Wine Tasting in BC’s Okanagan Valley
One of the trips I like to take over and over again is to go wine tasting in BC‘s Okanagan Valley. The wineries in this region produce some seriously great wines. The southern end of the valley brings us the hearty red wines that I really enjoy while the northern end is known for its crisp whites. The scenic valley itself features a few towns and cities amongst fruit orchards and lakes. And throughout the area are hundreds of wineries.
The Okanagan Valley wineries stretch from Lake Country in the north to Osoyoos in the south. This area is close to home for me so we visit often. There are so many wineries that I almost always try new ones, although there are some favourites I like to return to. Some wineries feature elaborate tasting rooms while others are simply a shed. Many have outdoor tasting areas as long as the weather cooperates.
Planning Your Wine Tastings
Most of the wineries in this region are open for tastings from sometime in May until in September. Some of them will open by appointment at other times, and often they have a few days of tastings prior to Christmas. Days and hours differ for each one so it is important to check before you go. If you are tasting with more than a couple other people, you should make an appointment for your tasting time. Most tastings will take up to 30 minutes. I have found it best to plan to visit a maximum of three wineries in one day. More than that, and your palate gets a little overwhelmed and can’t really differentiate the tastes anymore.
Self Guided vs Guided Wine Tours
Self guided tours are great for spontaneous visits to wineries. You are not paying anyone else to take you around although you will pay a tasting fee at most wineries nowadays. If you know where you want to go and have a designated driver, this is a great option.
There are many companies that offer guided wine tours in BC’s Okanagan Valley. These are a wonderful option especially for larger groups who want to all participate in the tasting. If you don’t know where you want to go, these companies will organize the wineries for you. The cost you pay generally includes your transportation, tasting fees, and transporting any purchases you make. Another option some companies offer is to do your wine tour by bike. Some recommended wine tours include:
An All In One Stop Option for Wine Tasting
If you don’t want to travel to a number of different wineries, visit the District Wine Village. It is a single destination open year round that currently includes mini tasting rooms for 13 wineries, a distillery, and a brewery. There is also an eatery, an amphitheatre, and a skating rink in the winter. Many special events and concerts are held here throughout the year. The District Wine Village is about 7km north of Oliver, BC.
19 Recommended Wineries in BC’s Okanagan Valley
Over the years I have visited many different wineries in the Okanagan Valley. The same varietals of wine can taste different from year to year so it is worth making return visits. Here is a brief summary of my favourite 19 Okanagan Valley wineries roughly in order from north to south. Some stand out because of their uniqueness while others just have wonderful wine.
Grey Monk – I was first introduced to Gewurztraminer here and still haven’t found another to match it
Ex Nihilo – A beautiful place for an outdoor tasting, try their Pinot Gris.
The Vibrant Vine – One of the more funky wineries, you’ll need to try their Woops White Blend.
Tantalus – Built on an historic vineyard, I enjoyed the Syrah here.
Nagging Doubt – A simple winery that showcases the wine, try their Pinot Noir.
Rollingdale – Another winery that lets their wine do the talking, they have a great Pinot Blanc.
the hatch – A more rustic feel to this winery, I enjoyed their B. Yanco white blend.
Crown & Thieves – The only winery I’ve ever been to with its own speakeasy, try the Pinky Blinders Rose.
Quail’s Gate – A large winery that can be quite busy, I enjoy their Chardonnay.
Mission Hill – The original Okanagan winery, it is now a very grand estate with a wonderful Meritage.
Moraine – A wonderful tasting experience here with all good wines, but especially the Pinot Noir and the O’Port.
Chain Reaction – A small family owned winery that also serves up fresh pizza from their outdoor oven. They have a tasty white blend called Tandem.
Farm Gate – This feels less like a winery and more like a fruit stand stop, but if you like fruit wines, these are enjoyable with full labels. Make sure you try the Strawberry.
La Casa Bianca – If you’re lucky you may have your tasting poured by Bianca herself under the cherry trees. These are unique wines, some with herbal properties. Try the Black Walnut.
Rust – As I looked out at the sweeping view of the valley hear, I tasted their Merlot from three different years, all great but all different.
Burrowing Owl – I loved that their tasting fee supports burrowing owl conservation programs, and I also loved their Cabernet Sauvignon.
Gold Hill – Even if you are not a Rose drinker, you need to try their Rose.
La Stella – My favourite wines are at this winery where I enjoyed every wine I tried. My top picks are the Espressivo and the Fortissimo.
Nk’Mip – An indigenous-owned winery in a unique desert setting with very good wines, especially their Cabernet Sauvignon.
