Mistaken Identity Vineyards

Gorgeous vineyard! The tasting, which included 4 samples of the 8 available wines, was definitely worth the 4 $ fee per person (waived if you buy a bottle.) The woman doing the tasting was very knowledgeable and charismatic. She had a lot of anecdotal insight into how the wine was made, and the other workers buzzing around had great things to add.
The wine tasted delicious as well. Very interesting blends using some grapes that I haven’t really heard much about before. There were also some great dessert wines (not ice wines– they used blackberries and apples blended with grapes.)
There were some nice spicy crackers to cleanse your palette in between tastings. There was also the option of buying some fruity Popsicles for the underage members of your crew.

I have been to Mistaken Identity a couple summers in a row now, and happened by again just over Easter break. I really like how different this place is in feel from Garry Oaks Winery or Saltspring Vineyards… It’s less busy, more laid back, and the atmosphere is a bit more intimate. there is a cute patio, and the view is very nice. The lady at the counter was very friendly and inviting once you started chatting her up, and had a cute dog that added to the welcoming factor.
After our tasting at the counter, we were invited to walk the grounds, set up at a picnic bench or on their patio. At my most recent visit, I just had to buy bottles of their «Debut» Red, their Charmela (neat lively infusion of chardonnay grapes and apples), and Leon Black dessert wine (infusion of Blackberries and leon millot grapes) … which paired beautifully with some wonderful sea salted chocolate from Harlan’s we were given to try with it.
However there were some things that would have made it a better experience and a five star rating:
–When welcoming new guests it would have been nice to know we could have done the tasting on the patio or outside in the sun… It was a beautiful day, and we really regretted knowing this only after the fact, as she just started setting up glasses for us at the counter.
–They do not offer much information on the wines they are tasting apart from a laminated spreadsheet… basic information on grape varietals used was offered but I found myself trying to find information on one variety not on the sheet. No information was given on possible food pairings either… as a foodie, I like knowing what they suggest with their wines… especially as the salted chocolate went so well with their dessert wine.
–The lady there over easter said they will soon be getting in some local cheeses and doing up some cheese plates you can buy and taste while out on the patio… I really hope this means they will offer flights of wine, or their wines by the glass.
I can’t wait to come here over the summer with my girlfriends!

Horrible experience… wine its self is fine, but with the rudeness given off from the two staff members (not changing my wine glass after each ‘tasting’; minimal information given about each wines; and unwary welcoming) I can absolutely be certain there is discrimination among me and my wife. When asked why my glass was not changed, I was given something along the lines of «oh its fine if you mix wine». Either the lady was being racist, or her first time serving wine.
You be the judge of that.

Lovely vineyard that I would have loved to go back to with a picnic. The scenery is gorgeous. The wines were delicious. What’s to not like? There was a wine tasting fee of $ 3, though. I would re-​visit anyway next time I’m on Salt Spring Island.