Saison Market

Will drive for food.

Set on nine glorious sloping acres in North Cowichan, Saison Market Vineyard is the newest farm market to open in the verdant Cowichan Valley. The farm is home to four grape varietals that are being grown to sell to wineries, and the plantings are situated on either side of the owner's home and market.

The farm is open only on Saturdays and Sundays, and is a popular stop for freshly picked farm produce, multi-coloured farm eggs, preserves and an array of freshly baked breads and pastries.

Saison is owned and operated by Ingrid Lehwald and Frederic Desbiens, no strangers to the food and beverage industry.

She trained as a baker in Napa with a Poilane protegee before opening Vancouver's Fieldstones Bakery, and he took his cooking apprenticeship in Burgundy before heading up the kitchen at Domaine de Chaberton.

Together they purchased the property three years ago, set about planting grapes and opened to the public earlier this year.

The bread selection runs deep: spinach and feta or a rosemary French bread, the best selling Farmer's Grain made from an organic grape fermentation to a cracked rye and a fougasse of garlic scapes and parmesan fougasse. All breads are made from organic wheat flour and other quality or organic ingredients.

The best thing is to take your purchase, served to you on a long blue tray, to the patio deck overlooking the vineyard.

The giant cinnamon-pecan escargot and chocolate brioche seemed like a good place to start.

Maybe a little apple kuchen.
A bit of pear and brie focaccio, followed by Tarte Flambe of bacon, onion and gruyere, and the ever popular bienenstich.
A lightly yeasted dough filled with creme leger and a sticky almond topping. There are many German specialties on offer at Saison and is a reflection of Ingrid's ancestry. Those recipes were taught to her by her mother who is regular visitor and taste tester.

In addition to all the breads, pastries and preserves, Saison also offers soups to take home, whole quiche, chocolate mousse cakes and a selection of flavoured dips to make any picnic complete.
Saison is located at 7575 Mays Rd., in North Cowichan. and is open Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 4 pm.