I was doing a little work in Victoria recently, and it occurred to me that I’m always caught off-guard when visiting our capital city. Sure, my transportation and accommodation are always easy tasks, but once I cross the Salish Sea, I’m often at a loss as to where to drink and dine.

I’m probably like many of us: a visit to the Island is usually a quick jaunt for work or to visit family, and with our cities being so close, the diligent research doesn’t happen like it would when travelling beyond our backyard.

This time, I checked in with a few local pals, asking for places in which this wine enthusiast would enjoy clocking in an hour or two. One of the most common recommendations was Stage Wine Bar. Though I’d never been there, the place has been on my radar because of its penchant for nabbing awards from the likes of the Vancouver International Wine Festival and showing well in Vancouver magazine’s annual restaurant awards.

Stepping into the breezy, sunny spot—which is located across the street from the Fernwood Inn—on a Monday early evening, I was encouraged by the already bustling, friendly neighbourhood vibe.

Their wine program is a solid reflection of what’s happening in global wine culture today, from Champagne to geeky Spanish fare (What’s up, Telmo Rodriguez’s Basa blend of Verdejo, Viura, and Sauvignon Blanc from the Rueda?) to local rarities like Stoneboat’s Pinotage.

I opted for a couple of delights from the ever-changing chalkboard menu. The Seven Directions Pinot Noir Rosé, at $5.50 for a three-ounce taster, was a smashable gulp of fresh-crushed red-berry fruit, while the Anthony Buchanan Pinot Noir—at seven bucks for the same-sized taster—exhibited a lovely swirl of red fruit, black fruit, and herbs. (I would have loved for my server to have been armed with knowledge about Anthony Buchanan; left to my own devices, a quick Google on the ol’ iPhone told me he made wine at Eau Vivre in the Similkameen Valley, followed by his current tenure at Desert Hills in Oliver.)

Being in a grouchy mood, I also would have hoped the preeminent wine bar in Victoria would have local wine on offer by the glass. There wasn’t a single option, and although I can always explore opportunities for Vancouver Island wine at home, I couldn’t help but consider the lost opportunities for those coming from afar. The damn-solid Island-centric aromatic whites and Pinot Noirs coming from the likes of Averill Creek, Unsworth Vineyards, Blue Grouse, and others leave little room for excuse.

Hey, any place is free to have the wine program that suits them best. But there, on the Island, it’s a global list populated by numerous Okanagan players? I don’t get it.

Toddling toward the harbour, the Guild Freehouse is a dependable spot for classic British pub fare, with a solid craft-beer selection and a tight wine list that hits all the bases. In a place where wine could easily be an afterthought, we have a tidy little British Columbian list of about a dozen selections. Although its local allegiance appears to be with Unsworth Vineyards, the good news for patrons is they can enjoy a variety of Island wine by them, from bubble through whites and their proprietary red Symphony blend of hybrid-grape varieties: a blast of black-berry fruit, cranberry sauce, and herbs. Order your wings, your Ploughman’s platter, and go to town.

Finally, if you’re into wine and have made the effort to cruise or fly to Victoria for business or pleasure, Vessel Liquor Store should be your first (or, actually, last) stop. You’ll be loading up on the good stuff from the moment you walk in the door. It’s a store (on Fort Street, just outside of downtown) that specializes in authentic wine, and it has everything from a kick-ass sake selection to natural wines from the Jura region in France to local wines that I’ve always assumed were winery-only when it comes to availability.

I love Victoria, and, like many of you reading this, I think every time I visit: “Why don’t I come here more often?”

We should visit more. I should visit more. You should visit more.

Let’s do this. And when we do, let’s ask for Vancouver Island wine while we do so.