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Penticton Area Wineries

Sip and savour your way through the central Thompson Okanagan wine region, where vineyards carpet the sunny benchlands above Okanagan Lake. Between tastings, try some of the region’s other pursuits: cycling over canyons on a historic rail line, teeing off at a lakeside golf course, or sampling the local home grown fare.

49.607985,-119.67674|49.505147,-119.594135| 49.571833,-119.578868|49.698727,-119.538918

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11 49.607985,-119.67674|49.505147,-119.594135| 49.571833,-119.578868|49.698727,-119.538918
MAP LEGEND
  1. Summerland
  2. Penticton
  3. Naramata Bench
  4. Kettle Valley Rail Trail

Local Wineries

Thompson Okanagan. Photo Credit: Don Weixl

From the lakeside town of Penticton, head out along the Naramata Bench, where almost two dozen wineries cluster above the lake’s eastern shore.

Try the award-winning Gewürztraminer at Hillside Estate Winery and the dark, intense reds at Kettle Valley Winery. Enjoy the latest art exhibit at Red Rooster Winery and taste Poplar Grove Winery’s classic Bordeaux-style blend, The Legacy.

Across Okanagan Lake, follow the Bottleneck Drive wine route to explore Summerland’s wineries. Stop at Sumac Ridge Estate Winery, the first operating estate winery in BC, to sample their Meritage blend, or bring a picnic lunch to Thornhaven Estates to enjoy with their spicy Gewurtztraminer. At Dirty Laundry Vineyard, enjoy their Not So Knotty Chardonnay. Plan your trip for the weekend to enjoy a pairing of Silkscarf wines with fresh food at the winery’s patio.

Restaurants

Taste all the flavours of the Okanagan Valley at Local Lounge Grille in Summerland, where more than 150 BC Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) wines complement the steaks, ribs and locally sourced produce. Or visit the funky Vanilla Pod Restaurant at Poplar Grove Winery to try creative dishes like sushi pizza.

Relax over a cheese and pâté platter at The Naramata Heritage Inn & Spa's Cobblestone Wine Bar or try the irresistible seasonal menu at Hillside Bistro.

Accommodation

Penticton Lakeside Resort, Convention Centre & Casino offers a fantastic beachfront location, with dining options like the Hooded Merganser Bar & Grill. For lighter fare check out the Bufflehead Pasta & Tapas room. For a quieter experience, head to one of many B&Bs in the Naramata area. Some, such as Eden House B&B, have swimming pools and spectacular gardens.

Transportation

It takes about five hours to drive to Penticton from Vancouver, nine hours from Calgary and six from Seattle.

Other activities in the region

Swing a club among the ponderosa pines at Summerland Golf & Country Club or at Pentiction Golf & Country Club. Fancy catching some sun? Then kick back on the sandy shores of Okanagan or Skaha lake, or do like the locals and float in an inner tube down the Penticton River Channel.

Feeling energetic? Take an unforgettable bike ride along a reincarnated railway. The historic Kettle Valley Rail Trail offers breathtaking views along the gentle downhill ride from Chute Lake to Naramata.

Take a few hours to ride the Kettle Valley Steam Railway that chugs along the few remaining kilometres of track around Summerland, and learn more about the area’s frontier history at the SS Sicamous Inland Marine Museum, moored at Penticton, and in the antique shops scattered throughout the quaint little towns.