1445 Benvenuto Ave, Victoria, BC V8M 1J5
Church & State Wines is a vineyard, hospitality business, and event property in Brentwood Bay on Vancouver Island’s Saanich Peninsula. Located approximately 19 kilometres from downtown Victoria, the estate combines cultivated vineyard rows, manicured lawns, mature woodland, a pond, and a large West Coast-style building with broad views across the property.
The Vancouver Island business was established in 2004 and later expanded into the South Okanagan. Today, Church & State operates two distinctly different estates: the Brentwood Bay property near Victoria and more than 80 acres of agricultural land in the Oliver–Osoyoos corridor.
Although Church & State is sometimes included in broader lists of southern Vancouver Island wineries, it is geographically separate from the Cowichan Valley. Visitors exploring the property are travelling through Central Saanich and the Brentwood Bay area rather than Duncan, Cobble Hill, or Mill Bay.
Wine Tours Featuring Church & State Wines
6 Hours
Holy Sip - Full Day Wine Tour
Victoria Area Wineries
$169 per person plus GST
6 Hours
Bachelorette Wine Tours - Full Day Wine Tour
Victoria Area Wineries
$169 per person plus GST
A Vancouver Island business established in 2004
Church & State Wines was originally established on Vancouver Island in 2004.
The Brentwood Bay property became the company’s Vancouver Island base before the business expanded into British Columbia’s South Okanagan. Its later agricultural development included more than 80 acres of property in the Oliver–Osoyoos corridor and the addition of Coyote Bowl Vineyard in 2011.
This two-region structure is an important part of the company’s identity. The business connects a visitor-oriented property near Victoria with a much larger agricultural operation in British Columbia’s interior.
For a page focused on the Vancouver Island location, the emphasis should remain on the Brentwood Bay estate, its architecture, surrounding landscape, and role within the Saanich Peninsula visitor economy.
Located on the Saanich Peninsula
The estate is located at 1445 Benvenuto Avenue in Brentwood Bay.
Brentwood Bay is part of Central Saanich, an area known for working farms, rural roads, gardens, forested properties, and small agricultural businesses. The winery sits near the route connecting Victoria with Butchart Gardens, Victoria International Airport, and the Swartz Bay ferry terminal.
The property is approximately:
- 19 kilometres from downtown Victoria
- 14 kilometres from Victoria International Airport
- 19 kilometres from the Swartz Bay ferry terminal
- 70 kilometres from Duncan
These distances make Church & State considerably closer to Victoria than most Cowichan Valley estates.
Travellers researching the surrounding region can explore our Victoria wine tour information for an overview of transportation, regional routes, and destination planning.
A landscape shaped by vineyard rows and woodland
Church & State’s Brentwood Bay property has a sheltered rural setting.
Cultivated rows occupy the lower and sloping areas around the main building. Mature evergreen and deciduous trees frame the grounds, while manicured lawns create open space between the vineyard, event areas, and surrounding woodland.
The landscape includes:
- Established vineyard rows
- Gently rising ground
- Wide lawns
- Mature forest around the property
- Flowering trees and shrubs
- Landscaped garden beds
- A pond beside one of the outdoor gathering areas
- Gravel and paved access routes
- Open views of the sky and surrounding greenery
The property feels separate from central Victoria despite being within a practical driving distance of the city.
West Coast architecture
The main building is one of the estate’s most recognizable features.
Its design combines exposed cedar beams, high ceilings, large windows, dark structural accents, and a covered wraparound veranda. The architecture has a rustic West Coast character but uses a broad, open layout suited to modern hospitality and event operations.
The building’s low roofline and horizontal form help it sit naturally against the surrounding slope. Rather than appearing as a tall landmark, it stretches across the property and follows the shape of the land.
Large windows provide views toward the vineyard and surrounding greenery. The covered veranda also creates a transition between the indoor spaces and the outdoor landscape.
A covered wraparound veranda
The veranda extends around much of the main building and is one of the estate’s defining architectural elements.
From this elevated area, visitors can look across the lawn and cultivated rows toward the forested edges of the property. Hanging plants, wooden railings, exposed posts, and the broad roof reinforce the building’s West Coast appearance.
The covered design also makes the property less dependent on clear summer weather. The veranda provides sheltered outdoor space during rain or cooler conditions while maintaining views over the estate.
Its scale allows it to serve several parts of the business, including general visitor use, dining, private functions, and larger organized events.
The pond and outdoor grounds
A pond sits beside one of Church & State’s outdoor event areas.
The water feature is surrounded by vineyard land and natural greenery, creating a quieter part of the estate away from the main building. The business uses the adjacent area for outdoor ceremonies and gatherings.
From this section of the property, the visible landscape includes cultivated rows, lawns, mature trees, open sky, and the surrounding wilderness of the Saanich Peninsula.
The pond also adds visual variety to the estate. It breaks up the agricultural rows and creates reflections that change with the weather, light, and season.
A venue for gatherings and events
Church & State operates as more than an agricultural property. Its Brentwood Bay estate is also a substantial event and hospitality venue.
The property accommodates weddings, corporate events, private celebrations, seasonal activities, and other organized gatherings. The main dining area, terrace, pond-side grounds, parking areas, kitchen, and visitor facilities allow different parts of the estate to be used together.
The official venue information lists space for up to 200 guests in the main dining area and up to 100 on the terrace patio. Two large parking areas support the property’s event operations.
These uses make Church & State an important part of the local hospitality economy. The business supports employment across property maintenance, landscaping, agriculture, food service, event management, administration, and visitor services.
Indoor and outdoor connections
The estate’s layout is designed around movement between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Large windows keep the vineyard visible from inside the building. The veranda opens toward the lawns and rows, while paths connect the main facility with outdoor gathering areas.
This creates several different views within one property:
- Vineyard views from the main building
- Elevated views from the veranda
- Pond and woodland scenery from the outdoor event area
- Long views across the manicured lawns
- Close views of the trellises and cultivated rows
- Forest views around the upper edges of the property
The estate does not depend on one viewpoint. Its visual character develops as visitors move between the building, veranda, lawn, vineyard, and pond.
A property near Butchart Gardens
Church & State is located along the same general Brentwood Bay route used to reach Butchart Gardens.
This location places the property within one of the Greater Victoria region’s best-known visitor corridors. The surrounding area includes rural roads, gardens, farms, small communities, coastal viewpoints, and forested parkland.
For tour planning, the estate’s location can work differently from Cowichan Valley properties. A Brentwood Bay route avoids the longer drive over the Malahat and can be combined with other Saanich Peninsula attractions when schedules and availability permit.
Route choices still depend on property reservations, opening schedules, group size, traffic, and the amount of time available.
Seasonal views at Church & State
Spring
Flowering trees and shrubs add colour around the main building, pond, and landscaped grounds. New growth begins across the vineyard while seasonal rain keeps the lawns and surrounding woodland green.
Summer
The cultivated rows become fuller, and the estate’s outdoor spaces are more prominent. Long daylight hours provide broad views across the lawns, vineyard, and trees.
Autumn
Leaves across the vineyard and deciduous landscaping shift toward yellow, orange, and red. The darker evergreen forest creates a strong contrast around the property.
Winter
The vineyard structure becomes more visible as seasonal foliage decreases. Trellises, slopes, building lines, and the relationship between the pond and surrounding land are easier to see.
Our seasonal guide to visiting Victoria wine country explains how weather, landscapes, and regional conditions change throughout the year.
Two distinct British Columbia properties
Church & State should not be described as a business operating from only one vineyard.
Its official materials identify two separate properties:
Brentwood Bay, Vancouver Island
The Vancouver Island estate functions as a vineyard, hospitality facility, restaurant, event venue, and regional visitor destination near Victoria.
Oliver, South Okanagan
The Oliver operation is connected to more than 80 acres of estate property within the Oliver–Osoyoos corridor. This includes Coyote Bowl Vineyard, which was added to the company’s agricultural holdings in 2011.
The two locations have different climates, landscapes, architecture, and operational roles. A local Victoria page should avoid combining the visual features of the Okanagan property with those of Brentwood Bay.
Church & State’s role in Greater Victoria
The Brentwood Bay estate contributes to several parts of Greater Victoria’s economy.
It operates as:
- An agricultural business
- A visitor destination
- A restaurant and hospitality property
- A wedding and private-event venue
- An employer
- A participant in the Saanich Peninsula tourism sector
- A business connected to a larger British Columbia agricultural operation
Its location near Victoria, the airport, the ferry terminal, and Butchart Gardens gives the property a different role from more remote rural estates.
Church & State can serve visitors who want to see an agricultural landscape without spending most of the day travelling to the Cowichan Valley.
What makes Church & State Wines distinctive?
Church & State stands out because of the scale and design of its Brentwood Bay property.
Notable features include:
- A Vancouver Island business established in 2004
- A location on the Saanich Peninsula rather than in the Cowichan Valley
- Approximately 19 kilometres of driving distance from downtown Victoria
- Cultivated rows surrounded by mature woodland
- A large pond-side outdoor area
- Broad lawns and landscaped gardens
- West Coast architecture with exposed cedar beams
- High ceilings and large windows
- A covered wraparound veranda
- Indoor and outdoor event facilities
- Two large parking areas
- A second estate operation in the South Okanagan
- More than 80 acres of company property in the Oliver–Osoyoos corridor
Together, these features make Church & State one of the larger vineyard and event properties close to Victoria.
Church & State on a guided route
Church & State may be considered when Sip Happens develops an itinerary around Victoria and the Saanich Peninsula.
No individual property is guaranteed on every tour. A route may change according to:
- Property availability
- Confirmed reservations
- Group size
- Seasonal schedules
- Private events
- Vehicle access
- Traffic conditions
- The overall pace of the day
Because Church & State is not in the Cowichan Valley, it should normally be grouped with Victoria-area or Saanich Peninsula destinations.
Guests can review the Sip Happens wine tour FAQs for information about transportation, route planning, property requests, and tour-day arrangements.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Where is Church & State Wines located?
The Vancouver Island property is located at 1445 Benvenuto Avenue in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia.
Is Church & State Wines in the Cowichan Valley?
No. The property is in Central Saanich on the Saanich Peninsula. It should be categorized as a Brentwood Bay or Greater Victoria winery.
How far is Church & State from downtown Victoria?
The official event information lists the property as approximately 19 kilometres from downtown Victoria. Driving time varies with traffic and the starting point.
When was Church & State Wines established?
The business was originally established on Vancouver Island in 2004.
Does Church & State have another property?
Yes. The company also operates in the South Okanagan near Oliver and owns more than 80 acres of property in the Oliver–Osoyoos corridor.
What does the Brentwood Bay landscape include?
The property includes vineyard rows, lawns, mature woodland, flowering landscaping, a pond, outdoor event areas, and a large visitor building.
What is the architecture like?
The main building has exposed cedar beams, high ceilings, large windows, an open interior, and a covered wraparound veranda.
Can the vineyard be seen from the building?
Yes. Large windows and the elevated veranda provide views over the cultivated rows, lawns, and surrounding greenery.
Does Church & State host private events?
Yes. The Brentwood Bay estate operates as a venue for weddings, corporate functions, celebrations, and other organized gatherings.
How close is it to Victoria International Airport?
The official venue information lists the airport as approximately 14 kilometres from the property.
Is Church & State close to Butchart Gardens?
Yes. The property is on the Brentwood Bay route near Butchart Gardens, although actual travel time depends on traffic and the chosen route.
Is Church & State included on every Sip Happens itinerary?
No. Stops depend on availability, reservations, group requirements, travel conditions, and the planned flow of the day.
