Private Saanich Peninsula Wine Tour

Fresh wine country sits outside Victoria. This private Saanich Peninsula tour gives you a relaxed way to visit five wineries in four to five hours, with round-trip pickup from anywhere in Greater Victoria. I like the small-group format and the fact that tasting fees are included, so you can focus on the wine rather than the meter.

I also like the mix of established wineries and smaller producers, from Church and State Wines to Rathjen Cellars. The main concern is reliability: one serious account describes a confirmed pickup that never arrived, so I would verify the meeting details before departure and keep the operator’s contact information handy.

Key points at a glance

• Five winery stops in about four to five hours: The schedule gives you a broad look at the Saanich Peninsula wine scene without turning the day into a marathon.
• Private vehicle and hotel pickup: You are collected and returned anywhere in the Greater Victoria area, which removes the need for a designated driver.
• Tasting fees are included: The advertised cost covers wine tastings, but not food at the Roost Farm bakery and bistro or elsewhere.
• Maryanne may guide your day: Her local knowledge and flexible approach received especially warm praise, although guide availability is not guaranteed.
• Scenic travel between wineries: The roads between stops are part of the appeal, with quiet back-country routes and views of the peninsula.
• A real scheduling tradeoff: The tour runs Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., so you have limited departure days.

Why a private Saanich Peninsula wine tour works well

Victoria has plenty of food and drink close to town, but the Saanich Peninsula gives you a change of pace. The wineries are spread across the rural area north of the city, so having a private vehicle makes the day much easier. You can look out the window, talk with your guide, and taste wine without worrying about driving back to your hotel.

The private setup matters most if your group has its own rhythm. You are not sharing the vehicle with strangers, and the entire activity is limited to your party. That can make the day feel calm and personal, especially if one person wants more time at a tasting or your group prefers conversation over a fixed coach-tour routine.

You should also keep your expectations in check. This is a half-day tour, not a full winery retreat with a long meal, vineyard walk, or cellar workshop. Each tasting is scheduled for about 30 minutes. That is enough time for a guided introduction and several pours, but it leaves little room for lingering.

Five stops, five different snapshots of the peninsula

The route includes Symphony Vineyard, Deep Cove Winery, Church and State Wines in Brentwood Bay, Roost Farm Winery, Bakery, and Bistro, and Rathjen Cellars. The exact order may vary, but the plan gives you five tasting experiences in one outing.

That range is the tour’s strongest feature. Rather than basing your opinion on one winery, you can compare styles, settings, and approaches. If you already know a little about wine, the contrasts should make the day more interesting. If you are new to wine, the guided tastings give you a useful way to notice what you like.

The 30-minute timing at each stop is also practical. You get a clear introduction without spending the entire day at a single producer. On the other hand, people who like to browse, shop, eat, and linger at every winery may find the pace brisk.

Symphony Vineyard

Symphony Vineyard is the first listed tasting stop after pickup. Its place near the beginning of the route helps set the tone for the day: you get an early introduction to local wine before moving farther around the peninsula.

Plan to use this stop as a palate warm-up. Pay attention to how the staff explains the wines and how much time your group has for questions. Since no meal is included, this is also a good reminder to arrive prepared for a tasting day rather than expecting lunch at the first winery.

Deep Cove Winery

Deep Cove Winery follows with another 30-minute wine tasting. The drive from one producer to the next is part of the experience, not just dead time. One account praised the quiet back roads and scenic trip between wineries, and that is an important part of the tour’s appeal.

You will likely appreciate this stop most if you enjoy seeing the countryside between tastings. The private vehicle lets you settle into the ride instead of focusing on directions. Ask your guide about the area and the way the wineries operate. Maryanne was praised for explaining local wine and different winery operations in a helpful, personal way.

Church and State Wines in Brentwood Bay

Church and State Wines in Brentwood Bay adds a larger, better-known name to the route. Its inclusion gives you a useful contrast with smaller producers such as Rathjen Cellars.

The tasting is again planned for about 30 minutes. That keeps the tour moving, but you should not expect an extended estate visit. If you want to purchase bottles, ask about the timing before ordering. A private tour may offer some flexibility, but the stated schedule still has two more wineries to cover.

Roost Farm Winery, Bakery, and Bistro

Roost Farm Winery is the most obvious food stop on the route because it includes a bakery and bistro. That does not mean food is included in your tour. Food is specifically excluded, so you should budget separately if you want to eat here.

This is probably the stop where timing matters most. A wine tasting can fit neatly into 30 minutes, but adding food may require more planning. Ask your guide at the start of the day whether there is time for a bite. Do not assume a full meal is built into the program.

For many people, Roost Farm may be the most complete stop because it combines wine with a chance to buy something to eat. For others, the extra choice could make the schedule feel tight. Either way, it is worth treating this as a possible food break, not a guaranteed one.

Rathjen Cellars

The final listed stop is Rathjen Cellars, where you receive a guided tasting of selected wines. Ending with a smaller producer can be a pleasant way to finish the route, particularly if you prefer a more personal introduction to wine.

The phrase selected wines is worth noting. The tour does not promise a fixed number of pours or a particular varietal lineup. Your tasting will depend on what is being offered that day. That is normal for a small winery, but anyone seeking a specific bottle should contact the operator or winery before booking.

What the scenic drives add to the day

The tour is not only a series of tasting rooms. The movement between them gives you a look at the Saanich Peninsula beyond central Victoria. One highly positive account singled out the back-country roads and the beauty of the trip itself.

That matters because the wineries are not packed into one walkable district. A private vehicle turns the scattered location into an advantage. You get countryside between stops, and your guide can add local context as you go.

The quality of that narration may shape your day. Maryanne was praised for her understanding of the region, winery operations, and local owners. She was also described as accommodating and willing to help the group explore the peninsula. If she is your guide, you may get a particularly warm and flexible outing. Still, guide assignments can change, so treat that as a possibility rather than a promise.

Pickup, timing, and the practical details

Pickup and drop-off are available anywhere in the Greater Victoria area. That is more useful than it sounds. You do not need to make your way to a central meeting point, and you can return directly to your accommodation after the final tasting.

The tour lasts approximately four to five hours. The five tasting stops account for roughly two and a half hours if each takes the full 30 minutes, leaving the rest for driving, introductions, and transitions. This is a good length for people who want a focused afternoon rather than a full-day wine program.

The listed operating window is Friday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., for dates between October 7, 2019, and December 10, 2026. Check your selected date carefully. A tour that looks available in general may not fit a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday plan.

The experience is offered in English. Service animals are allowed, and the activity is near public transportation, though pickup is provided. Most people can participate. Because the tour is private, you can raise mobility or pacing concerns when arranging the booking, but do not assume every winery has identical facilities.

Confirmation is normally issued at booking. If you reserve within two days of departure, confirmation may take up to 48 hours and remains subject to availability. I would avoid leaving this until the last minute, especially if the tour is central to your Victoria plans.

Tastings are included, but lunch is not

The included tasting fees add real value. Five separate tastings can otherwise create a string of small charges, and knowing they are covered makes it easier to compare wineries without second-guessing each stop.

The missing piece is food. You pay separately for anything at Roost Farm’s bakery and bistro, and no meal is promised elsewhere. Eat before pickup or plan your food budget around the route. You may want to ask whether the schedule allows a proper stop, since five tastings and several drives already fill most of the four to five hours.

No exact tour price is provided here, so I cannot judge the package against a specific dollar amount. The value is strongest for a group that would otherwise need a private driver, arrange several winery visits, and pay individual tasting fees. If you are a couple watching every expense, compare the private rate with a shared tour or self-guided day, but remember that someone else driving is a major part of what you are buying.

Group discounts are available. That makes the tour more appealing for families or friends traveling together, since the private vehicle and guide cost can be spread across more people. The exact discount should be confirmed before booking.

The one issue I would take seriously

The experience has an overall score of 4.2 from 12 ratings, with strong praise for the scenery, wine guidance, and personal service. But there is also a serious complaint about a confirmed booking where no one arrived for pickup and customer service did not solve the problem.

One bad operational failure can ruin a short holiday, particularly when the wine tour is your main planned activity. I would take three simple precautions:

• Confirm the pickup address and start time shortly before the tour.
• Keep the company contact details available on your phone.
• Avoid scheduling a flight, ferry, or other fixed commitment immediately afterward.

This does not erase the positive accounts, including praise for Maryanne’s flexibility and regional knowledge. It simply means the service side deserves attention. A private tour is valuable only if the vehicle and guide arrive as promised.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend it to couples, families, and small groups who want a private outing without renting a car. It suits you especially well if you value scenery, conversation, and a flexible feel more than a formal wine-school lesson.

It is also a good match for people who want to sample several producers quickly. The five-stop plan gives you a broad introduction to the peninsula in one afternoon. You do not need to know much about wine before arriving. The guided tastings and local explanations should help you compare what you are drinking.

You may want another option if you prefer a long lunch, extended time at one estate, or a full day among the vines. The half-day structure is efficient, but efficiency can feel rushed when every stop has a 30-minute slot.

This is not the best choice if your schedule falls outside Friday through Sunday, or if food is a central part of your outing. Since meals are not included, you need to plan around that detail rather than treating it as an afterthought.

Should you book the Saanich Peninsula wine tour?

Book it if you want private transportation, five tastings, and a scenic half-day outside Victoria. The combination is convenient, and the private format gives you more personal space than a large coach tour. The strongest praise centers on the back roads, the local wine explanations, and Maryanne’s warm, accommodating approach.

I would book with two conditions: confirm the pickup carefully, and make a separate plan for food. If you want a relaxed introduction to several Saanich Peninsula wineries without driving, this is a sensible choice. If you want a slow, food-focused winery day, the tight schedule may leave you wishing for more time.

FAQ

How long does the private Saanich Peninsula wine tour last?

The tour lasts approximately four to five hours, including transportation between wineries and the tasting visits.

How many wineries are included?

The route includes five wineries: Symphony Vineyard, Deep Cove Winery, Church and State Wines in Brentwood Bay, Roost Farm Winery, Bakery, and Bistro, and Rathjen Cellars.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are offered anywhere in the Greater Victoria area using a private vehicle.

Are tasting fees included?

Yes. Tasting fees are included in the tour. Food is not included, including any food you purchase at Roost Farm’s bakery and bistro.

What days and times is the tour offered?

The listed operating hours are Friday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted for a refund.