Someone once told me, ‘You can’t put a price on good food with good company,’ and that sentiment has stuck with me. There is something really special about sharing a good meal or a glass of wine with people.
What makes it even more special is getting to do that while also getting to explore and support the local businesses in this region we call home.
This idea is exactly what Henry and Janine had in mind when they created the Vico Vino Van.
In an area that’s already home to so many incredible wineries, cideries, breweries, and restaurants, they saw an opportunity to enhance the local experience by offering a unique, personalized way to explore it all.
“We feel like ‘experiences’ are the new currency, with people prioritizing ‘doing over having’. We couldn’t help but feel the market was being underserved in and around the Collingwood/Blue Mountain area,” Henry says. “Having moved to the area last year and seeing the increase in tourism and new places opening in the area, we thought Collingwood would be the perfect first location.”
Thus, they curated an intimate wine and cider tour van that takes you to some of Grey County’s best spots, including The Roost, Georgian Hills, Spy Cider House & Distillery and Grey and Gold Cider.
I was lucky enough to join in on a tour, and it didn’t take long to see why the Vico Vino Van is catching people’s attention. From the moment we set out, Henry and Janine’s passion for the region and the businesses within it was clear. But it wasn’t just about each stop; it was the getting to those stops that stood out to me. As soon as you hop in the van, Henry hands the aux over to whoever wants to curate the playlist for the drive, while also handing a Fujifilm Instax for the group to capture little moments throughout the day.
“We moved from Toronto, so we have a good idea of what the city folks’ expectations are when visiting a place like Collingwood and all the local spots,” Janine says. “People are constantly looking for content and new experiences. I think our van is very photo-worthy and the wine/cider stops and scenery are all very picturesque.”
Forget the usual wine tour vibe of piling into a generic white van and shuffling from place to place. With Henry and Janine, the experience feels personal. Even though I had just met them that morning, it was like spending the day with old friends who just so happened to know all the best local spots.
“We want groups to feel relaxed while they soak up the Georgian Bay scenery.”
As of right now, the Vico Vino Van offers private group bookings, meaning that it will only be your group in the van with you. They have a set route (The Roost, Georgian Hills, Spy Cider House or Grey & Gold). Their goal is to introduce more cider and brewery-focused tours later on. They also offer custom shuttle services… Want a round trip from Creemore’s Chin Chin and then to Hearts for dinner, with a final drop off at Blue Mountain– they can do it! They can also customize any route for any kind of corporate outing with up to 14 passengers.
Fun fact – If you’re interested in where the name comes from, in Henry’s hometown of Dublin, Ireland, there’s a road called Vico Road, named after the Italian philosopher Giambattista Vico.
If you’d like to book a tour with the Vico Vino Van, head to their website
Written by Maddy Grasman
Photos by Erin J Coholan
