Local food and great wines: Check out these 7 best wineries in Okanagan wine country BC.

Updated May 5, 2023

Locals know the Okanagan’s secret. We are one of Canada’s best wine growing regions, producing top-quality, award-winning fine wines. If you are not from BC, you may find this surprising. Fine Canadian wines? In British Columbia? Yes! While Canada’s wine growing region is small in scale by world standard, wine production is big business in Canada, with the BC Wine Institute estimating BC’s wine industry to have a $2.8-billion economic impact which is a significant driver of the province’s economy. Plus, it’s only getting bigger! If an area’s soil and climate permit the growing of productive vines, vineyards and wineries will be built!

BC’s wine producing regions are surprisingly diverse, each with distinct growing environments and terrain where different vines excel. Over the years it has grown a reputation for producing world-class wines made and sold at wineries that range from small, family-run wineries, to beautiful boutique wineries, to grand, flagship corporate enterprises.

There are 9 geographical indication (GI) regions in BC. It’s important to note that geographical indications on wine labels indicate the area where the grapes were sourced, and not the physical location of the winery. The 9 GIs in BC are:

• Fraser Valley
• Gulf Islands
• Kootenays
• Lillooet
• Okanagan Valley 
• Shuswaps
• Similkameen Valley
• Thompson Valley
• Vancouver Island

The Okanagan Valley is Canada’s second largest wine producing region with the primary wine-growing region being the Niagara Peninsula in southern Ontario. Grape growing and wine production didn’t come naturally to wine-producing pioneers of BC. While wine production in the Okanagan dates to the 1850s, it took some time to discover which varieties of grapes would grow best in both the area’s unique terrain and climate. A research institute established in Summerland in 1914 played a huge part in working with new wine producers in the Okanagan to determine that native grape vines should be replaced with quality European varieties (think Riesling, Gewurztraminer etc.). Eventually these varieties were introduced to the valley, and since then the quality of wine has skyrocketed. 

Wine facts:

• Canada’s wine growing regions consist of over 31,000 acres and 600+ wineries. The Okanagan Valley accounts for over 28% of Canada’s wine growing region clocking in at more than 8,800 acres.
• Since 2001, the number of wineries in BC has grown from around 70 to over 370 now, and more than 185 of these are located in the Okanagan Valley.
• Wine grown in the Okanagan Valley accounts for more than 80% of all wine produced in British Columbia. 
• Each year, BC’s wineries welcome more than 1,000,000 visitors.
• BC wineries produce over 1.5 million cases of wine each year.

Having established that wine in BC is world-class, full of unique flavour, and guaranteed to stimulate your senses and taste buds, how does one decide which are the best wineries in BC to visit? Believe it or not, there are more reasons to visit Okanagan wineries than just the wine (although that is a pretty compelling reason!). Read on to discover more about the stunning Okanagan Valley wine region and a local’s recommendations for the best Okanagan wineries to visit for their unique characteristics. 

The Lake Country wine region hosts 8 individual wineries in close proximity to one another. The region experiences more than 2,000 hours of sunshine per year and average summer temperatures pushing 30 degrees, which, combined with the perfect soil conditions, makes the area perfect for growing grapes.

One of our favourite Okanagan wineries to visit in Lake Country is 50th Parallel Estate Winery located at 17101 Terrace View Rd, Lake Country, BC V4V 1B2.

Not only does the winery boast stunning views of Lake Okanagan and the surrounding valley but the food served at BLOCK ONE restaurant is incredible. You can experience tastes of the west coast in dishes such as dungeness crab cakes, arctic char, and Haida Gwaii halibut cooked to perfection. In the summer months you can dine outside under a uniquely engineered impressive cantilever, showcasing precisely how the architecture at the winery is all about parallel lines. 50th Parallel Estate Winery gets its unusual name from the fact that the Okanagan Valley is located between the 49th and 50th parallel putting it on the same latitude as Champagne in France and the Rheingau in Germany. 

Kelowna is situated in the northern region of the Okanagan Valley where a cooler-climate allows Pinot Noir, Riesling and Chardonnay varietals to flourish. One of our favourite Okanagan wineries to visit in Kelowna is Summerhill Pyramid Winery located at 4870 Chute Lake Rd, Kelowna, BC V1W 4M3

With its 100% organic and biodynamic vineyard, Summerhill Pyramid Winery is probably the most unique of the Kelowna wineries. As the name suggests there’s a huge pyramid in the middle of the grounds where the wine is cellared. The owners say it is second only to the Great Pyramid of Egypt when it comes to precision and alignment! They are of the belief that there is an effect of geometry on liquids and the invisible energy created by the pyramid’s structure enhances the quality of the wines. Whether that is true or not, the wine is exceptional! Extend your visit by having lunch at Summerhill’s Organic Bistro, offering vegan and gluten free options, Okanagan valley views and an award winning sparkling wine.

If we are talking about unique experiences, then one of our favourite Okanagan wineries to visit in West Kelowna is Crown & Thieves. located at 3887C Brown Rd, West Kelowna, BC V4T 2J3.

A visit to Crown & Thieves is more than a wine tasting, it is like taking a step back in time! The first thing you will notice is that the winery has been built to resemble an old ruined building complete with crumbling masonry. The 1200 sq ft tasting room has British pub vibes, decorated with beautiful ceiling murals, high bookshelves stocked with bottles of wine, and unique pieces found in antique shops and salvage yards. Even the staff are dressed in typical 1930s costumes, adding to the authenticity of the experience. 

In the basement is the ‘speakeasy’. Reminiscent of the days of prohibition when the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcoholic beverages was illegal, it is an eccentrically decorated space unlike anything else you will find in the Okanagan. Decor includes a more than 150-year-old confessional, a medieval door, a disco ball and bear skins on the ceiling for soundproofing! Here you can enjoy a (legal!) glass of Okanagan wine while enjoying live music and events. 

Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive is a treasure chest of some of the finest wineries in the Okanagan Valley. The hot summer mornings and cooler evenings allow the grapes to develop ripe fruit character and naturally high acidity. One of our favourite Okanagan wineries to visit in Summerland is, not surprisingly, Dirty Laundry Winery located at 7311 Fiske St, Summerland, BC V0H 1Z2

Now, we know what you are thinking! Of course you are going to say Dirty Laundry is one of BC’s best wineries, but hear us out! Not only are we an award-winning winery themed around a unique part of Summerland’s history (you’ll hear the full story in all it’s saucy glory when you visit the winery) but we also have a restaurant on site, and one of the best patios in the Summerland area for enjoying pizza or smoked meat with a glass of wine, craft beer, cider or coffee. The large patio is shaded by vine-draped pergolas and overlooks acres of orchards, vineyards and Okanagan Lake, with panoramic views stretching as far as Naramata. During the sundrenched summer months you might catch a glimpse of the Kettle Valley Steam Train passing by alongside the vineyard. If you don’t see it, you’ll certainly hear its whistle as it passes over the historic trestle bridge at Trout Creek Canyon! You can also book our curated Elevated Tasting Experience for some serious wine education, not to mention delicious food and wine pairings.

The wine region of Naramata Bench is tucked away in the heart of the Okanagan, bordering the southeast edge of Okanagan Lake. Here you’ll find well over 30 wineries producing arguably some of the best wines from Canada. 

One of our favourite Okanagan wineries to visit in Naramata is Hillside Winery  located at 1350 Naramata Rd, Penticton, BC V2A 8T6

Hillside is one of the bigger Naramata wineries but it was one of the first "farm gate" wineries in British Columbia. The Farm Gate Winery Policy allowed vineyards smaller than five acres to sell their wines at the "farm gate" and Hillside, along with Lang Vineyards and Wild Goose, lobbied the Provincial government to bring about the policy that was instrumental in changing the BC wine industry. 

Hillside has since expanded to include a multi-storey wooden building, complete with a 72-foot high tower which dominates the view along Naramata Road. This tower apparently serves as a natural ventilation shaft to keep the wine cellar below cool from the hot Okanagan sun. The charming courtyard and modern farmhouse tasting room offers a friendly and casual setting to explore and taste the award-winning wines, and in the hot summer months you can sit and sip outside at a private table nestled in the flower gardens while looking out over rolling vineyards and spectacular lake views.

The self-proclaimed ‘wine capital of Canada', Oliver is home to nearly half of all vines in British Columbia. With some areas exposed to the morning sun and other areas basking in the afternoon sun, wines produced from grapes grown during Oliver’s hot days and cool nights are the perfect balance of exceptional flavours and vibrant acidity. Our favourite Okanagan winery to visit in Oliver is Platinum Bench Estate Winery & Artisan Bread Co. located at 4120 Black Sage Rd, Oliver, BC V0H 1T1

Simply put, the bread. Platinum Bench pairs its wine tasting with the most incredible freshly baked artisan breads which can be purchased in the tasting room along with local cheese and other gourmet delights. The bread, carefully cultivated from their own sourdough starters, comes in 5 flavour combinations which pair perfectly with Platinum Bench wines: Double Cream Brie and Pear Preserves, Sopressata and Swiss Cheese, Gorgonzola and Fig Preserve, Asiago Cheese, and Chocolate Strawberry Balsamic. Get there early as the bread sells out every day! 

As they say themselves, come for the bread, stay for the red!

Situated just north of the US border, Osoyoos is the hottest and driest part of Canada, providing the perfect environment for growing grapes. One of our favourite Okanagan wineries to visit in Osoyoos is Nk’Mip Cellars located at 1400 Rancher Creek Rd, Osoyoos, BC V0H 1V4.

Nk’Mip Cellars (pronounced in-Ka-meep) is the first Indigenous-owned winery in North America, expressing the Osoyoos Indian Band culture in everything it does. The Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, located on site, is an interactive learning environment with hands-on displays to promote education of indigenous lands, indigenous legends and people.

In addition to the regular and enhanced wine tasting, there are two unique wine tasting options. 

• The Four Food Chiefs Experience pairs wine with key elements of Indigenous cuisine - bear, salmon, bitterroot and Saskatoon berry.
• The VIP Grotto Tasting Experience offers a private vineyard tour followed by a tasting in an exclusive grotto with a special selection of five library wines from the Qwam Qwmt and Mer'r'yim Series. 

Nk’Mip Cellars shows a strong commitment to authenticity and deep respect for the Indigenous past. Discover not only their international award-winning wines but also the relentless spirit and remarkable history that inspire them.

These are just 7 of the outstanding and unique wineries the Okanagan has to offer, but there are 300-plus wineries to choose from. The wine is almost always exceptional and a lot of the wineries, as showcased here, have something special about them which makes a visit to the winery itself absolutely worthwhile. Whichever wine region you choose, and whether you go for the day or longer, get out and visit our province’s beautiful vineyards. You won’t regret it!