Get ready to meet your new favorite wine region: Canada’s Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. This ravishingly pretty region of gently sloping hills, pristine lakes, and sandy beaches encompasses some of the world’s most diverse vineyard climates, including Canada’s only desert region
Pronounced “oh-can-AH-gan,” the region stretches from Osoyoos in the south, past Penticton and Kelowna, and finally up to Kamloops in the north. Its varying climates mean silky pinot noirs and fruity varietals such as gewurztraminer flourish in the region’s cooler lakeside areas while soaring summer temperatures help grow bold peppery syrahs.
Although British Columbia’s first commercial vineyard was established in 1932, wine remains a relatively young industry here. Only in recent decades have B.C. wines begun to thrive.
Despite the industry’s relative youth, it’s already making a name for itself on the world stage as wines from British Columbia continue to score gold medals at international wine contests.
But relatively small amounts of wine get exported from Okanagan, so your best chance of trying these wines is heading to Canada to taste for yourself.
The ideal base from which to explore B.C.’s wine country is Kelowna, a friendly lakeside town known for its truly excellent farm-to-table and boat-to-plate bar and restaurant scene. Explore local wine culture and sniff, swirl and sip your way through the delicious variety that the region has to offer.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Can’t Miss Gold-Medal Wineries to Visit
Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Multiple award winning, organic and biodynamic (with the certification and compost heap to prove it), Summerhill Pyramid Winery is one of Canada’s most visited wineries thanks in no small part to its quirky practice of aging all its wines in a pyramid modeled after the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.
Visitors can explore that and more on a visit to the winery, its tasting rooms, and its farm-to-table restaurant.
The 2014 Chardonnay Icewine was the top scored wine at France’s 2017 Chardonnay du Monde competition.
Quails’ Gate
Housing one of the Okanagan’s best restaurants (the excellent Old Vines) and a brace of award-winning wines, Quails’ Gate in West Kelowna is an unmissable stop for pairing flavorful wines with delicious food.
Their Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay won gold at the Decanter Awards in London and bagged a double gold at the All Canadian Wine Championships.
Sandhill Wines
Visit Sandhill Wines’ funky, modern, downtown tasting room to taste its blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and cabernet franc, called “Small Lots Two.” The blend scored a best-of-class gold medal at the Pacific Rim Wine competition and a silver at the Decanter World Wine awards.
Great Spots to Swirl, Sniff, and Sip All-B.C. Wines
OAK + CRU Social Kitchen & Wine Bar
With an all-Okanagan wine list and an extensive on-tap and by-the-glass selection of wines produced a stone’s throw away, the lakefront OAK + CRU Social Kitchen & Wine Bar at Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort is the perfect place to sample your way through B.C.’s best.
Waterfront Wines Restaurant
One of Okanagan’s best restaurants, Waterfront Wines Restaurant’s menu perfectly pairs fresh and local flavors with B.C. wines, which are available by the glass at this multi-award-winning restaurant tucked away on Sunset Drive.
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