Touring Okanagan Wine Country: Where to stop, what to expect
The Okanagan is teeming with vineyards, wine shops, and restaurants ready to pair Okanagan grown food with a glass of wine. The Valley has eleven sub-regions, each with distinct soil and climates, or what the French call terroir. Find wines unlike any other popular wine destination. In the Okanagan you can find natural sparkling wine like Pét-Nat or traditional sparkling wine, to Frosé, big bold reds, orange wine, and everything in between. Here's a guide and suggestions to trying the best wine that the Okanagan Valley has to offer.
The Okanagan Valley
The Okanagan is teeming with vineyards, wine shops, and restaurants ready to pair Okanagan grown food with a glass of VQA (vintners quality alliance) British Columbia wine. The Valley has eleven sub-regions, each with distinct soil and climates, or what the French call terroir.
Because the Okanagan wine industry is so young, you will find wines unlike any other popular wine destination. In the Okanagan you can find natural sparkling wine like Pét-Nat or traditional sparkling wine, to Frosé, big bold reds, orange wine, and everything in between. Every winery is unique with their own take on what their wine should taste and how it should be made.
With so many wines to try, ways to drink it, and places to go, how can you possibly decide where to start? Here's a guide and suggestions to trying the best wine that the Okanagan Valley has to offer.
Photo by Destination BC/Andrew Strain
The Central Okanagan
In the Central Okanagan you can enjoy wines with high acidity that are crisp and refreshing. Grapes grown here are usually white, sweet, off-dry or dry, and maintain a refreshing, light, flavour. However, as you continue South the bigger, bolder wines will surface. Many wineries in the Central Okanagan will grow their white and lighter red grapes on property, and source reds and bolder wines from the South Okanagan.
Lake Country
Specializing in white wine, the dominant varietals here are Riesling and Pinot Gris. Lake Country is a great place to try crisp, high acidity, dry white wines, as well as some Pinot Noir.
A Must Stop: A winery worth checking out in Lake country is 50th Parallel Estate Winery. Their 61-acre property highlights white wines and Pinot Noir. 50th Parallel’s wine and dining experience is one to remember. The endless lake views and exceptional service experience will keep you coming back for more.
Photo by @50thparallelwine and @jonadrian
Some other notable wineries in Lake Country
Kelowna and West Kelowna
The Kelowna wine region is home to some of the first families who established the wine industry in the Central Okanagan. The region is made up of more than 900 acres of vines with old and young vineyards offering a wide range of styles.
A Must Stop: While in Kelowna, add tasting at Summerhill Pyramid Winery to your list. As one of the oldest wineries in Kelowna, Summerhill has maintained their commitment to growing organic grapes and encouraging biodiversity since the beginning. So, take in the view of the lake and try their world-famous traditional method sparkling wine.
Photo by @summerhillwine
Some notable wineries in Kelowna and West Kelowna
Peachland and Summerland
This older region is known for its fruit production, especially peaches. If you can grow peaches, you can definitely grow grapes, and Peachland as well as Summerland is covered in over 300 acres of vines. Delicious blends and rosés can come from these regions!
A Must Stop: Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards winery is embedded in the rich Peachland history. Ross and Gordon Fitzpatrick, the founder of CedarCreek and Fitzpatrick winery, first tried peaches on the well-known Greata Ranch property decades ago and fell in love. Now, years later, in replace of the peaches, they have 25-year-old vines that comprise their traditional method sparkling planted.
Photo by @fitzwine
Some other notable wineries in Peachland and Summerland
The South Okanagan
In the South Okanagan you can enjoy wines that are rich and bold with lots of red grapes and classic blends. Grapes grown here are usually deeper red, rich, dry, and maintain a savoury, oaked, flavour. Many wineries in the South Okanagan grow white and red grapes, and have lots of French inspired blends.
Naramata and Penticton
Bordering on Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake, Naramata and Penticton are the perfect places to grow grapes. Nowhere else in the Okanagan will you find so many wineries packed into one place with over 600 acres of vines.
A Must Stop: Poplar Grove Winery continues to create great wines as a staple of the Naramata Bench. They alone own over 100 acres of vines planted in Naramata, and feature eight key varietals from bright whites to deep reds.
Photo by Destination BC/Kari Medig
Other notable wineries in Naramata and Penticton
Okanagan Falls
Located on the southern tip of Skaha Lake, Okanagan Falls is a unique place to taste wine. The versatility and location of Okanagan Falls produces award-winning wines from rich white wines and bright acidity whites, to juicy Pinot Noirs and complex Syrahs with almost 400 acres of vineyards.
A Must Stop: Try wine the way it was intended, with food pairings at Liquidity Wines. Here, you can taste estate grown grapes alongside locally grown food and herbs from their herb garden. All while looking out over their vineyards.
Photo by @liquiditywines
Other notable wineries in Okanagan Falls
Oliver
As Canada’s Wine Capital, Oliver is home to the Golden Mile Bench and Black Sage Road where half of British Columbia vines are grown. This rich area is ideal for red varietals and savoury whites. Oliver has over 40 wineries to stop and taste at, with some providing one-in-a-life-time accommodations.
A Must Stop: This winery is known for traditional French winemaking in the Okanagan. With an eye towards sustainability Le Vieux Pin offers elegantly crafted wines. Considered by the national wine industry to be a leading Syrah producer, Le Vieux Pin creates unforgettable, beautiful wines.
Photo by Thompson Okanagan/ @meghan_reading
Other notable wineries in Oliver
Osoyoos
As one of the warmest areas of Western Canada, the Osoyoos region’s wineries are full of bold red wines – this is Canada’s red wine country. With 1,500 acres of vines in this region, Osoyoos has no shortage of grapes to provide different styles, influences, and flavours to impress their guests with.
A Must Stop: As the first winery in Osoyoos, Nk’mip Cellars holds a unique understanding of the land. Nk’mip Cellars is the first Indigenous-owned winery in North America and has been maintaining a standard of winemaking that is award winning. With a world-class restaurant offering locally sourced food, Nk’mip Cellars an all-encompassing experience.
Photo by @nkmipcellars
Other notable wineries in Osoyoos
For more wineries option in the Thompson Okanagan check out TOTA’s Biosphere committed wineries:
Written by Caroline Peterson
A BC local who went from the lower mainland to the Okanagan. A student with a passion for tourism, she aims to highlight the Thompson Okanagan experience with a fresh, adventurous perspective.
Exploring Vernon in the Winter
With a mix of indoor and outdoor activities, a visit to Vernon is a great way to spend a winter weekend.
A Mix of Indoor & Outdoor Activities Makes Vernon a Great Place to Visit in the Snowy Season
While the Okanagan is beautiful in all seasons, the short days of winter, along with the occasional cloud inversion, can have a person searching for blue skies, or a fun indoor activity! Fortunately, if you are in the Vernon area, there are plenty of things to do to escape a grey, chilly day!
One of our favourite things to do in Vernon is head to the Okanagan Science Centre. The Science Centre is a great place to bring kids, allowing them to learn and blow off some steam. With multiple themed rooms, rotating exhibits and workshops, there are endless ways to enjoy the Centre. We love letting the kids loose in the activity room, whether it’s climbing the rock wall or seeing how far they can jump (in comparison to different animals) there’s lots for them to do! It’s also an affordable family activity.
Locals tip - If you purchase a season’s pass, you can use it at almost any Science Centre across North America, including Science World in Vancouver! Or, if you’re travelling from Vancouver or Edmonton and have passes to Science World, you can use them here!
Another great indoor activity is a visit to one of the breweries, wineries or cideries. One of our favorite spots to stop is BX Press Cidery on East Vernon Rd. It’s a cozy tasting room with tons of local art and goodies to shop for. The staff are super accommodating and excited to give you a history lesson on the cidery and the region it lives in. BX Press does their best to keep all the ingredients local, seasonal and creative. I recommend the Hostler for a nice refreshing sip - but try them all!
For the weekend warriors, looking to get some blue sky in their day, there is often a wonderful escape. Head up the hill, get above the clouds and enjoy the bluebird skies and snowy hills of Silverstar Mountain Resort. Only a 25-30 minute drive from downtown Vernon, this local gem is a great place to take a family. With affordable prices and plenty of non-skiing options, Silverstar a great choice. We love taking the kids for a skate or a zip on the tubes at Tube Town. There are great places to eat or to have a hot chocolate by a fire when you’re done flying down the hills. There is also a great shuttle service from lower parking lots, ensuring you will be able to get to the Village quickly, as well as Tube Town and Brewer’s Pond.
While you’re in the area, a stop at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre is a must. With 105km of beautifully groomed trails, it’s a paradise for anyone who likes to cross country ski, or snowshoe. You can rent gear right there, as well as take part in regularly scheduled lessons and workshops. Keep an eye out for wildlife and some stunning sunsets while you’re in the area. Yearly memberships are a great way to get your family out, but if you’re in town for a brief visit, a day pass is great way to go, and very affordable.
Be sure to catch at least one day of the Vernon Winter Carnival. This unique 10-day festival runs February 1 - 10 this year and has been serving the North Okanagan for over 50 years. This year’s theme is “A Pirate’s Carnival,” and will feature a large Chili Cookoff and the 10th annual Winter Carnival Blues Festival, as well as the ever-popular hot air balloons flying high above Vernon. There’s no question that regardless of your age, you’ll find something to enjoy. The energy is contagious, the joy is infectious and the community coming together is inspiring. Tickets for the big events are on sale here.
For more information and to plan your next trip to Vernon visit: TourismVernon.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Matt Ferguson is a BC born and raised photographer, currently living in Kelowna. When his camera isn't strapped to him, you can usually find him at the beach with his family, skipping rocks or if it's cold enough, strapping on some skates and hitting a frozen pond.
W mattfphotography.com
IG @mattfphotography
FB Matt Ferguson Photography