Click on the thumbnail for a map of the Wineries of The Okanagan Valley

Wineries in British Columbia Vancouver Island The Fraser Valley The Okanagan Valley

Fraser Valley
The vast Fraser Valley is the agricultural heartland of the province, and home to several wineries within easy driving distance from Vancouver. There are also bus tours available from Vancouver, allowing for a lovely daylong excursion from the city. The first stop on this tour is Pellar Estates at Andres Wines of Port Moody. A short drive southeast to Langley is Domaine de Chaberton, and their award-winning wines and lovely vineyard. Just south of Chilliwack the Columbia Valley Classics Winery is situated near scenic Cultus Lake. This winery produces fruit wines as well as jams and jellies.

Okanagan Valley
This Okanagan Valley is the oldest and most prolific wine growing region in the province. Its arid climate and naturally terraced landscape make it ideal for the production of excellent vintages. In fact, the Okanagan is responsible for putting Canada on the vintner’s map. The summer, fall, and spring offer up a veritable bacchanalia of wine events, festivals and tastings. There are over 30 wineries in the Okanagan producing wines that are often unavailable anywhere but the vineyards in which they are made.

The Okanagan is also a prime fruit growing area, where orchards may also be visited for fruit buying and picking. Spectacular mountains and beautiful lakes surround the wineries where visitors experience a world class wine touring holiday in an unparalleled setting.

The central Okanagan Wine tour begins at Kelowna. In this town you will find the Calona Vineyards, an old winery offering detailed information about wine growing in the region, as well as a Wine Museum, which offers a wealth of information on the local wineries, history and events held each year. Directly across the floating bridge on Okanagan Lake are the wineries of Slamka Cellars, Quail’s Gate Estate Winery, and Mission Hill Wines. The next route out of Kelowna unfolds south along Pandosy Avenue. From this street one can fan out in every direction and discover a winery. Pinot Reach Cellars, Summerhill Estate Winery, St. Hubertus Estate Winery and Cedar Creek Estate Winery are all accessed from Pandosy and Lakeshore Drive ( Pandosy becomes Lakeshore Drive). A third tour takes you through beautiful countryside from the Highway 97 and Highway 3 intersection to House of Rose Winery, and Gray Monk Estate Winery. Winery visitors can enjoy a wide range of culinary treats from light lunches to gourmet dinners served at several of the wineries.

South Okanagan
The South Okanagan Tour begins in Penticton heading south to four wineries in Okanagan Falls; Wild Goose Vineyards, Stag’s Hollow Winery, Blue Mountain Vineyards and Hawthorne Mountain Estate Winery. From there, meander along the east shore of Okanagan Lake and discover seven wineries along the Naramata Road. The scenery is breathtaking; lovely sandy beaches and mountain vistas, and of course first class wine. A jog north and you’ll find several more wineries at Summerland and Peachland. Many of the vineyards have their own restaurants or bistros with outdoor patios. At Oliver there are nine vineyards in a row along Highway 99; Jackson-Triggs Wines, Tinhorn Creek Estate Winery, Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery, Hester Creek, Inniskillin, Domaine Combret, Golden Mile Cellars, Gersighel Wineberg, Carriage House Wines, Burrowing Owl. North on Highway 3 will take you to Crowsnest Vineyards at Cawston and St. Laszlo Estate Winery at Keremeos.

There are so many wineries in the region, you could realistically spend the entire week just touring and tasting. In fact, visitors come from all over the world to immerse themselves in the whole local wine scene at the Okanagan Wine Festivals. Okanagan Wine Festivals have become synonymous with celebration of the spring growing season and the annual fall harvest, as well as the new Icewine Festival. They provide an experience for the truly serious wine lover, and those keen on experiencing the character of the festivals. The annual Icewine Festival runs for three days in January. The annual Spring Festival runs for 4 days through the first weekend in May each year, and now features more than 40 events. The annual Fall Festival takes place over 10 days in early to mid October featuring over 110 events. The Okanagan Wine Festivals have been recognized as being among the Top 100 Events in North America for the past five years. From grape stomping to consumer wine tastings, the celebrations pay tribute to winemakers and their product. Restaurateurs serve up their finest to complement the contending wines while wine-lovers are treated to gala evenings of superb dining accompanied by award winning vintages.

The Island
Up the Malahat just north of Victoria, on Vancouver Island, is the newest home to wine producers in British Columbia. These six vineyards are all situated near the city of Duncan, with one exception a little further north at Nanaimo. In November the newly minted Cowichan Valley Wine Festival takes place in the area.

The Vancouver Island wine route begins at Mill Bay, at the Merridale Estate Cidery, and then heads north to Cowichan Bay / Cobble Hill and the Cherry Point Vineyards. Next stop is Venturi-Schulze Vineyards and the nearby Blue Grouse Vineyards. It is a fifteen-minute drive north to the southern end of the city of Duncan and the Vigneti Zanatta Vineyards. Just north of the city is Alderlea Vineyards. A half-hour drive north to Nanaimo is the Chateau Wolff Vineyard, and the northernmost tip of the Island’s wine growing region.

Located in the lee of Vancouver Island, between the island and the mainland of British Columbia, are the Gulf Islands, and their near Mediterranean climate. On Saturna Island are the Saturna Island Vineyards, the only island vineyard and winery in Canada with a resort and restaurant facilities. To the northwest of Saturna Island is Thetis Island, location of the new Thetis Island Vineyards, established in November 2000.

Throughout the world, wine producing countries have set standards by which to judge their products and recognize the best. The VQA put British Columbian wines to the test of meeting premium-quality standards. This seal is awarded to British Columbia's superior wines, and is an assurance to the consumer of a certain standard in wine excellence.