Most Wineries are within an hour's drive of Victoria so it's easy for you to rent a car and tour yourself-which is what I've done in the past.

This map will get you started on Cowicahn Valley Wineries and a few are B&B's as well.

http://www.vancouverisland.com/Maps/?id=83

The nearby Saanich Peninsula is seeing an explosion of Wineries these past few years

http://www.winesofcanada.com/bc_island.html

The Gulf Islands would take a few days to visit all the scattered Wineries listed here

www.winesofcanada.com/BC_gulfislands.html

SamSalmon - Thank you for your response, the websites are very helpful - I have heard that the Buchart gardnes are also a can't miss - Do you have any recommendation on lodging that is convenient to the area for two nights - we will also spend two nights in Vancouver - Our budget is aaround $200 a night and we will be goin at the end of July

For a 'country feel' try

www.fairburnfarm.bc.ca/accommodation.htm

Sam thank you - I assume we should rent a car in Vancouver and use it in Victoria - to get around or is it better to use local transportation - I believe the ferries take cars, correct?

Yes.

www.bcferries.com for reservations.

There is just something that seems so wrong about renting a car and touring wineries! :)

If you don't stay at or near a winery, here are some day tours departing from Victoria:

www.chemainustours.com/valley_wine_tour.html

http://www.wilsonstransportation.com/pdf/diamond/Cowichan%20Valley%20Wine%20Tour%202006.pdf#search='winery%20tour%20cowichan%20valley'

…shaw.ca/travelwithtaste/culinary%20tours.htm

http://www.vancouverislandwinetours.com/

Another one I found...

http://www.crushwinetours.com/

At the risk of sounding weird, are there wine tours we could take kids (12 and 6) on without them getting bored? Otherwise tours and tastings are great, but my husband gets a bit peeved if he can't taste! Cideries are also a good thing!

FVILL ... re where to rent a car

If your Vancouver plans include touring outside the downtown area, then renting a car in Vancouver & continuing to Victoria (and surrounds) makes sense.

If, however, your Vancouver touring will be limited to the main downtown area ... where a car isn't really needed ... then you'd save money & "frazzlement" by renting the car when you arrive on the Island. It can be done in Sidney, which is a 5 min. cab ride from the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal ... and returned there when you leave.

Should you choose to rent on the Island, then you could take Pacific Coach Lines from downtown Vancouver (train station) onto the Ferry; walk off at the other end & catch a cab to Sidney. On the way back it would be the reverse - taxi from car rental office to the Ferry, walk on & then arrange with PCL driver to take you back to Vancouver ... or drop you at the Vancouver airport if you're leaving that day. Here's the PCL link - www.pacificcoach.com/index.cfm…

Just a thought :-)

Oh, meant to mention ...

if you put in the following search string "bc, sidney, car rental companies" you'll see that there are a lot of nationally-known firms.

Cheers