With more than 120 wineries, the Thompson Okanagan is British Columbia's oldest, largest, and most popular wine-producing region. By car or bike, take a self-guided or guided wine tour to discover complex Pinot Noirs, vibrant Chardonnays and sweet Icewines at wineries perched above glittering lakes.
There are many award-winning wines in the Thompson Okanagan. For instance, in 2010, Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Burrowing Owl Estate Winery, and CedarCreek Estate Winery all won gold medals at international competitions.
Wineries range from large, luxurious facilities to small family-run vineyards. Tour magnificent estates such as Mission Hill Family Estate Winery, or enjoy intimate tastings at boutique wineries like Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery. Annual wine festivals celebrate regional vintages.
Combine wine touring with the Okanagan’s laid-back lifestyle. Go golfing at Nk'mip. Try a winery cycling tour. Or dine at winery restaurants, such as Quails' Gate Old Vines Restaurant, and savour dishes with ingredients from the Okanagan Valley or BC’s coast.
Thompson Okanagan Wine Sub-Regions
Most wineries in the Thompson Okanagan lie in one of six sub-regions within the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys:
- Kelowna: The Okanagan’s largest city and starting base for many wine tours.
- Naramata: Site of more than 20 boutique wineries and the nearby Bottleneck Drive wine route through Summerland.
- Okanagan “OK” Falls: Higher altitude vineyards with breathtaking lake and bluff views between Penticton and Oliver.
- Oliver: Often called the “Wine Capital of Canada,” with nearly a dozen vineyards along the "Golden Mile.”
- Osoyoos and Black Sage Bench: One of Canada’s hottest areas, home to BC's southernmost wineries.
- Similkameen Valley: The Okanagan’s neighbouring valley with wineries and fruit stands from Chopaka to Keremeos.
Popular Wineries
Mission Hill Family Estate Winery features al fresco dining at Terrace, ranked among the world’s top winery restaurants by Travel + Leisure magazine. The impeccably landscaped grounds are impressive – The New York Times described Mission Hill as “the Versailles of the Valley.”
Burrowing Owl boasts a devoted following. Sample award-winning red wines, and climb the winery bell tower to learn about the unique desert environment that includes rattlesnakes and bighorn sheep.
Tour and taste at Quails' Gate, and then pick up picnic treats from Allison House Market, a restored 1870s pioneer log cabin.
Sample Qwam Qwmt ("achieving excellence") wines at Nk'mip Cellars, North America's first Aboriginal owned and operated winery. Also, learn about rattlesnakes and hear drumming at the Nk’mip Desert Cultural Centre.
Wine Access magazine twice honoured CedarCreek Estate Winery as Canada's Winery of the Year. Enjoy its Mediterranean architecture, open-air restaurant, and concert pavilion overlooking Lake Okanagan.
Unique Wineries
Summerhill Pyramid Winery ages its vintages in a four-storey pyramid, claiming this "sacred geometry" enhances its certified-organic sparkling wines.
Interested in sustainable wineries? Suffolk draft horses (an endangered heritage breed) toil at the certified-organic Working Horse Winery.
Quirky winery names reflect the region’s colourful history. For instance, Blasted Church alludes to an Okanagan Falls church dismantled with dynamite.
Icewine and Fruit Wine
Winters in the Okanagan can dip below -8°C/18°F, ideal for harvesting naturally frozen grapes to create sweet Icewine. In 2010, BC Icewine won gold medals at the Chardonnay du Monde and the International Wine and Spirit Competition in London. There’s even a winter Okanagan Icewine festival.
Don’t miss fruit wines made with local cherries, peaches or apples. Sip crabapple or black currant wines at Elephant Island Orchard Wines. Try Asian pear or apricot dessert wine at Forbidden Fruit Winery.
Self-Guided Wine Tours
It's possible to spend weeks exploring and tasting. Ask local Visitor Centres for winery information and maps, or visit the BC Wine Institute to get wine tour itineraries; while driving, follow burgundy-and-white wine route road signs. The Okanagan Wine Tour Guide (John Schreiner, 2010) is an excellent wine touring resource book.
Add some Okanagan favourites to a self-guided wine tour. Try fresh cherries in the Similkameen Valley, the “Fruit Stand Capital of Canada,” or swim in area lakes.
Guided Wine Tours
Sit back and relax with a guided driving tour to wineries. Tours can range from three hours to a full day, covering three to six wineries. Lunch at a winery is often included. Guided tours leave from Kelowna, Penticton, and Vernon. Alternate pick-up points can sometimes be arranged.
Winery Cycling Tours
Bike a scenic stretch of the historic Kettle Valley Rail Trail from Chute Lake to Penticton. This route passes by Naramata Bench wineries. Stop in for wine tastings, or pick up “Naramata Bench Blue” artisanal cheese for a trailside picnic.
Most guided bike wine tours suit the average cyclist, and include rental bikes, transportation to the trailhead (from Kelowna), wine tours and tastings, and sometimes lunch.
Wine Festivals
Wine festivals are a great opportunity to meet the winemakers and sample wine:
- Okanagan Fall Wine Festival (October): This is the best known Okanagan wine festival, and features more than 165 events over ten days.
- Winter Festival of Wine (January): Sun Peaks Resort serves up BC’s famous “liquid gold” dessert wines slope side.
- Spring Wine Festival (May): More than 100 events to choose from throughout the Okanagan Valley.
- Summer Wine Festival (August): Wine education, tastings and pairings at Silver Star Mountain Resort.
Practical Points
- Most wineries welcome visitors from April to September. Call ahead for open hours during other seasons. Reservations are recommended for large groups.
- Most wineries offer complimentary tastings or charge a nominal fee.
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