Starling Lane Winery is a small family winery on the Saanich Peninsula producing award winning wines from locally grown grapes. Victoria BC is not considered by many to have an optimum wine grape growing climate, but these dedicated vintners offer proof that excellent wines can be produced locally with attention to detail and the right varietals.
The winery is a partnership between three families, each with their own small vineyard on the Saanich Peninsula and a partner vineyard in North Cowichan. Years of experimentation with wine styles and grape varieties have resulted in a repertoire of unique wines reflecting local micro-climates and soil chemistry.
The vineyards supplying grapes to Starling Lane Winery are:
Heritage Farm Vineyard – Where winemaker John Wrinch and Jackie Wrinch tend to 8 varieties of grapes as well as operating the tasting room and hosting the occasional wedding or special event at their gorgeous historical farm.
Hummingbird Vineyard – with ten years of production under their belts, Ken and Sue Houston’s vineyard has earned a reputation for top quality grapes, especially their Maréchal Foch.
Mussio Vineyard – Home to Sherry and Jerry Mussio and productive plantings of Ortega, Pinot Gris and Maréchal Foch vines. The couple are charter members of the Wine Island Growers’ Association and have been active in identifying the best grape varieties for our area.
Fleurie Vineyard – Located in nearby North Cowichan, Marcel and Bente’s vineyard produces top notch fruit for Starling Lane Winery.
Starling Lane Winery has won a number of awards for their:
- Ortega;
- Star Ortega;
- Pinot Blanc;
- Pinot Gris;
- Maréchal Foch;
- Pinot Noir;
- Celebration Sparkling Wine, and
- Port Victoria Wild Blackberry
You can taste their wines at a number of local restaurants and purchase them at several local wine merchants including:
- Brentwood Bay Wine Shop;
- Cascadia Liquor Stores;
- Cowichan Valley Inn LRS
- Everything Wine;
- Hillside Liquor Store;
- Liquor Plus Stores;
- Penny Farthing Wines;
- Six Mile Liquor Store;
- Smuggler’s Cove Liquor;
- Spinnakers Wine Merchants, and
- The Strath Wine Merchants.
Or you might choose to visit the winery located at the site of Heritage Farm on Old West Saanich Road and enjoy a glass of wine on their picturesque patio, look for the beautiful white greenhouse. Starling Lane Winery is a scenic twenty minute drive from Victoria BC.
