The Cowichan is the heart of the growing Vancouver Island wine region. Sometimes called "Canada's Provence" or "Napa of the North" , the region has Canada's only Maritime Mediterranean climate zone and has the highest mean temperature in all of Canada. In fact, "Cowichan" means "land warmed by the sun" in the First Nations Coast Salish language. The combination of warm weather, just enough rain, and the right kind of soil offer a great environment for cool-climate grape varieties.

The wine industry is only part of the agri-tourism picture in the Cowichan. The region is also home to a natural organic bakery, artisan cheeses, Canada's only water-buffalo dairy, lavender farms, alpacas and emus, herb farms, and several heritage farms, and a growing Slow Food movement.