Over the weekend of August 21-23 North Saanich celebrates its Jubilee on the annual North Saanich Flavour Trail and Wine Fest. Offering residents and visitors the opportunity to explore and experience Peninsula food and agriculture, the Flavour Trail tours start on Saturday morning with the dedication of Jubilee Park and a pancake breakfast, followed by the official opening at North Saanich Farm Market at 9.30 a.m.
The annual rural ramble offers participants a diverse choice of 16 venues to visit over the two-day event. Discover how to grow oranges and lemons in your own backyard – and make home-grown marmalade! Learn about growing your own vegetables and saving seeds or how to make a salad from edible flowers in your garden. Watch an exciting sheep dog herding demonstration. Relax and have a cuppa with fresh scones and home-crafted strawberry jam. Wander through a historic church at the edge of the Salish Sea and hear stories from the past in its old cemetery. Experience a rural farmers’ market. Visit a lavender farm or picnic by the Salish Sea.
North Saanich wines are a feature of this year’s Flavour Trail. The weekend begins with the a toe-tappin’ BBQ at Muse Winery celebrating the bounty of the north Peninsula on Friday night (August 21) beginning at 6.00 p.m. Celebrate rural life alongside the vineyard and enjoy a special harvest spread featuring locally farmed foods (reservations 250.656.2552). On Saturday night, you can enjoy Pizza and Wine at the Roost Farm Centre. The Vineyard Bistro invites you to savour their farm-to-table experience; peninsula ‘famous’ pizzas right from their wood fired pizza oven and its most popular appetizer, the Salmon Taco accompanied by estate wines. Local musician Sean McCool entertains (reservations 250.655.0009). Both wineries are open for tours and sampling all weekend.
Tour brochures are available at many locations on the Peninsula and in the Victoria area, including the North Saanich Municipal Hall, North Saanich Farmers’ Market, as well as most libraries and rec centres. You can also download a copy of the brochure from the Flavour Trails website (www.flavourtrails.com). The Flavour Trail is organized by CRFAIR (Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable) with support from the District of North Saanich and other local governments and businesses. This event is part of a broad-based Flavour Trails program that features community celebrations providing opportunities to experience and taste the quality and creativity of Saanich Peninsula farmers, fishers, food producers, chefs and vintners.
