Southern Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley, dubbed the “Napa of the North,” is increasingly renowned for its wineries. The region’s warm, dry summers and mild, moist winters provide the ideal conditions for producing full-bodied varietals. The valley is currently home to 14 wineries, and visitors can arrange for tastings at most of them. We had a wonderful time dining at restaurants in the wineries as well as at waterfront cafés overlooking Cowichan Bay. And because of the temperate maritime Mediterranean climate, people flock to the region year-round to kayak, hike, mountain bike and fish. We visited several wineries there, and these were our three favorites.