It may have all started with the Mission Hill winery winning an award back in 1994, but it certainly didn't end there. Since the Grand Reserve Chardonnay from this winery won the award for the best Chardonnay at the London International Wine & Spirit Competition, the wine industry has exploded in Okanagan.
The sunny valley provides a perfect place for growing and has been overtaken by more than 30 new wineries popping up over the past two decades. Some are very large and considered major players, while others are simply family farms.
Whether you just want to enjoy a tour of one of the wineries or you want to hit as many as you can this year, wineries can provide plenty of fun. They are great for dates and excellent for plenty of other types of events, too. Here are some of the best wineries in the area.
Okanagan Falls
- Blasted Church Winery
- Blue Mountain Vineyards & Cellars
- Hawthorne Mountain Vineyards
Oliver
- Burrowing Owl Vineyards
- Domaine Combret
- Hester Creek Estate Winery
- Tinhorn Creek Vineyards
Kelowna
- Calona Vineyards
- CedarCreek Estate Winery
- Gray Monk Estate Winery
- Mission Hill Winery
- Mount Boucherie Estate Winery
- Pinot Reach Cellars
- Quails' Gate Estate Winery
- St. Hubertus Estate Winery
- Summerhill Estate Winery
Naramata
- Elephant Island Fruit Winery
- Hillside Estate Winery
- Lang Vineyards
- Red Rooster Winery
Summerland
- Sumac Ridge Estate Winery
- Thornhaven Winery
- Calliope Wines
Other Areas
- Bella Vista Vineyards - Vernon, BC
- Larch Hills Winery - Salmon Arm, BC
- Nk'Mip Cellars - Osoyoos, BC
- Recline Ridge - Tappen, BC
- Hainle Vineyards Estate Winery - Peachland, BC
All of these wineries provide regular tours, but they may be better during specific growing seasons. It's possible to visit a few in the same weekend and you will have the opportunity to enjoy plenty of different wines throughout each tour.