5039 Marshall Rd, Duncan, BC V9L 6S3
Zanatta Estate Winery is a family-operated agricultural property in Glenora, a quiet rural community just outside Duncan, British Columbia. The estate combines vineyard rows, pasture, hay fields, forest, old fruit orchards, gardens, and a historic farmhouse within a 120-acre Cowichan Valley farm.
The family has lived and worked on the land since the late 1950s. What began as a dairy farm gradually became one of the properties that helped establish commercial grape growing on Vancouver Island.
Previously known as Vigneti Zanatta, the business now operates as Zanatta Estate Winery. Both names refer to the same family, land, vineyard, and winery.
The property may be considered when Sip Happens plans a Victoria wine tour, although individual stops depend on confirmed availability, route timing, group requirements, and seasonal operations.
Wine Tours Featuring Zanatta Estate Winery
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Holy Sip - Full Day Wine Tour
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Bachelorette Wine Tours - Full Day Wine Tour
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$169 per person plus GST
A family farm with deep Glenora roots
The Zanatta family’s connection to the Cowichan Valley began when Dionisio, commonly known as Dennis, Zanatta came to Canada from Treviso, Italy, during the 1950s.
Dennis acquired a working dairy farm in the Glenora area. The property covered approximately 120 acres and included pasture, agricultural buildings, forest, and established rural land.
He noticed similarities between Vancouver Island’s coastal climate and the environment he had known in northern Italy. This led him to experiment with plants suited to cooler growing conditions.
At first, these experiments were personal rather than commercial. Small plantings were established around the family property as Dennis learned how different varieties responded to the Cowichan Valley’s seasons.
Those early trials eventually contributed to a much larger agricultural transition.
From dairy farming to vineyard agriculture
The Zanatta property did not become a vineyard all at once.
Dennis expanded his first plantings in 1970 and continued testing different varieties on the farm. This work required observation of rainfall, drainage, seasonal temperatures, sunlight, soil conditions, and the performance of individual plants.
The estate therefore developed through gradual experimentation rather than through one large commercial planting.
Over time, sections of the former dairy farm were converted into cultivated vineyard blocks. Other portions remained in pasture, hay production, forest, and orchard use.
This mixed landscape remains one of the property’s defining characteristics. Visitors do not see only rows of vines. They see a wider family farm that has changed agricultural purpose over several generations.
The Duncan Project
Between 1981 and 1986, one acre of the Zanatta farm was used as a provincial agricultural test site.
The project is commonly known as the Duncan Project or Becker Experiment. It examined how numerous grape varieties would perform under Vancouver Island’s climate and growing conditions.
Many of the plants did not adapt successfully, but approximately two dozen varieties survived. The results helped demonstrate that selected cool-climate varieties could be grown commercially on Vancouver Island.
This trial had importance beyond the Zanatta family. It provided practical information for other growers who were considering similar agricultural projects in the region.
The estate therefore became part of the early research foundation behind the Cowichan Valley’s modern vineyard industry.
Five acres that became a larger estate vineyard
Following the provincial trials, Dennis established approximately five acres of vines in 1986.
That initial commercial planting later expanded to approximately 25 acres. The cultivated blocks are now part of a much larger farm that still includes hay fields, pasture, forest, and old fruit orchards.
The gradual expansion can be seen in the layout of the property. Different vineyard sections follow the contours and established uses of the land rather than forming one uninterrupted block.
This creates a varied rural landscape in which cultivated rows sit beside open fields, mature trees, orchard areas, access roads, and working farm spaces.
Vancouver Island’s first estate winery
Zanatta officially opened in 1992.
The family describes it as Vancouver Island’s first estate winery and the first commercial vineyard winery to open on the Island in approximately 65 years.
Its opening came during a formative period for Vancouver Island agriculture. Growers were still developing practical knowledge about which crops, vineyard layouts, and farming methods were suitable for the Island’s coastal climate.
Zanatta’s transition from experimental plantings to a commercial agricultural business showed that a long-established Cowichan Valley farm could successfully adopt a new use.
Other properties followed, helping the area develop into the network of vineyards, farms, orchards, restaurants, and rural tourism businesses found across the valley today.
A 120-acre working property
The estate covers approximately 120 acres, but only part of that land is dedicated to vineyard rows.
The wider property includes:
- Approximately 25 acres of cultivated vineyard land
- Pasture connected to the farm’s earlier agricultural use
- Hay fields
- Mature forest
- Old fruit orchards
- Gardens and landscaped areas
- A heritage farmhouse
- Agricultural and production buildings
- Rural access roads
- Outdoor visitor spaces
This mixture of land uses gives Zanatta a different appearance from properties designed solely as visitor attractions.
The estate remains visibly connected to farming. Cultivated areas, working spaces, natural vegetation, and family buildings share the same property.
The 1903 farmhouse
A farmhouse dating from 1903 is one of the estate’s most recognizable buildings.
The house was adapted into Vinoteca, an Italian-influenced visitor and hospitality space. The property’s history identifies Loretta Zanatta’s late sister, Ileana, as the family member who originally converted it for this purpose.
In 1996, Loretta and her husband, Jim Moody, took over the farmhouse operation. That year also marked Jim’s first season as the estate’s principal winemaker.
The farmhouse gives the property a warm, residential character. Its veranda, traditional roofline, garden setting, and relationship with the surrounding farmland distinguish it from newer, purpose-built commercial facilities.
Rather than removing the old building, the family incorporated it into the evolving business.
A veranda overlooking the countryside
The farmhouse veranda is closely connected to the estate’s gardens and agricultural views.
From the outdoor areas, visitors can look toward cultivated rows, open fields, trees, gardens, and the hills surrounding Glenora. Climbing plants and seasonal flowers add colour near the building, while the wider farm provides an open rural backdrop.
The setting feels informal and personal because the visitor area remains part of the family property.
The building does not stand apart from the farm. It sits within the agricultural landscape, surrounded by areas that have been worked and maintained by the same family for decades.
Pasture, forest, and old orchards
Much of the Zanatta property remains outside the cultivated vineyard blocks.
The official estate description identifies pasture, hay fields, forest, and old fruit orchards across the remaining land. These areas help preserve the appearance of a mixed Cowichan Valley farm.
The forest creates natural boundaries around parts of the estate. Open fields provide longer views across the land, while orchard trees add a different shape and seasonal character.
This variety also supports a more diverse rural environment than a property planted with one crop from boundary to boundary.
The result is a landscape in which organized rows meet less formal agricultural and natural spaces.
Farming with ground cover and limited tillage
Zanatta describes its land-management approach as working with nature rather than against it.
The family minimizes soil tillage where practical, allowing ground cover to grow between and around cultivated rows. Ground cover can help protect the soil surface, improve water movement, add organic matter, and provide habitat for beneficial insects.
The estate also reports using natural materials where possible. One example is the use of willow branches to secure vineyard canes during seasonal agricultural work.
These methods reflect the family’s long familiarity with the property. Decisions are based not only on general agricultural practice but also on decades of observing the same land.
A business where work remains on-site
Zanatta identifies itself as a single-estate farm business.
The family grows its crop and carries out production on the Glenora property. This keeps the main stages of the operation connected to the same land.
From a business perspective, the estate brings several activities together:
- Agricultural planning
- Vineyard maintenance
- Property and soil management
- Harvest operations
- Production
- Packaging and storage
- Visitor services
- Private events
- Grounds maintenance
- Administration
This integrated model strengthens the connection between the physical farm and the Zanatta business identity.
Family leadership across generations
The development of Zanatta has involved several members of the same family.
Dennis established the original plantings and participated in the provincial agricultural trials. His daughter Loretta studied enology in Italy before returning to the Cowichan Valley.
Loretta and Jim Moody later took greater responsibility for the business. Jim brought an agricultural and horticultural background, while Loretta combined formal education with experience gained through her family and studies abroad.
Newer generations have also become involved with the farm. This continuity allows knowledge of the property to be passed between family members rather than being separated from the land.
Zanatta’s business story is therefore not only about a founding date. It is about one family adapting the same Glenora farm over several generations.
The Glenora landscape
Glenora lies southwest of downtown Duncan within the Cowichan Valley.
The community is characterized by country roads, forested hills, farms, riverside areas, rural homes, and agricultural properties. Zanatta is approximately ten minutes from central Duncan under normal driving conditions.
The drive into Glenora moves away from the commercial sections of Duncan and into a quieter landscape. Open farmland appears between wooded areas, while the surrounding hills create a sheltered valley setting.
At Zanatta, the scenery may include:
- Vineyard rows across gently changing ground
- Grassy pasture and hay fields
- Mature evergreen and deciduous trees
- Old orchard plantings
- The farmhouse and veranda
- Gardens and climbing plants
- Forested hills
- Open Cowichan Valley sky
This combination gives the estate the appearance of an established family farm rather than a newly constructed destination.
Seasonal changes across the estate
Spring
Spring brings new growth across the vineyard, orchards, pasture, and gardens. The property becomes increasingly green as seasonal rainfall supports both cultivated and natural vegetation.
Summer
During summer, the rows become fuller and the gardens around the farmhouse are more prominent. Open fields, mature trees, and forested hills create layers of green across the property.
Autumn
Autumn brings visible agricultural activity and warmer colours. Vineyard and orchard leaves may shift toward gold and yellow, while evergreen forest continues to frame the estate.
Winter
Winter reveals the underlying structure of the farm. Trellises, rows, fields, roads, buildings, and the contours of the land become easier to see when seasonal foliage is reduced.
Readers planning around the regional climate can review the seasonal guide to Victoria wine country.
Zanatta and the Cowichan Valley agricultural region
In 2020, the Province of British Columbia formally recognized the Cowichan Valley as a protected sub-geographical indication.
The defined region includes land between the Cowichan watershed, the eastern coastline from Mill Bay to Maple Bay, and the western area around Cowichan Lake.
Zanatta’s history predates this formal recognition by several decades. Its early trials and commercial development helped demonstrate the agricultural potential that the later regional designation acknowledged.
The estate now operates within a wider destination that includes family farms, independent food businesses, orchards, rural accommodations, and other agricultural properties.
Regional travel articles and destination information are available through the Sip Happens wine tour blog.
What makes Zanatta Estate Winery distinctive?
Zanatta stands out because its business history is inseparable from the history of its land.
Notable characteristics include:
- A family farm established in Glenora during the late 1950s
- A 120-acre property originally operated as a dairy farm
- Experimental plantings expanded during the 1970s
- Participation in the 1981–1986 Duncan Project
- A five-acre commercial planting established in 1986
- Approximately 25 acres of current vineyard land
- Pasture, hay fields, forest, and old orchards
- An official opening in 1992
- Recognition as Vancouver Island’s first estate winery
- A 1903 farmhouse adapted for hospitality use
- Several generations of family involvement
- Ground cover, reduced tillage, and natural agricultural materials
- A quiet location approximately ten minutes from Duncan
Together, these features make the estate an important part of Vancouver Island’s agricultural history.
Zanatta on a guided Cowichan Valley route
Zanatta may be considered when Sip Happens develops a Cowichan Valley itinerary from Victoria.
The property is not guaranteed on every public tour. Final routes depend on factors such as:
- Seasonal property operations
- Confirmed reservations
- Group size
- Vehicle access
- Private events
- Travel conditions
- Timing between rural properties
- The overall flow of the day
Guests can review the Sip Happens wine tour FAQs for more information about transportation, route planning, property requests, and tour-day arrangements.
Groups interested in requesting Zanatta can submit their preferences through the private and custom tour page. Requests remain subject to confirmation and practical route planning.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is Zanatta Winery the same as Vigneti Zanatta?
Yes. Vigneti Zanatta was the business’s former name. The official website now uses Zanatta Estate Winery. Both names refer to the same family-operated Glenora property.
Where is Zanatta Estate Winery located?
Zanatta is located at 5039 Marshall Road in the Glenora community near Duncan, British Columbia.
How far is Zanatta from downtown Duncan?
The estate describes its location as approximately ten minutes from downtown Duncan. Actual travel time depends on road and traffic conditions.
How large is the Zanatta property?
The family farm covers approximately 120 acres.
Is the entire property planted as a vineyard?
No. Approximately 25 acres are dedicated to vineyard rows. The rest of the estate includes pasture, hay fields, forest, old fruit orchards, buildings, gardens, and working farm areas.
What was the property before it became a vineyard?
The Zanatta property was originally operated as a dairy farm.
When did the family begin experimenting with vines?
Dennis Zanatta expanded his experimental plantings in 1970. The property later became a provincial test site during the 1980s.
What was the Duncan Project?
The Duncan Project, also called the Becker Experiment, was an agricultural trial conducted between 1981 and 1986. One acre of the Zanatta farm was used to test numerous varieties under Vancouver Island conditions.
When did Zanatta officially open?
The estate officially opened in 1992.
Why is Zanatta historically important?
The estate is recognized as Vancouver Island’s first estate winery and played an early role in testing which varieties could grow successfully under Island conditions.
How old is the farmhouse?
The farmhouse used for the estate’s hospitality space dates from 1903.
What is the property’s setting like?
The landscape includes vineyard rows, pasture, hay fields, old orchards, mature forest, gardens, rural buildings, and views toward the hills surrounding Glenora.
Does Zanatta use land-conscious farming practices?
The estate reports minimizing tillage, maintaining ground cover, encouraging organic matter and water absorption, and using natural materials such as willow branches during seasonal agricultural work.
Is Zanatta included on every Sip Happens tour?
No. Property stops vary according to seasonal operations, reservations, timing, group requirements, and route logistics.
