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Rockey Creek Winery

One of Vancouver's lesser know gems is Rockey Creek Winery located in Cowichan Bay

Cowichan Bay lies on the east coast of Vancouver Island 55 km north from British Columbia's capital Victoria. Duncan is 9.6 Km north. The village of Cowichan Bay and the surrounding area is home to historic buildings and a host of artists, craftspeople, unique shops, and cottage industries – including some fine local wineries and organic farms.

Rocky Creek is a beautiful 10-acre winery located in the Cowichan Valley owned by Holford Family. Linda is the general manager and Mark is the winemaker. Two daughters round out the team. The winery was founded in 2004.

Mark graduated from University of Waterloo with a Chemical Engineering degree. Then proceeded to work in the oil industry, While working, Mark decided to pursue his degree further and continued with the Masters Degree at the University of Calgary for environmental engineering. His true dream was to own his own winery and develop for generations to come. Mark uses both his background for the winery and also continues to do part time environmental consulting.

Linda worked in the oil industry for 15 years as a pipeline technologist working with projects both construction and maintenance. it wasn't something that was a dream just a good opportunity. After having children, kept volunteering on committees such as the town planning council, president of PAC primary schools and starting the winery as the sole proprietorship. Took this on as the other owner still had a full time job and then transitioned to a larger corporation.

Robin started the wine business when she was 8 and was a big part in helping out when she could including bottling at a young age. She worked with us alongside and after high school graduation is now in 4th year at Brock University with a major in enology and viticulture and a minor in a science degree. She hopes to study abroad and develop her own character wines.

Katherine started the wine business when she was 6 and was also a big part in helping out when she could also bottling at 6. She has been around when she can but has dreams outside of the winery. She is now studying in university to become a well know photo journalist. Many shots on this website belong to her. One thing you will notice though around the area is her artistic influences and many pictures on advertising and in this website is her camera work. You will be seeing her in the tasting room this summer.

Barb and Larry Guenette look after the tasting room. Together they the have worked in many aspects of the wine industry from tasting to touring. They love meeting people and enjoy greeting visitors to the winery.

Sarah Yates has been a part of the wineries team for a long time as she is the daughter of one of our long term leased vineyards. So she knows our story, has tended to the vines and even bottled. She has the unique Spanish grapes that showcase our blends. Sarah has left the island to pursue her dreams in Vancouver. In the lower mainland Sarah represents the winery at numerous events. She is a great team player and is full of enthusiasm and cheer. Come visit the markets in the Vancouver Area and say hello.

Rocky Creek is an innovative winery trying new things such as experimental grapes from the Blattner crosses and training the vineyard differently than anyone else on Vancouver Island. Their grapes include Albarino and Tempranillo. Mark is an environmental engineer and "going green"  is just a part of Rocky Creek normal practices.

They are the first in Western Canada to use the Zork closure for still wines and now also for the sparkling wines, which reseals itself and keeps bubbles fresh for days.  Zorks are recyclable, reusable and also have air permeability .

There are three vineyards

Vineyard 1:   5 acres, grapes planted 2008, mainly Blattner crosses, Marechal Foch, cultivated blackberries
Vineyard 2:   2 acres, grapes planted 1995, Pinot Gris, Siegerrebe, Pinot Noir, Kerner, Mueller Thurgau
Vineyard 3:   2 acres, grapes planted 2004, mainly Tempranillo and Pinot Gris

Among their numerous awards ( over 100 in total) is the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for their Wild Blackberry

One of BCs top sparkling wine producers — Troy Townsin, CBC Time for Wine

Best tasting wine on Vancouver Island. — Marlin and Bud Vitale

Rocky Creek is so good at it....the wine is the essence of the fruit. — Anthony Gismondi

 

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