The picturesque cowichan valley 40 minutes from victoria offers scenic drives through a temperate rain forest mountain vistas and farmland it features wonderful local cheese food and of course wine and libations of all sorts meet the owners and winemakers along the route one such experience is with a local sommelier in a seaside village cheese shop youll pair local cheese and charcuterie with wine all while you learn more about the wines of this region vancouver islands wine region is