Culinary tours in the Thompson Okanagan are the perfect complement to the region's wineries and vineyards. Explore orchards, farmers markets and roadside fruit stands, along with more than 120 wineries in and around the Okanagan Valley.
Guided culinary tours, such as those from Swallow Tail Tours, can combine gourmet cuisine with cycling or snowshoeing. Try a self-guided farm tour to treat tastebuds to locally-created creamy cheeses, sweet jams and artisan breads year-round.
Of course, culinary vacations in the Thompson Okanagan region aren't complete without touring the award-winning wineries, craft breweries and cideries. Some wineries, like Mission Hill Winery and Hester Creek Winery, also host cooking schools and classes.
Guided Culinary Tours
Swallow Tail Tours combines outdoor activities with cuisine. Work up an appetite while cycling the historic Kettle Valley Railway or snowshoeing through quiet forests, and then indulge in a meal that showcases local ingredients and wines. Wine enthusiast? Try one of three wine tours, which are complemented by delicious fare.
In Kelowna, join Wildflowers and Wine Tours for the Orchard, Cheese & Cider tour. Try creamy, flavoured goat cheese (or goat’s milk gelato), then head to a working orchard and cidery to cool off with freshly pressed apple juice or bubbly iced apple cider.
Self-Guided Culinary Tours
Farms and orchards are plentiful and in close proximity. Stop by a roadside fruit stand to fill bags with juicy cherries, ripe peaches and colourful vegetables, or select natural cheeses, meats and eggs at a farm.
Many wineries in the Thompson Okanagan have bistros and restaurants that use local ingredients in their cuisine. Plan a wine tour by car or bicycle, or follow the Mountains & Vineyards Circle Route. Most winery restaurants are open in spring and summer, but a few operate year-round.
Okanagan Cooking Schools
Signing up for a cooking class at an Okanagan winery is a great way to learn how to create dishes with seasonal ingredients and pair them with award-winning wines.
Kelowna's Mission Hill Winery offers a variety of scheduled cooking classes. Learn classic and nouvelle recipes from Europe, how to use exotic spices from Asia or the secrets of Hawaiian and Californian cuisine.
Mission Hill’s classes are taught by Winery Chef Matthew Batey and Chef Riley Bennett of Terrace Restaurant, one of the world’s "Top Winery Restaurants" according to Travel + Leisure magazine.
Hester Creek Winery in Oliver offers demonstration classes on select evenings between May and October. In all classes, watch and learn from chefs creating gourmet fare with fresh ingredients, and then find out how to pair those dishes with award-winning Hester Creek wines.
At Wine and Thyme Cooking School in Kelowna, sign up for full day, afternoon or evening culinary workshops. Classes are small (8 to 10 people) to ensure participants receive ample time with instructors, and they take place in a professional kitchen overlooking Lake Okanagan, vineyards and mountains. Prepare seasonal recipes, from hearty soups to fruit pastries, that often reflect the “100-Mile Diet” philosophy.
Festivals & Events
Food festivals in the Thompson Okanagan are centered around wine and craft beer. Visit during an Okanagan wine festival – there’s one for every season – to enjoy delicious food and wine tastings at venues throughout the Okanagan. Oliver's Festival of the Grape (October) also features local wineries, plus food vendors, live entertainment, and more.
Prefer hops and barley to grapes? The Okanagan Fest-of-Ale brings together two dozen of BC’s best craft breweries and cideries. Sample unique beer and food, and take in the live music and entertainment.
Practical Points
- The peak season for culinary touring in the Thompson Okanagan is between March and October, although some tours are offered year-round.
- Tours may require advance booking.
- Check with local Visitor Centres for maps, information on transportation and trip ideas.
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