This winery post is in partnership with Blue Grouse Winery. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.
They say you’ll never forget your first and that couldn’t be truer about my first winery visit. I remember watching the wine bottles being passed around at special family dinners growing up and even sneaking a sip or two as a teenager.
Blue Grouse Estate Winery checks off a number of boxes for me and my bestie Kat from Our Happy Place! My love for Duncan BC, wine and the chance to learn something new! I’m also a huge fan of small details and that is one thing that Blue Grouse Estate has perfected. From the company logo on the wine cellar sliding door, the high ceilings with wooden cross beams, and furniture throughout the winery.
Never having been to a winery before, I wasn’t 100% sure what to expect. I always thought I had a pretty decent knowledge of wine but having attended Blue Grouse and met Bailey Williamson the fabulous winemaker behind Blue Grouse Estate Winery; I quickly found out, I knew almost nothing. Bailey shared not only his wine with us but also his passion for his craft.
As we stared out onto the rows of grape plants, Bailey shared not only the company background but his background and how his love for good food turned into his love for even better wine! He’s truly the passion behind Blue Grouse Estate and his extensive knowledge on growing good grapes made for one incredible, informative wine lesson.
It completely makes sense that different climates will produce different grapes and thus only certain wines can be successful in certain regions but I honestly had no idea. We sat sipping on wine getting drunk on Bailey’s passion and love for this growing business. After a mind-blowing tour throughout the entire winery, and a look behind the scenes Kat and I would make our way down to the infamous Grouse House where our love for Blue Grouse would be cemented in place.
Remember how I mentioned my love for small details? The Grouse House is a “Bed & Bottle” retreat situated just a short drive away from the historic waterfront community of Cowichan Bay. The Grouse House’s two-bedroom suite sleeps four, ideal for two couples or even a family.
Kat and I each claimed a room, which dawned the most comfortable Queen size bed next to my own. With a panoramic outdoor patio, the Grouse House rooms each have beautiful French doors that open up to the most enchanting view of the winery. The perfect place to sit and unwind over a glass of wine and a delicious charcuterie board. It’s the perfect spot to make the most of your “Bed & Bottle” service as one bottle of wine is our gift to you on check-in.
After dinner, we took to investigating our surroundings. Blue Grouse Estate is 65 acres of the most beautiful scenery with 8.5 aces currently dedicated to the vineyard, which is being expanded to 15 acres. We walked the rows of grapes taking in their beauty and listening to the land. It’s so easy to see how Bailey has fallen head over heels with the land, as it’s captivating, to say the least.
Listening to the gentle breeze amongst the trees, the frogs talking from the pond in the front and nearby animals singing their tune, the evening was nothing shy of picturesque. We retired to the living room to relax in our downtime, with no children to need us, no husbands to distract us. We sat as two friends enjoying the gas fireplace and a glass of wine.
One of my personal highlights from the Grouse House specifically, was waking up in the morning to the glorious sun peaking through the patio doors with nowhere to be and no one to need me.
Thankfully our fridge was stocked with some of the most delicious farmer’s market finds like fresh blueberries and yogurt to enjoy a healthy local breakfast on the patio. The Grouse House does such an amazing job of making you feel right at home that we definitely could have stayed for a few more days!
From state of the art winemaking technology, a passionate wine-maker to decor that tells a story of a deep love for the land, right down to the kindest welcoming staff at Blue Grouse Estate should be at the top of the list for anyone looking to enjoying a wine tasting, winery tour or a Bed & Bottle stay on Vancouver Island.
Getting married? Honeymoon? Maybe you’re just looking for some time away with your friends or family? Blue Grouse Estate Winery will fill up your cup, ignite a deep passion for good local wine and leave you calling this beautiful destination your home away from home.
Heading over to the island? Check out the Blue Grouse Estate website, if you stop in, tell them Janette & Kat sent you! And don’t forget to follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
Sounds amazing