Who we are and what we do

Quick facts about the Nanaimo Winemakers

• The Nanaimo Winemakers is a club dedicated to helping home winemakers (or would-be home winemakers) on central Vancouver Island to produce superior wines from grapes.
• The club began in 1971 and is a member of BCAWA (British Columbia Amateur Winemakers Association).
• We currently have about 55 members. Most live in the Duncan to Qualicum Beach strip, but a few members come from farther afield, including Victoria and Port Alberni.
• Winemaking knowledge in the club ranges from novice to expert.  Regular club meetings always include an educational session and the Club provides a mentoring system for those who are newer to the excitement and anxieties of making high quality wine from real grapes.
• We assists members in getting all the ingredients to make fine wines.  Each year the club typically brings over 20 tons of high-quality grapes from coastal California and the Okanagan.  These are superior, vineyard-designated grapes purchased directly from growers because we know good wine comes from good grapes.  The Club also owns crushers, presses, and other equipment and it arranges bulk purchases of winemaking supplies and French oak barrels (mostly the small 55L type).
• The club runs an annual varietal competition (usually in early March) and holds a couple of general social events each year (a barbeque in July and a Winter Social in December).

Join Us

• The club normally meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at the Cavallotti Hall, 2060 East Wellington Road, in Nanaimo. New members are always welcome. Meetings typically include food, wine tastings, and education about better wine making.
• Dues are currently $45 for the first year and $35 per year thereafter.

If you would like more information about the club or membership in it, please contact Don McQueen, our membership coordinator, at 250-752-0639 or don_mcqueen@telus.net

Contact Nanaimo Winemakers Executive 2010-11

You can contact any of the following about how the club operates and how you might get involved or benefit.

In addition to the above elected positions, the Executive appoints people to different responsibilities and these people often join the Executive at its meetings (normally the second Thursday of the month) to discuss club business.  Currently, these additional people are:

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