Prohibition Vineyard: try/buy their wine now!

Recently, we ventured out on a beautiful sunny day to the Saanich Peninsula. We are on a email list for a new vineyard or recently new vineyard out there called prohibition vineyard. We received an email indicating that their new tasting room was opening and they wanted to launch their new reserve wines so we booked and headed out with a friend. This post is a review of our experience out at Prohibition Vineyard.

We were introduced to Prohibition Vineyard by their presence at the Victoria CrabFest in 2024. The wine they were serving at the festival was not their own, but we thought it was wonderful to hear of another vineyard opening were launching on the Saanich Peninsula. So we signed up for future communications to ensure we would be aware of any updates. This tasting was for the release of their highly anticipated 2023 vintages.

Background

Vancouver Island has a rich winemaking history, dating back as early as the 1920’s. Largely fruit wine initially, it came into its own in the 1980’s. Now numbering approximately 30 vineyards, winemaking is on a large growth cycle. Most vineyards are boutique in size and bottle count, but, can punch well above their weight in flavour and depth. While you may have visited Vancouver Island and stopped in at the Cowichan Valley wineries the Saanich Peninsula should be included in your wine tasting adventures.

Climate

A generally mild climate with maritime influence, the Saanich Peninsula is cooled by breezes off the water. In the rain shadow of the Vancouver Island Range, there are mild winters, and warm summers. Indeed, they can get extremely hot, and there are various microclimates which provide extremely favorable vine growth. The mild climate means varietals Ortega, Siegerrebe, Auxerrois do very well, as do Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris varietals.

Prohibition Vineyard

Prohibition was previously the Old Dragonfly Hill Winery, with a long and respected winemaking tradition in British Columbia. Established in 1995, Dragonfly played a significant role in shaping winemaking here on Vancouver Island.

The vineyard is located on Old West Saanich Road. This is a familiar area for us. Over the years we’ve driven out here many times both to visit friends and to explore different farmer markets. Upon reaching the vineyard in this rural area we were pleasantly surprised to see how incredibly neat and tidy the property was, and the new growth of young grapevines meandering up to the road.

Wine Tasting at Prohibition Vineyard

We were guided through our wine tasting by owners Mark Rice and Ashley Rice. This couple was enthusiastic and obviously fully engaged in the vineyard. Their anecdotes and dialogue on the vineyard, wine marking and wine industry were informative, interesting and made for a very enjoyable wine tasting.

The tasting per person is $20.00 for four wines.

Ortega 2023

1/3 of their property is dedicated to this grape. The grapes are picked by hand.
Pale lemon in colour it has pronounced aroma’s of citrus, pineapple, and grapes. On the pallet, crisp dry, higher acidity with additional more pronounced note notes of pineapple. This is matured in steel tanks. This pretty fresh white wine is to be consumed now.

Auxxerois 2023

This is 1/3 of their vineyard. The vines themselves are 35 years old so definitely in the latter years of their production. This offering from the vineyard is 100% Ojo. There are some definite climate challenges to grow in this great in this region.

Aromas of lemon lime grapefruit. Some. Slight butter note. On the pallet dry high acidity and a bit of an alcohol bite to it hence the 13 ABV. A little bit more pronounced butter on the pallet, but definitely in balance. Zest more lemon is quite noticeable as well. This would be lovely to cut through a cheese dish a cheese platter due to the high acidity and the citrus flavors. The butter taste, of course, imported from some minimal time in American oak. While not necessarily to everyone’s. This very tasty with the highest acidity and the bite of zest. Pronounced flavour and pronounced finish. Very good overall enjoy it!

Holy Foch 2023

A little play on words with the name of this red wine. Marechal Foch grapes grow all over Vancouver Island. It is an inter-specific hybrid French red wine grape variety which is cold hardy and disease resistant. This wine tasted somewhat young and in 2 to 3 years should be ready for consuming.

Aroma’s of pronounced fruit, black cherry, blackcurrant, and a hint of forest is evident. On the palate, more black cherry, pepper and blackcurrant. Dry, medium tannin, high alcohol (14.5% abv). The colour is deep purple based on eight days of normal maceration. Aged in fresh US oak. Medium + flavours and medium + finish. A good red wine which will truly be a treat to give it a go in a couple years. Buy and cellar.

Castel 2023

This wine is produced from 100% Cherry Point Vineyard grapes. Deep purple in colour. Aromas are black cherry, blackberry, and toast. On the palate, dry, high tannins and high alcohol (14.5% abv). Pronounced black cherry flavour with black current, cedar and forest floor. Pronounced flavour intensity and pronounced finish. This is an outstanding wine. Buy it enjoy it and buy more, it can easily cellar.

Crème de Cassis

As a treat, we tried the Creme de Cassis that was available. This has an August harvest, and is fortified with brandy. It is a very involved process to get it to this point of deliciousness. It’s placed after the harvest in a tank it sits for three months half of it is frozen and then you unfreeze the blend to get the result. Noel check this.

Aromas of black berries, fig and caramel. On the palate it is complex with a full-bodied mouth feel. Medium tannins and sweet. Medium plus flavour intensity and a pronounced finish. A very good liquor offering. While Ashley and Mark suggested this could go on ice cream or mixed with champagne (which does sound lovely – Kir Royale) my preference would always be to sample it on its own to enjoy all the flavours it has to offer. An outstanding delicious liquor.

Summary of Visit to Prohibition Vineyard

Prohibition Vineyard should be on your radar. This vineyard has the potential for significant growth and is in an ever-increasing growth cycle right now. For those of you that are on the lower island and saw the lamb quintuplet births on Saanich News, this took place at Prohibition Vineyard! A very rare event to provide some excitement in an already very busy and exciting time for the vineyard. Looking forward to seeing the growth of this vineyard and to visiting it and drinking their wine more in the future.

Highly recommended.

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