Okanagan Wine

Since this summer we have the pup, we were wanting to get away to a place we could take him but also some place not horribly far away so we figured that the Okanagan would be a great place to go plus, I mean, there is also a lot to drink so at least there are things we could do while out there besides the beach, shopping, or hiking. If you are interested in tours, check out our suggestions at the bottom of this article.

Found around the eastern side of Oliver, this road heads through nothing but Vineyards that grown strong red wins and full-bodies white wines. This area is known for their premium grapes and are used in a variety of different winery's wines like Blackwood Lane Winery, Domaine de Chaberton Estate Winery, Muse Wintery, Mission Hill, Sumac Ridge, and Tinhorn Creek. One thing to note if you are headed out here, keep an eye out for Rattle snakes! Wineries found here:

- Black Hills Estate Winery

- Burrowing Owl Estate Winery

- Church & State Wines

- Desert Hill Estate Winery

- Dunham & Froese Estate Winery

- Hidden Chapel Winery

- Jackson-Triggs Vintners

- Le Vieux Pin

- Oliver Twist Estate Winery

- Prospect Winery

- Quinta Ferrire Estate Winery

- Sandhill Wines

- Silver Sage Winery

- Stoneboat Vineyards

Found to the south of Oliver you can find wineries among 19th century metal mines and rolling hills. Due to these hills casting shadows in the late afternoon when the sun is at its hottest you will find sweeter white wines like Gewurztraminer and Riesling as well as fruity red wines. If you are a hiker then this is a great area for you to visit as there is a 10 km hiking trail that takes you above the vineyards and through the mountains (start at the Fairview kiosk within the ghost mining town or at the Tinhorn Creek winery vineyards; they also sell trail maps here). If you are an explorer than this hike may also work for you as some of the mines are still accessible. Wineries found here:

- Antelope Ridge Estate Winery

- Cassini Cellars

- Chandra Estate Winery

- Fairview Cellars

- Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery

- Golden Beaver Winery

- Hester Creek Estate Winery

- Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards

- Orchard Hill Estate Cidery

- Road 13 Vineyards

- Rustico Farm & Cellars

- Tinhorn Creek Vineyards

- Willow Hill Vineyard

In the heart of the Kootenays is Fruitvale where wine is starting to pop up with mid-season varieties. More and more companies are trying to grow different types of grapes here so watch this space in the coming years. Current wineries:

- Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery

- Columbia Gardens Vineyard & Winery

- Skimmerhorn Winery & Vineyard

- Grand Forks: Grape Mill & Winery

- Thrums: Heron Ridge Estate & U-pick

With the first wine grapes being grown in this area in the '20s, they certainly know what they are doing here with the white varieties and a few reds. Normally Lake Country is great for camping, farming, and exploring with ranches and farms amongst the lakes. Kelowna is one of the larger cities in the Okanagan so you will find everything lots of things to do while here but note that most accommodation are motels with the exception of the Delta Casino & Hotel Resort found right on the shores of Lake Okanagan.

If you are in downtown Kelowna, make sure to explore BC's oldest continually operating winery - Calona Vineyards - which also has a small museum or if you don't have time to visit then pop into the BC Wine Museum which is found downtown by the Library. If you need a break from the winery then there is a really good distillery (their liqueurs are amazing) and brewery right in the downtown core. Wineries in the area:

- Ancient Hill Vineyards & Winery

- Arrowleaf Cellars

- Bounty Cellars

- Calona Vineyards

- Camelot Vineyards Estate Winery

- Ceadercreek Estate Winery

- East Kelowna Cider Company

- Ex Nihilo Vineyards

- Gray Monk Estate Winery

- House of Rose vineyards

- Intriguee Wines

- Paradise Ranch Wines

- Peller Estates

- Raven Ridge Cidery

- St. Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery

- Sperling Vineyards

- Summerhill Pyramid Winery

- Tantalus Vineyards

- The View Winery & Vineyard

Found just south of Kelowna, this area is known for it's views of Okanagan Lake (Mission Hill has the best) as well as it's Pinot Noir and Riesling with the oldest vines being planted in 1969. Wineries found here:

- Beaumont Family Estate Winery

- Kalala Organic Estate Winery

- Little Straw Vineyards

- Meadow Vista Honey Wines

- Mission Hill Family Estate

- Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery

- Quails' gate Estate Winery

- Rollingdale Winery

- Volcanic hills Vineyard & Cellars

This is the most desired vineyard location in BC and you can tell this just by the sheer number of wineries located here. Keep in mind though that this is not a cheap place for wine as some sells for double the price of most other locations. Here you'll find bistro-style dining, rugged lakeshore bluffs, and the Kettle Valley Railway walking / biking trail along with Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Pinot Gris, Sauv Blanc, Riesling, and Viognier. Wineries here:

- Aces Wine Group

- Black Cloud Winery

- Black Widow Winery

- D'Angelo Estate Winery

- Elephant Island Orchard Wines

- Foxtrot Vineyards

- Hillside Estate Winery

- Howling Bluff Estate Wines

- Joiefarm Kettle Valley Winery

- La Frenz Winery

- Lake Breeze Vineyard

- Lang vineyard

- Laughing Stock Vineyards

- Marichel Vineyard

- Misconduct Wine Company

- Mistral Estate Winery

- Nichol Vineyard & Estate Winery

- Poplar Grove Winery

- Red rooster Winery

- Ruby Tuesday Winery

- Serendipity Winery

- Soaring Eagle Estate Winery

- Spiller Estate Winery

- Stonehill Estate Winery

- Synergy Winery & Vineyards therapy Vineyards

- Township 7 Vineyards & Winery

- Van Western Vineyards

- Zero Balance Vineyards

If you are not sure which ones to go to or you don't want to drink and drive then check out this tour:

Naramata Wine Tour Full Day <- click for more information

Enjoy a private tour through one of Canada's premier wine-making regions, the Naramata Bench. Learn about the varieties of grapes grown here and the delicious wines they produce. Sample these for yourself at five top wineries with lovely views. Indulge with your friends or partner without worrying about who is going to drive home after.

One of the smaller regions but it is arguably the best for photos so if you are looking for a photoshoot, this will be a great place to go. The small town of Okanagan Falls is found about halfway between Oliver and Penticton which has the legendary Tickleberry ice cream that cannot be missed. If wine's are you thing then you can find everything from sparkling to ice wine which is great if you are on a limited trip. Fun fact: See Ya Later Ranch with Hawthorne Mountain Vineyard is the highest elevated vineyard in the South Okanagan so you can find Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris here.

- Blue Mountain Vineyard & cellars

- Meyer Family Vineyards

- Noble Ridge vineyard & Winery

- See Ya Later Ranch, Hawthorne Mountain Vineyards

- Stag's Hollow Winery

- Tangled Vines Estate Winery

- Wild Good Vineyards

Found to the very South of the Okanagan; this Spanish themed town is found on the Osoyoos Lake Bench near the US Boarder and is known for their Red Wines. the main Red varities are Merlot, Cab Sauv, Syrah, and Pinot Noir. If red is not your thing there is also Chardonnay, Sauv Blanc, Viognier, and Canad's first Zinfandel.

There are a few different Vineyards but the main producer is Vincor International who supplies brands like Bull Pine, Bear Club, Jackson Triggs, McIntyre, SunRock, and Whitetail. The second largest is the Osoyoos Larose which features Merlot, Cab Sauv, and Cab Franc who are supplied to Cedar Creek, Inniskillin Okanagan, Jackson Triggs, Mission Hill, Nk'Mip Cellars, and Osoyoos Larose. Wineries you can find are:

- Lastella - NK'Mip Cellars

- Osoyoos Larose Estate Winery

- Twisted Tree Vineyards & Winery

- Young & Wyse Collection Wines

As most locals know, Eastside Road is the shortest route from Penticton to Okanagan Falls and it is usually known for its rock climbing as well as peaches but wine is starting to pickup here as well. Wineries you'll find:

- Blasted Church Vineyards

- Kraze Legz Wineyard and Winery

- Painted Rock Estate Winery

- Pentage Winery

The OK starts with the Similkameen Valley is found within a narrow valley that sees very little snow and rain leading to an almost desert like area with lots of fruit orchards dotted with wineries that started popping up in the '60s. With more space to expand and wine making more money than most fruit operations there is a chance that the number of wineries will increase. Wineries currently found here are:

- Cerelia Vineyards & Estate Winery

- Clos du Soleil Crowsnest Vineyards

- Eauvivre Winery & Vineyard

- Forbidden Fruit Winery

- Herder Winery & Vincewayd

- K Mountain Vineyard

- Orofino Vineyard

- Robin Ridge Winery

- Rustic Roots Winery

- St. Laszlo Estate Winery

- Seven Stones Winery

This Tudor-style inspired area was built in 1902 on the side of an extinct volcano was opened with the promise of year round summer type weather and due to this almost perfect weather, wineries have started to pop up although this is one of the quieter off the beaten track areas. Wineries here:

- Bonitas Family Estate Winery

- Deep Creek Wine Estate & / Hainle Vineyards Estate Winery

' - Dirty Laundry Vineyard

- 8th Generation Vineyard

- first Estate Cellars

- Greta Ranch Estate Winery

- Hollywood & Wine Estate Vineyard

s - Silkscarf Winery

- Sleeping Giant Fruit Winery

- Sonoran Estate Winery

- Sumac Ridge Estate Winery

- Thornhaven Estate Winery

- Working Horse Winery

Found North of Kelowna, this is a growing area as more people are slowly following all the signs up further than they normally grow. Here you will find the highest elevation in BC and more frost free days than Black Sage Road however there is lots of snow here every winter. Wineries here:

- Edge of the Earth Vineyards

- Granite Creek Estate Wines

- Hunting Hawk Vineyards

- Larch Hills Winery

- Ovino Winery Recline Ridge Vineyards & Winery

- The Rise Cellars

Through our affiliation with Viator, a Tripadvisor company, we are able to suggest the following highly rated tours. For more information, click the blue link to visit Viator's website for more information, to check availability and prices, as well as to purchase.

Kelowna or West Kelowna Afternoon Sightseeing Wine Tour

Sip and savor wines from Kelowna East or West during this half-day guided tour to four vineyards with tastings included. Discover the world of wines growing opposite the Okanagan Lake, taste varieties made from vines grown in volcanic soil, and learn how the area’s unique geology impacts its grapes.

Walking Food Tour of Downtown Kelowna (7-8 Tastings/Drinks)

Be led through Kelowna’s culinary landmarks on this small-group walking tour. Beginning at the historic Laurel Packinghouse, you’ll work your way through the cultural district while sampling regional specialties. Accompanied by a local guide, hear stories of the area and its history, and gain insight into the culture of the Okanagan. Make sure to bring your camera to capture the gardens, statues, and buildings you’ll discover on the way.

West Kelowna Gallery Of Grapes Wine Tour

Discover the wineries of the Okanagan Valley. This small-group tasting tour takes you to five different West Kelowna wineries to sample their diverse offerings while gazing out over the vineyards and the expansive Okanagan Lake. On this curated half day tour, you’ll enjoy selected wines from award winning wineries.

Kelowna Wine Tour on an E-Bike with Lunch

Experience the incredible local produce of the Okanagan Valley with this self-guided e-bike tour taking you to 3 unique venues for tastings of wines and meads. Enjoy a farm-to-table lunch at Meadow Vista with a choice of delicious main courses, facing the scenic backdrop of the vineyards. The 4-5 hour journey takes you past scenic lakes and rolling countryside as you soak up the incredible views and breathe the fresh country air.