, Rosato di Collina and Sole Rossa. You will also surely want to pick up a bottle of their balsamic vinegar or Verjus.
The winery is open from 10 am – 5 pm most weekends and holiday Mondays from April until December. There is a $5 per person donation which will be waived with the purchase of any wine. Tours and tastings are available by appointment only. You may visit their website at www.venturischulze.com to see a list of the many restaurants where their wines are available. If you should have any questions or comments about any of Venturi-Schulze’s wines, vinegar or verjus, please contact them by telephone at (250) 743-5630 or by mail at 4235 Vineyard Road, Cobble Hill, BC V0R 1L5 Canada.
 Grape vines at the Zanatta Winery and Vineyards, Glenora, Cowichan Valley Zanatta Winery and Vineyards, located in Glenora, is four minutes southwest of Duncan in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. Glenora comes from Scottish origin meaning “golden valley”, which perfectly describes the Cowichan Valley. The winery, which opened in 1990, is part of a 120 acre farm with thirty acres being dedicated to the vineyard and the remaining 90 acres consisting of hay fields, pasture, forest and old orchard trees.
Loretta Zanatta, Italian educated winemaker, and her husband, Jim Moody, also own Vinoteca on the Vineyard Restaurant and Wine Bar which is also located on the vineyard. The original 1903 farmhouse that houses the restaurant was restored as closely as possible to its original state by Ileana Zanatta, mother of Loretta Zanatta. Loretta and her husband believe there is no greater satisfaction than pairing their fine wines with food made from the harvest of their own land.
The wines available at Zanatta Winery and the restaurant are all 100% produced from the fruit grown at the vineyard. These wines include: Glenora Fantasia Brut – a sparkling wine made from 100% Cayuga grapes and then aged a minimum of three years; Fatima Brut ‘05 – a sparkling wine made from Pinot Gris grapes; Allegria Brut Rosé – a sparkling wine aged a minimum of 18 months with a rich, fruity body and just a hint of strawberry and raspberry aroma; Taglio Rosso (Brut) – a sparkling wine made with Cabernet Sauvignon and Castel grapes; Ortega – a fruity full-bodied dry white wine which makes an excellent combination with spicy Asian or Indian cuisine; Pinot Grigio – a full bodied dry white wine which pairs well with rich white meats and seafood; Damasco – a light and fresh fruity bouquet with a slight effervescence makes this a perfect wine with appetizers or just for sipping; Pinot Nero – aged in a combination of new and old French barrels give this wine subtle oak flavors with a hint of vanilla, tobacco, black pepper and raspberry.
Zanatta Winery and Vinoteca on the Vineyard Restaurant and Wine Bar open April 1, 2010, for the season. The winery’s fine wines can also be bought in Cowichan Valley at Beverly Corners and the Cowichan Valley Inn Beer and Wine shop or in Greater Victoria at Swans Beer and Wine Shop. Zanatta’s will ship out full case orders only of their wine. Please contact the winery by telephone at (250) 748-2338 or by mail at 039 Marshal Rd, Duncan, B.C. V9L 6S3. You may also email Zanatta’s regarding any questions or comments at winery@zanatta.ca. The Zanatta Winery web Site is at www.zanatta.ca
 Aerial photo of the Zanatta Winery and Vineyards, Glenora, Cowichan Valley
 Echo Valley Vineyards, Cowichan Valley, British Columbia At Echo Valley Vineyards, tucked away in the breathtaking forests on Vancouver Island, the grapes are organically grown and irrigated from their own clear mountain water wells. This is truly the most virgin land in Cowichan Valley. The winery currently buys grapes from other Cowichan Valley winerys and uses their own technique to produce their wine. In the near future, as the plants mature, they will be harvesting their own grapes.
The award winning Eurpoean style wines available at Echo Valley Vineyards are: Chardonnay, Beaujolais Blanc, Gamay Noir, Beaujolais Rouge and Nouveau Gamay. They also carry a nice selection of white Alsace and German style wines, which include: Pinot Gris, Kerner and Nouveau Gamay.
You may visit Echo Valley Vineyard during the summer months: Thursday – Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. They are open during the winter months by appointment only. If you wish to contact the winery, you may reach them by telephone at (250) 748-1470 or by mail at 4651 Waters Road, Duncan, British Columbia, Canada.
 Rick Pipes of Merridale Estate Cidery, Cobble Hill, British Columbia Merridale Estate Cidery is located on the southeast coast of Vancouver Island, about 40 minutes north of Victoria, and one hour and 20 minutes south of Nanaimo. Merridale has truly been an ongoing project for the owners, Janet Docherty and Rick Pipes. Since their purchase of the property in March, 2000, they have continued to renovate the estate with a tremendous focus on quality control. As they would renovate one part of the cidery, they would outgrow another and have had to continually update and upgrade.
In the summer of 2005, they opened La Pommeraie Bistro, which features a brick oven. They offer breads, pastries, apple pies and their famous pizzas, all prepared in the brick oven. In 2007, the Brandihouse opened at Merridale Estate Cidery, offering North America’s best Calvados-style brandy made from the cider apples right in their own orchard. They also have a store in their farmhouse which has many gifts and collectibles for you’re purchasing pleasure.
The award winning ciders available at Merridale Estate Cidery include: Traditional Cider, House Cider, Scrumpy, Cyser, Merri Berri, Cidre Normandie, Winter Apple, Champagne Style Somerset and Pomme Oh.
They have several lunch and tour packages and Cider and Brandy tours available to fit everyone’s pallet needs and desires. You may also schedule a private tour of the Brandihouse. Most tours are complimentary; however, a few of their tours have a nominal fee required which, rest assured, will be well worth the money.
This is the only estate in Cowichan Valley that has a spa available. The spa offers massage treatments, aromatherapy and body treatments, and esthetics. They have several spa packages available, including wedding packages.
Merridale Estates Cidery offers their grounds and amenities for special occasions, such as weddings, family reunions, conferences and retreats. With all that is available at Merridale, your event will surely be filled with memories that will last a lifetime.
You may visit Merridale Estate Cidery seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. While La Pommeraie Bistro is open 11:30 a.m.to 3:00 p.m. Wed-Fri. each week. Reservations for the bistro are recommended.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the Merridale Estate Cidery, you make contact them by phone at (250) 743-4293 or by mail at P. O. Box 358, 1230 Merridale Road, Cobble Hill, B.C. V0R 1L0, Canada. You may also view their website at www.merridalecider.com.
 Rick Pipes of Merridale Estate Cidery, Cobble Hill, British Columbia
 Western White Trillium (Trillium ovatum)
Trillium Ovatum is also known as Western White Trillium and Western Wake Robin. This flower is the member of family Trilliacea and is found growing in rich and dense forests like those of Western Canada and the Unitred States. Locally it is found growing in northern ranges of Oregon, Eastern Montana, Washington, the southwestern parts of Alberta and many others areas which have fully grown forests. You will usually find these flowers shaded by big trees like Western Red Cedar, Fir and Big Leaf Maple which is why sometimes it is difficult to locate them but when you do find them they are often plentiful in the Cowichan Valley. Picking Trillium for their flowers can seriously injure the plant and should be avoided!
This plant is a perennial with narrow leaves and three petals. The flowers are at their most beautiful in mid to late spring. Trillium requires dark shade to grow and thus in its natural habitat they are often under covered by big trees. Most of the Trillium plants flowers are found with white petals which often turn purple as the flower ages. Leaves are of medium size and the flower is fragrant.
It is a Monocot Angiosperm which can be grown in gardens if optimal conditions are provided like sandy or muddy soil, a good amount of water and a complete absence of direct sunlight. Though these plants require low maintenance the gardener needs to put in some effort for eradicating and controlling pests for healthy growth of the plant.
 Western White Trillium (Trillium ovatum) in a Cowichan Valley forest  Western White Trillium (Trillium ovatum) in its' purple stage 
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