Unsworth Vineyards

Unsworth Vineyards is a hidden gem between Victoria and Nanaimo. The setting feels like stepping into a cozy cabin—warm, welcoming, and surrounded by natural beauty. The wine room experience is relaxed and informative, and the food at the restaurant is exceptional. I highly recommend the seafood chowder—it’s rich and full of coastal flavor—and the grilled broccoli with a fresh green salad made for the perfect light lunch. A beautiful stop with amazing hospitality and thoughtful wine pairings. Highly recommend!

We had a very good lunch of small plates - wild mushroom pizza, a green salad and two glasses of Pinot Gamay. The restaurant area was excellent, like a converted farmhouse but very well-finished, and the view was wonderful. An outdoor seat was not available but we still had the view over all. After lunch we went to the tasting area, sampled the Sumphony vintage and purchased a bottle for home. Delightful stop on our first of many planned local wine tours. Must try the seafood chowder next time when it’s not 28C outside. Highly recommend this jewel of a spot not far from Victoria.

Our party of 5 had an awesome time at Unsworth. The new cellar door has a very modern and inviting feel to it. After leaving another nearby winery disappointed, we found the staff to be very friendly and helpful. Cathy provided us with outstanding service during our extensive tasting of the delicious wines!

They offer excellent wine here, especially the sparkling rosé. We enjoyed a lovely outdoor seat while tasting the wine, marinated olives, and spiced mixed nuts. Make a reservation if you wish to do a full tasting.

We had the most beautiful date night last night! My fiancé surprised me and planned it all. The setting, service and food were all amazing! Hidden gem!

This is one of the best restaurants on the island. The food is just a little bit special and unique. More so than other much pricier venues. I would recommend it to both my foodie and not so foodie friends. I’m sure most people who visit the vineyard focus on the wine (fair enough), but seriously, don’t miss out on the food. It is one of my favourites. I enjoy sitting on their lovely patio when the weather is nice. But their dining room is equally nice on the main floor of the beautiful old house that is now the restaurant.

The surrounding area and the grounds for this winery are really pretty. They are currently under construction for what looks like a new storage area for all of their barrels. Unfortunately, their restaurant was closed so we went into the tasting room. This is a bit of a different tasting experience than I am used to with other wineries. You have to sit down and order, a certain tasting flight. I expected to have the flight laid out in front of me in nice little glasses but they give you one glass and serve you one very small taste at a time. It’s hard to explain but it’s not the most efficient way to do a tasting, and I felt like I was doing more waiting than tasting, the girl that helped us out was really nice and friendly. The wine was OK and it was a bit pricey for what we got. I’m glad we stopped and tried it out, but probably won’t go back again unless they change this serving set up. It wasn’t very busy and this way of serving took a while so I can’t imagine what it would be like if the place was full.

The grounds were nice with patio seating overlooking a pond. We went for a tasting, but their only affordable tasting had 3 whites a rose and a red, as someone who doesn’t like whites, I hoped to substitute any of their reds, but they were unable to. My friend shared his red with me (as he wasn’t a fan of reds) so I had a taste in the end and it was good, but I was surprised that they mostly had whites in the tasting. My other friend had a lemon and birch soda as he was the dd and he wouldn’t recommend it.

We dined at the restaurant, which is in a charming historic house. Very creative menu of small and large plates. We had mostly the day's specials, but regular menu standouts included the prime rib burger and the crispy brie. The winery's regional offerings are, of course, available by the glass. Service was very friendly.

Awesome winery with some good eats! We got a bunch of their pizzas and some other main dishes and none of them disappointed. The lemon & prawn pizza was actually unreal. A true explosion of flavor with every bite. Their wine was also spectacular! Highly recommend checking this place out!

Restaurant-visited for a birthday. Impeccable service, attention to detail and friendly service. The food quality was excellent and portion size generous. We will definitely be back in the future.

This is a lovely dinner spot. It was our first visit but we were with friends who highly recommended it and they were right! This is fine dining without any stuffiness. Fresh ingredients presented nicely and tasting wonderful. For starters we shared warm olives, baked brie & focaccia. Our entrees were Duck Confit, two Tenderloins and a Swordfish dish. Desserts were Mint Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Ganache plate and Yuzu Tart. It was all so very delicious, cooked beautifully with rich flavours. Oh, and of course paired with great Unsworth wines.

I do like their wine which is why I picked this place for lunch. However, our reservation was at 12:30 which my cousin arrived on time. We were at the tasting room, so we were five minutes late. We had brought one more person than our reservation because my cousin didn't count correctly. We needed a chair and the server looked at us like we had three eyes and told us that the reservation was for four...and your point is what..? We finally order our food...some of us ordered an appetizer some did not. While the appetizers came out at a reasonable time. The main food did not come until 2:15. I was getting irritated because I didn't want to spend my afternoon there. Even getting our check was slow. No apology. Someone else rang us up, we never saw our server again. We didn't get out until 3pm . There are other wineries in Cowichan Valley, it will be a long while before I return to this one.

When we went to the Unsworth Vineyards restaurant last year, the restaurant was full, the food was a joy, and the service superb. We were raving about the restaurant. We won't be doing that this year! What a difference one year makes. On Wednesday we went back to the Unsworth Vineyards restaurant. The restaurant was almost totally empty the entire night. Nobody was parked in the parking lot. (Always a bad sign.) The focaccia bread was charred (black). We didn't care for it. The server didn't know if the bread is normally charred. The langos for dessert looked good but had a strange taste. The drumroaster coffee was absolutely awful. The coffee tasted terrible! I fell ill on the way home. Avoid the coffee if you don't want to be sick. I will admit, though, the halibut dish was very good. The restaurant has clearly gone downhill. Is there a different chef now? If people in the Cowichan Valley want to take visitors for a great meal, we would recommend driving to Victoria for dinner at Il Covo or Il Terrazzo. Both these restaurants offer consistently great food. The road on the Malahat is good when it is not raining or snowing. As for our experience at Unsworth Vineyards restaurant, it was a major disappointment.

We had lunch here on a Tuesday so the Pizza Patio was open. We had a spectrum of dietary needs (vegan, GF, and omnivore) and everyone loved their meal! The pizza is wood fired with excellent crust, and vegan cheese and Gluten free crust are available! Friendly service, beautiful setting, and everyone loved their rosé as well. We'll definitely come back again on our next visit to the area!

Delightfully impressed by Unworth Restaurant. Cosy, warm ambience with classy aesthetic. Fireplace in dining room added to the feeling of being in a lovely cabin in the woods. We had the octopus and chorizo small plate and polenta frites with chilli oil. Both exceeded expectations. Octopus and chorizo was in a rich, warm dressing, which was served with toasted focaccia bread to full enjoy the sauce. Octopus wine pairing was Allegro 2017, a sippable white blend. Server was very friendly and enthusiastic. Not busy at all, though we came at an odd time in between meals (2pm).

Had a very disappointing dinner at Unsworth. Two of us had steak frites, one had the clams an the third had the linguine. The steaks were a terrible fatty cut, the linguini was underwhelming, and the clams were excellent! After the server dropped off our food, he didn't check on us until the bill came, very disappointing dinner.

Went with 2 other couples after my son saying that the food was nothing to write home about and he was right except for the clam chowder it was good but extremely over priced. I had the beef burger and fries, the fries were not good and the burger was ok but is repeating on me for the rest of the day. The red wine was below par the sparkling wine was good. On the whole I wouldn't go back as its far too expensive for what you get. Also the meal took forever to get and the bill equally as long, it was the longest 2 hour burger I've ever had. We will try Meridale next as my son who is a foodie says its his favourite place, the food is excellent. But I will report my findings.

This is such a gorgeous place. We were lucky enough to secure a lunchtime reservation on the patio today. We enjoyed an absolutely lovely meal and some excellent wines. Chef Maartyn and his team have created such a beautiful and relaxing environment for their guests in these challenging times. The restaurant and grounds at Unsworth enable guests to experience an intimate ambiance while respecting social distancing and safety in this new reality. Unsworth is truly a gem within the Cowichan Valley

The food is good, but not great, the portions are the problem here, if you have to go home hungry and eat something else on the way, that means the portion is too little. They give you very small cup of soup and half of a very small sandwich ( with A slice to salami). If the small and pretty plate is your thing then it's a great place to hangout with friends.

The restaurant was fabulous! Even during COVID, the food was excellent. The menu is limited at this time, but the service and quality of the food was incredible! We were able to order 3 samplers of wine in the restaurant, which allowed us to test a few that we also purchased. The entrees were as good as any big-city. I would highly recommend Unsworth. Reservations are not only necessary, but ultimately, required.

When you are going on a wine tour at Cowichan valley, make sure you ask the portions before you order. I personally was starving, the beet salad and the fish were very small portions. I was still hungry after I paid $32 together.

We happened to find this place by looking on Yelp, and it did not disappoint! Fantastic food, wonderful presentation, great personal service. The soup was the best butternut squash I had. And the grounds are lovely and we did some wine tasting afterwards. Highly recommend a stop at Unsworth!

Went for an anniversary dinner, so was a bit disappointed the tables were so close together.Not too romantic. Unfortunately the room was freezing as the storm windows had not been put on for winter. There was one electric heater which was not adequate, would 2 have been so much to ask? We were offered blankets, which we gratefully accepted. We were immediately seated and offered water, and it was a while before our waitress appeared. At least she was warm and friendly.The food was tasty, but as other people mentioned, portions were small. The veggies were delicious but there were only about 5 bites. As the meal was only two bone-in chicken thighs, I think more veggies would have been appropriate. The wine was excellent though!

We just enjoyed a fabulous meal on our last night in BC at this wonderful family-run restaurant connected to the winery. With personalized service from Scott and help from a waitress and also a young family member, Crystal it is not unlike enjoying dinner in a friend's dining room. Desserts were a chocolate ganache with a poached pear and ginger-lemon sherbet and a sour cream-vanilla ice cream. For dinner we had several "small plates" including a Heritage tomato medley with a summer bread pudding, leg of lamb, pork with pickled cabbage and a variety of vegetables and a "large plate" Burger with chorizo sausage & spicy tomato relish. Highly recommended.

On a recent wine tour with some girlfriends, we re-routed to Unsworth from Merridale since it was closed for a wedding. And I'm so glad we did! We didn't go to the restaurant, but just went for a tasting. The room was quite lovely, with lots of windows looking out towards the pond beyond the patio. And there's even a pitch and putt course, which would have been super fun to do while downing some of their wine. Their wine! It was the best of that I have tasted on the island, and each wine was delicious - would have happily bought all of them. All of them. I was disappointed to have blown my wine budget earlier in the day. It's definitely worth the $5 tasting fee. I will definitely be back, and I will bring some of their wines home next time.

I love this place. Service is personal. Views are outstanding. Food is high quality. The wine is the best the valley has to offer. I went there this week with my daughter. She had a wood fired pizza and I had the burger. Great food, great wine, great ambiance. It can't be missed you must dine here. The description says not good for kids but I disagree. My kids love eating here.

Great winery! The hosts were friendly, knowledgable and funny. The wines are great and the food exceptional. Great spot for photos. Go on a sunny day and do the full tour. A great time!

I planned my husbands birthday soiree there and Christle and her staff did not disappoint!!! We started at their quaint tasting room and also had the pleasure to meet the owner of the vineyard and discussed the wine with him. We then moved our group to the restaurant and the food was incredible from start to finish. The cake they had baked for my husband was pure perfection! Mark our server was fantastic handling our group of 20 and the wine that Tim the owner suggested was right on point with our meal. Truly a wonderful night with our closest friends and family and we look forward to experiencing Unsworth again!

My wife and I went to Unsworth Vineyards for our anniversary dinner while visiting on the island. Unsworth was suggested to us by our son. We were not disappointed in the least. Knowing it was our anniversary, the staff put us at a quaint table with the perfect view of the vineyards. It was getting into the evening and and cooling down so they offered us soft blankets as we enjoyed the amazing food (local farm/sea to table) and incredible wine. The hospitality of the wait staff was genuine making the whole experience a wonderful event. We will be back whenever we visit our family on the island. Thanks for the amazing time.

Prepare to be blown away by the beautiful setting. Quintessential Cowichan Valley beautiful vista, chickens, vineyards and pure loveliness. And now for the food. Our group of 4 adults ordered one of each small plate. Oh. My. Deliciousness, flavorful, fresh, well presented. A meal for the annals. And the wine was wonderful too. Same for desert. One of each of four items. No regrets. Couldn't choose our favorite, all delightful. Plus the children's menu was appreciated for its simplicity and friendliness. The menu changes regularly apparently, so we will be back. Thank you for a meal to remember.

Some nice wine.....but terrible customer service in regards to their wine tasting staff - I certainly hope things have changed there since as customer service should be a high priority and they would obviously sell more wine.

For some reason only the winery is listed, but their restaurant has been open for nearly a year. The view is great, the interior is beautiful, the service is professional, prompt and casual, the food is great! I posted a photo of the seafood paella, and the blondie I had for desert, also their appetizers were pretty yummy, we ordered all of them, really liked the cracklins and the risotto balls.

Unsworth is just a beautiful place! The lovely character home where the restaurant is located to the rambling vineyards. The wine is lovely they make a great prosecco! The food is amazing and pairs well with the wines. I have been for lunch with friends, a romantic dinner with my hubby, and a wine tasting and all were exceptional experiences!

What a great location and the food is wonderful. You can also do a wine tour and taste some of their fabulous wines. Great spot for lunch or dinner.

Unsworth Vineyards is a family owned business that has been around for only a few years, but is already well known in the area for their quality products and excellent service. They have both a tasting room and restaurant on the property. The tasting room is well designed and spacious and overlooks a pond and water feature. Next to the pond there is a great spot to take a rest or have a picnic. For the wine tasting they have featured a different menu each time I have been there. If you don't purchase a bottle of wine, their is a small fee for the tasting ($5?). They also have a wine club where you can save 15% on your purchases after you buy a case of wine. To maintain your membership discount, members need to buy a case of wine annually. Honestly I wish I had bought a case of their delicious champagne style sparkling wine as I have likely bought more than a case worth over the year. It is just that good. They also have a lovely port style wine and a fabulous selection of whites and reds. My favourite, besides the champagne, is the Pinot Gris. I have also heard that they are soon to produce Prosecco style bubbly. I can't wait to try it. The restaurant is absolutely top notch. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. The south side of the building overlooks the vineyard and brood of chickens. The chickens are very entertaining to watch and far enough away that you don't feel like a hen in a coop. Everything I have eaten here is outstanding. The menu rotates throughout the year based on local availability and what is produced in the onsite garden. My selections have included the scallops, risotto, Thai fried rice, polenta, burger, beet salad, and potato salad with homemade gravlax. I was most impressed with the gravlax as it is similar to how my dad used to make it. Not smoked, simply salted, cold pressed, and infused with delicate flavours. Melt in your mouth tasty goodness. Unsworth is now one of my go to spots along the Cowichan wine tour. I highly recommend giving them a try.

Looking forward to trying dinner, but we went for a wine tasting and they had the tiniest pours in the valley. Also, their wines were nothing to brag about!

Everything LOOKED amazing, and was gourmet-ish, but to be honest, the tastes weren't all that impressive. There aren't however a lot of upscale places in the area to compete with it, so lacking competition means they're bound to be around for years.

Wonderful food !! a real treat to go there. Steve and Christle are the best magicians in the kitchen. The menu is varied and any "foodie" would be in heaven ( in my opinion) Lovely country setting and wine tasting onsite too.

Great experience! Very nice restaurant with great food and very good service! The old refurbished farmhouse with a great outdoor area for children to run around enjoy the chickens makes for an excellent setting for an enjoyable dinner or lunch. Best kept secret in the Cowichan Valley! Most enjoyable wine tasting experience as well with a good variety of tastings!

Great food, very good service, very friendly, beautiful surroundings. A little gem in the mill Bay Area. Our new favorite restaurant . Steak was perfectly done and a beautiful cut, Mexican prawns were delicious. Best fries ever!!! My burger was very good but slightly dry but still 4star . Wine was perfectly paired!!

We met a friend there last night for an impromptu dinner. It was dark when we arrived so we couldn't see much, but there is a beautiful pond out in front of the heritage house where the restaurant is located. The service was very good, Steve took very good care of us. We all had different meals. First we had pork rinds with a coffee BBQ sauce to dip in. Quite awesome! A little bit of salt and it is crunchy but oh so delicate! Our friend had octupus in a coconut curry "small plate" for her dinner, of which there are about 4 selections, and she oohed and awwed over it. I had halibut in a carrot based sauce with parsley gnocchi. It was lovely and I would have it again. The wines were of course wonderful and the desserts were varied and creative. We will be returning!