Tucked into the gentle, sun-warmed slopes of the Cowichan Valley—just 4 km from the Salish Sea—Blue Grouse Estate Winery is a living testament to the evolution of Vancouver Island’s wine industry. This award-winning winery has one of the oldest vineyards on Vancouver Island.
Blue Grouse offers a glimpse into Vancouver Island’s emerging potential as a respected wine region. With a rich history, thoughtful stewardship, and a clear commitment to sustainability, this estate gracefully balances tradition with forward momentum, reflected in every glass.
Over its 30-year history, this trailblazing estate has grown from a boutique operation to a regional leader in cool-climate winemaking. Known for its unique varietals and sustainable farming, and now under the stewardship of one of the world’s foremost wine families, Blue Grouse is writing a bold new chapter in British Columbia viticulture.
From German Roots to Global Recognition the History of Blue Grouse Estate Winery
Originally planted in the early 1990s by the Kiltz family, German immigrants passionate about winemaking, Blue Grouse’s early vineyards were an experimental patchwork of grape varieties. These included Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Ortega, Müller-Thurgau, Bacchus, Siegerrebe, and even Black Muscat—many of which were uncommon at the time yet ideally suited to the region’s warm Mediterranean-like microclimate.
But the Kiltz family did go out of their way to plant some of these noble varieties that, in the early 90s, maybe weren’t the most reliable. These grapes were a little bit later to ripen than some early-ripening whites. But with 30 years of growing grapes in the Cowichan Valley and advancements in winemaking and viticulture, this is now predominantly what Blue Grouse focuses on.
We’ve gone from a handful of wines in a handful of SKUs (stock-keeping units) to really developing our acreage to focus on three core grapes, which are obviously developing to multiple different avenues for making wine. So those three core grapes are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris. In that time frame since I’ve been here, we’ve gone from six and a half acres to roughly 70 acres, with that core. – Michael Abbott, General Manager of Blue Grouse Estate Winery
Grouse House
The now-iconic Grouse House originally served as the winery’s tasting room, welcoming guests on the ground floor of the family home. Today, it offers charming guest accommodations.
A modern, eco-friendly tasting room was opened in 2015 to support the growing interest in the winery’s wines and provide sweeping views of the estate’s flourishing vineyards.
The stunning views of the Blue Grouse Estate Winery in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
The Netting System, Sustainable Growth and a Vision for the Future
In recent years, Blue Grouse has undergone a remarkable transformation. From just 6.5 acres of vines, the estate has expanded to nearly 70 acres, including the new Koksilah Ridge vineyard, located on the southern flank of the Cowichan Valley. This area, which defines the headwaters of the Cowichan River, is known for its fertile soils, temperate climate, and long growing season—ideal for producing expressive, balanced wines.
To support this growth, Blue Grouse has shifted its vineyard practices. It has moved from traditional overhead netting—once modelled after the local fishing industry—to more efficient side-row netting to protect the fruit and ease labour demands. The result is a more scalable and sustainable vineyard operation that still honours its pioneering roots.
Beaufort would have had a different style of overhead netting, but this property actually had the exact same style as Beaufort way back in the day when I started, and we spent about 10 years cutting it out. So the old overhead net style that they used to do was big, massive end posts, and every 20 feet down, every fifth row, another 20 foot post, and they actually created fully netted boxes over the entire vineyard. So a lot of the old school vineyards here still have that style of netting. The reason why it existed like that was it was born out of the fishing industry. We had netting manufacturers on Vancouver Island who looked at the problem birds and said, Oh, I can fix that for you. I’m going to net the entire thing. Whereas most viticulture now moves to row application as opposed to trying to box in the entire vineyard. – Michael Abbott
Michael Abbott, General Manager of Blue Grouse Estate Winery, looks out over the stunning vineyard in the fall in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Blue Grouse Estate Winery in Cowichan Bay. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
A Sonoma Connection: The Jackson Family’s Commitment
In 2023, Blue Grouse joined the prestigious Jackson Family Wines portfolio, marking their second Vancouver Island investment after acquiring Unsworth Vineyards in 2020. Based in Sonoma County, the Jackson Family—pioneers in sustainable, quality-driven winemaking worldwide—brings global expertise and new energy to Blue Grouse without compromising its island-grown soul. Led by the next generation of Jacksons, including Katie, Julia and Chris Jackson, Hailey Jackson-Hartford Murray, and MacLean Hartford, the family’s vision for Blue Grouse honours its legacy while investing in future excellence.
Wine tasting at Blue Grouse Estate Winery in Cowichan Bay on Vancouver Island. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Meet Winemaker Stacy Hornemann
Blue Grouse is best known for its distinctive cool-climate varietals, crafted with a deep respect for terroir and minimal intervention techniques. Their winemaking team now includes winemaker Stacey Harman, a Sonoma County native. She works with traditional and innovative tools, including stainless steel, concrete vessels, and Charmat method fermentation for sparkling wines.
Stacy enjoys the fun and creative experimental aspects of winemaking, including blending different varieties.
The aromas that you get in the glass are nowhere near the aromas that exist during the fermentation. And I don’t want to blend things prematurely because then you can’t learn from it. – Stacy Hornemann
Stacy Hornemann the talented winemaker at Blue Grouse Winery. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Blue Grouse Estate Winery. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Cleaning up after the fall grape harvest at Blue Grouse Estate Winery. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Wine Tasting at Blue Grouse
Blue Grouse Estate is more than a winery—it’s a destination. With panoramic views of the Cowichan Valley and a newly renovated tasting room, the estate offers guided tastings, wine flights, and guest accommodations. Whether you’re visiting during fall’s vineyard-hued brilliance or the green flush of summer, the experience is unforgettable.
The guided tasting experience involves a sit-down, in-depth tasting of five wines, a mix of white, rosé, and red. The winery also offers a cured meat and wine pairing with five wines and hosts special events throughout the year. Reservations are recommended.
Buy a BC Wine Passport for a 2 for 1 tasting experience at Blue Grouse, one of six participating Vancouver Island wineries.
Blue Grouse is known for producing outstanding cool-climate varietals, many thriving in Vancouver Island’s unique terroir. Some of the winery’s most acclaimed offerings include:
- Ortega – Floral, crisp, and complex.
- Pinot Gris – A vibrant and refreshing wine with pear, citrus, and stony minerality.
- Chardonnay – Pressed with care and finesse, the Chardonnay reflects balance, depth, and structure.
- Pinot Noir – A refined red with notes of raspberry, forest floor, and spice, benefiting from cool-climate precision.
- Sparkling Wines – Made using the Charmat method, Blue Grouse’s sparkling program includes elegant blends featuring Ortega, Pinot Gris, and Bacchus.
- Rosé – Delicate and dry, the rosé reflects the team’s focus on balancing acidity and sugar in every vintage.
Balcony and outside wine tasting area at Blue Grouse Estate Winery in Cowichan Bay. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Wine tasting at Grouse Estate Winery. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Wine tasting at Grouse Estate Winery. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Pamela Sanderson Tasting Room Manager Blue Grouse Winery. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Wine tasting at Grouse Estate Winery. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Wine tasting at Grouse Estate Winery. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Sustainability in Action at Blue Grouse
At Blue Grouse Estate Winery, sustainability is more than a philosophy—it’s how they operate every day. Their commitment to the land runs deep from a runoff-collecting pond in the parking lot that now supports a thriving wetland to an on-site Nature Reserve protecting local wildlife.
In partnership with Lenora Bees, over 30 beehives help pollinate the vineyards and nearby farms. Unpaved roads allow rainwater to recharge the aquifer rather than run off into the ocean, and wastewater is naturally filtered through underground bioreactors before being returned to the land.
Every detail at Blue Grouse is thoughtfully designed to leave the land better than they found it, making every sip part of something greater.
Blue Grouse embodies the best of Vancouver Island winemaking, with a pioneering past, a progressive present, and a promising future. Every bottle, from estate-grown Ortega to bold, sparkling blends, tells the story of this dynamic terroir and the people shaping it.
Read more about my Vancouver Island wine series: Unsworth Winery, Church and State Wines. Beaufort Winery, and a visit to Merridale Cidery and Distillery.
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Wendy Nordvik-Carr participated in a press trip hosted by Wines of BC, which did not review or approve of this article before it was published.
About the Author:
Wendy Nordvik-Carr is a highly regarded travel writer who produces quality, well-researched articles with stunning photography and video.
She seeks out authentic experiences showcasing the people, culture and history that make each destination unique. Her focus is on solo, couple and multigenerational travel through cruising, air and road trip adventures.
Wendy is the editor & writer for LifesIncredibleJourney.com, an award-winning travel site that encourages exploration of destinations near & far.
She is a TMAC Director, Chair, National Governance Committee and Chair of TMAC's BC & Yukon Chapter, as well as a member of SATW, IFWTWA and NATJA.
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