With more than 100 wineries, Thompson Okanagan is British Columbia's main wine region. Awards and accolades for Okanagan Valley wineries keep pouring in. At one of the largest wine competitions in Europe, Mission Hill Family Estate won the 2008 International Icewine Trophy for the world's top icewine. At the prestigious 2008 Chardonnay du Monde competition in France, Summerhill Pyramid Winery took home a gold medal. As well, 2009 marked the eighth year in a row that an Okanagan winery was awarded the Canadian "Winery of the Year" title from Wine Access magazine.
Learn more about wine tours, including self-guided, guided or cycle-to-winery tours, the "high season", and some helpful touring tips on our Wine Tours page.
Learn more about the Wineries, Vineyards, Food and West Coast Cuisine of BC
Thompson Okanagan's Excellent Wine Production
The north-south Okanagan Valley is BC's oldest and largest wine-producing region. The valley is ideal for producing grapes because of a long growing season and ample sunshine. Geographic factors (such as soil, temperature and climate) affect the way grapes grow, which results in different types of wines. There are unique sub-regions here, which ensures plenty of diversity among the region's wines.
For example, average summer temperatures between the northern and southern ends of the Okanagan Valley can vary by 4°C/7°F) – which translates into crisp, fresh whites in the north to robust reds in the hotter, drier south.
A few of the many varietals found here include Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Merlot. In winter, temperatures can dip below -8°C/18°F), which is the perfect temperature to harvest grapes (frozen as hard as marbles) to create the sweet icewine that this region is famous for.
Winery Sub-Regions
Most wineries in the Thompson Okanagan are situated in one of six sub-regions of the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys. Visit them on a wine tour. Kelowna: If you take a flight to the region, chances are you'll end up Kelowna, the Okanagan's largest city. Most vineyards climb steep slopes overlooking Okanagan Lake, delivering panoramic vistas in additional to wonderful vintages.
Naramata: Located along the eastern shore of Lake Okanagan north of Penticton, the Naramata Bench is home to more than twenty boutique wineries. Just across the lake lies Summerland, aptly named for the area's fantastic summer weather.
Okanagan Falls: "OK Falls" lies at the south end of Skaha Lake (between Penticton and Oliver). The vineyards here are situation at higher altitudes, offering breathtaking lake and bluff views. A wide variety of soil types means many styles of wine are available.
Golden Mile: It's hot here: the stretch of valley between Oliver and the US border is the northern reach of the Sonora Desert, which extends from the Baja Peninsula in Mexico. Oliver is often called the Wine Capital of Canada, thanks to a thick cluster of vineyards and nearly a dozen wineries along the "Golden Mile", most within a 20km/12.5mi stretch.
Black Sage/Osoyoos: BC's southernmost wineries are those around the Osoyoos and Black Sage benches. Powerful red wines and full-flavoured white wines are produced in this area, which is also a unique ecological habitat with sage grasslands and burrowing owls.
Similkameen Valley: Not a sub-region of the Okanagan Valley, but a neighbouring valley to the west, with a few wineries from Chopaka to Keremeos. Along with vineyards and wineries, there are numerous organic farms and fruit stands.
Winery Highlights in the Thompson Okanagan
Mission Hill Family Estate
Mission Hill wines consistently win international awards, and in 2007, they won Canadian "Winery of the Year" from Wine Access magazine. In summer, dine outdoors at Terrace, named one of the top winery restaurants in the world by Travel Leisure magazine. Bring your camera – the art, architecture, and panoramic lake and vineyard views are outstanding. Choose from variety of year-round tours and tastings.
> Mission Hill Family Estate listing
Summerhill Pyramid Winery
The winery ages its vintages in a four-storey, concrete, eight per cent replica of Egypt's Great Pyramid, and maintains that this "sacred geometry" enhances the quality of its wines – take a pyramid tour and sample the wines to see! Sparkling wines are Summerhill's specialty, and all of their vineyards are certified organic.
> Summerhill Pyramid Winery listing Nk'mip Cellars
Nk'mip (pronounced in-ka-meep) is North America's first Aboriginal owned and operated winery. Situated in Canada's only desert, the vineyards exist in a unique ecosystem that includes sagebrush, rattlesnakes and burrowing owls. Join a winery tour and stroll through the Oak Barrel Grotto, or taste their premium Qwam Qwmt ("achieving excellence") wines for a small fee. The winery is part of a four-season resort, which also includes a spa, golf course and cultural centre.
> Nk'mip Cellars listing
Quails' Gate Estate Winery
Quails' Gate is known for its award-winning Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. Take a tour to visit the vineyard, production facilities and Allison House – a historic 1870s pioneer log cabin that once served as the wine shop (a new 3,500 sq ft wineshop was recently built). Old Vines Restaurant is open year round and showcases local ingredients.
> Quails' Gate Estate Winery listing
Gray Monk Estate Winery
Gray Monk celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2007, making them one of the oldest wineries in the Okanagan. Their name comes from the German for Pinot Gris – Grauar Mönch – which translates to Gray Monk. An extensive portfolio of red, white and dessert wines is available, and the winery restaurant deck looks out on rows of vineyards sloping towards Okanagan Lake.
* During construction of the new wine shop (expected to be completed April 2009), there are no winery tours being offered.
> Gray Monk Estate Winery listing
CedarCreek Estate Winery
CedarCreek has a twice been named Canada's winery of the year by Wine Access magazine. Regular public tours in summer include a visit to the vineyard, production facility and barrel room, followed by a wine tasting. Mediterranean architecture and an open-air restaurant overlooking Lake Okanagan provide a beautiful backdrop.
> CedarCreek Estate Winery listing
> See all Thompson Okanagan winery listings
Wine Festivals
There's a wine festival for every season in the Okanagan. See Thompson Okanagan Wine Tours for information about festivals and dates.
For more information and planning your wine visit to BC:
> See Wine Tips for Touring and Tasting To learn more about BC's exceptional wineries and vineyard businesses, click on the link below: