This week, BC Food & Wine Radio heads to the heart of Vancouver Island wine country for a special on-location broadcast from Unsworth Vineyards in the beautiful Cowichan Valley. Our guests include Nick Bevan, President of Jackson Wine Estates International, and Chris Turyk, Sales & Marketing Director at Unsworth Vineyards, who share insights into one of Canada's most exciting cool-climate wine regions. We begin at the newly renovated The Restaurant at Unsworth, where Chef Dan Bain and Chris Turyk explore the powerful connection between wine, food, and place, and why the Cowichan Valley has become a destination for culinary and wine lovers alike. Then, Dan Wright, Winemaker at Unsworth Vineyards, joins Chris to taste the acclaimed 2024 Chardonnay while discussing the 2026 harvest, cool-climate viticulture, and the many ongoing improvements at Unsworth, where the winery and the vineyards are expanding and evolving as they continue their quest to produce some of North America's finest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The journey continues a few kilometres north at Blue Grouse Estate Winery, where we sit down with Winemaker and Head of Production Stacy Hornemann and General Manager Michael Abbott. Together, we uncover the unique soils, terroir, and growing conditions that shape the character of the Blue Grouse wines, including the vibrant 2025 Pinot Gris and the elegant 2025 Charme de l'Île. Join us for an inspiring tour of Vancouver Island wine country, featuring passionate people and the stories behind one of Canada's most distinctive wine regions.