OKANAGAN WINE GUIDE
OKANAGAN WINE GUIDE
#SIAinWineCountry
Ahhh… the Okanagan. British Columbia’s esteemed wine country region. I’ve been taking trips there at least once a year for the past five years, building my wine collection and developing my palette, all while exploring the area.
Every year I try to visit a new wine region and although wine is found literally all over British Columbia (and I have been to most of them), the Okanagan still remains my favourite. Amongst that, the Naramata Bench is by far my favourite in terms of close proximity, good mix roses and pinot noirs and its terrain. A close second would be Oliver exclusively for red wines and highway-side tacos. More on that later.
But besides wine, there is also a plethora of great cafes, restaurants, breweries, bakeries and hidden gems. It has been so much fun visiting the Okanagan and revisiting some of my favourite estates and discovering new ones on each trip. There are hundreds of wineries in the Okanagan that it can be hard to keep up! Each trip I try and explore mainly new wineries and pick up some of my old favourites. It’s been a journey.
In terms of home bases, I’d stick with Penticton, Summerland, Oliver or Kelowna. The first three is great if you plan on visiting Penticton, Naramata, Okanagan Falls, Kaleden, Oliver, Summerland and Osoyoos. Oliver is a good base to venture around Osoyoos and the greater Similkameen Valley and Keremeos. Kelowna would be suitable to visit West Kelowna, Vernon, and Lake Country.
Getting there is pretty simple and consists of two routes:
Hwy 5 via Merritt - This is typically the “faster” route of the two, despite going up north. If you need a gas or food break after Hope, stopping in Merritt would be your best bet with a plethora of options for both once you get there.
Hwy 3 via Manning Park - I would suggest thing to be the scenic route. Manning Park is massive and there aren’t many opportunities to stop after this for gas or food. I would suggest stopping in Princeton but I’ve always found gas to be expensive there. In this case, stopping in Hope for gas and food before the two highways spit off would be ideal.
This is a very comprehensive guide that I’ve been so excited to share with you all. I won’t be giving much detail for each winery specifically as everyone has different palates but those are all of my favourites. I’ll likely continue to keep adding to this list as time progresses. I always look forward to my annual or bi-annual trips to the Okanagan and hope that you will find this guide a bit helpful!
**Last edit - July 2020
Penticton
Eat and drink
Petrasek Artistan Bakery - Slovakian bakery with lines out of the door. They sell out of things fast so you may have to visit later in the day or another day. Do not miss out on the pizza buns (with egg!), pizza pretzels, cheese croissants and pastries. Very strong coffee! Closed Sundays. Much rather go here than Prague Cafe.
Pizzeria Tratto - Pretty convincing Neopolitan-style pizza found in the Okanagan. These pizzas were actually larger than I thought - could only finish half! Would recommend the diavola and salsiccia. Ask for a side of chili oil if you can!
Bad Tattoo Brewing - This place was always busy when I visited. Beers weren’t bad! Pizzas looked awesome. Be sure to try their Los Muertos Cerveza Negra - it’s what their known for!
Cannery Brewery - Cool pop-up patio here. Has a real backyard feel to it. Their taps are always changing here but their radlers were just what I needed after a day out in the hot Okanagan sun.
Slackwater Pub - A brewery housed in a former strip club. Was hoping there was a pole here or atleast paid homage to its former glory but alas, that was not the case. Beers weren’t outstanding here but their housemate chips and basil aioli kept me coming back for more.
The Hooded Merganser - Probably the most “upscale” or dare I say Cactus Club-like establishment in Penticton. They’ve got the best views of the lake and the drinks (as long as you stick to beer and wine - cocktails were a mess) make for an easy, leisurely evening.
The Peach Ice Cream Shop - It’s a tourist thing, I know, but who can say no crazy-topped soft serve ice creams cones served from a giant peach!? Price was fair for what it was. Would definitely try out the milkshakes next time!
Theo’s - The most popular joint in all of Penticton. It’s a humble Greek place. Very busy. But unfortunately, I can’t recommend the entrees except for the moussaka. The platters to share were decent but everything was under salted at our table. And stay away from the sangria.
Wayne and Freda’s - Hipster coffee shop. Cute and Instagrammable. My coffee was just alright but hey, if it’s for the ‘gram then you might want to stop by here.
Brodo Kitchen - Great food with great flavour! Visited Brodo on my first trip to Penticton ages ago and the food did not disappoint!
See/do:
Penticton Lazy River Channel - Finally got the chance to do this last year! The Penticton Lazy River Channel is a 7km channel that goes down from Okanagan Lake down to Skaha Lake. Leave yourself a few hours. Depending on how slow or fast the channel is that day it can take 3 - 4 hours to complete it in its entirety. It’s free if you provide your own float - just bring 2 cars so you can have a ride back! If not, there is a bus service but waits may be long. In the summer, you can stop halfway and have lunch at food truck which serves up bannock in several different ways.
Penticton Farmer’s Market - The farmer’s market runs along downtown Penticton along Main St. You can find anything from fresh produce, bundled lavender, jars of honey, wooden cutting boards, lotions, soaps, and more. And don’t forget about the food! Lots of snacks available here as well.
Naramata Bench
Eat and drink:
The Restaurant at Poplar Grove (formerly the Vanilla Pod) - Fine(ish) dining at its finest. The best restaurant, hands down, on the Naramata Bench. Fresh food, beautiful execution and the view is simply breathtaking. My favourite spot for sure.
Picnique at JoieFarm - Stuck on the bench and in need of some food? Stop by Joie for their ever-so-popular woodfire-baked pizza. That, paired with a glass of Joie’s famous rose, and you can call it a day!
Poplar Grove Cheese - This creamery is located right by Lock & Worth and great if you want to grab some cheese for a picnic or need to give your palette a break!
Legends Distillery - Okay, so you don’t need a food break but you need a break from all of the wine tasting you’ve been doing, right? Legends Distillery distills their own vodka, flavoured gin, coffee liquors and more. They also have a great big backyard where they serve up cocktails and snacks.
Wineries:
Daydreamer
Van Westen
Nichol Vineyards
Black Widow
Bench 1775
Tightrope
Laughing Stock
La Frenz
Little Engine
Kaleden
Wineries:
Black Market Co
Kraze Legs
Oliver
Eat and drink:
El Sabor de Marina - These are the highway-side tacos I was talking about! Just off of Hwy 97 lies this humble taco stand. I have to say, I’ve had them two years in a row and at this point, I’d stick with the fish tacos and tamales (if they have them!). Be prepared to wait for a while - this place is known and it is busy. Just don’t forget a side of the red hot sauce!
Terrafina at Hester Creek - Beautiful dinner with even better pairings. Dinner here is lovely but the lawn also allows for you to picnic. It’s not one of my favourite wineries but the estate is gorgeous!
Miradoro at Tinhorn Creek - Another one of my favourites. The view from this vantage point is simply jaw dropping. Same with the food. Pure indulgence in every bite!
The Sonora Room at Burrowing Owl - Who doesn’t love winery restaurants? Another great pick although Hester Creek and Tinhorn Creek are much better in my opinion.
Platinum Bench - Not a fan of their wines there but I am a fan of their breads! They do their wine tastings with their bread. It’s all so good, especially the soppressata and Swiss one and the pear and double cream brie. Go early - they sell out quite often!
Wineries:
Culmina Estate
Checkmate Artistan Wines
Rush Wine Co
Black Sage
Burrowing Owl
Okanagan Falls:
Wineries:
Nighthawk Vineyards
See Ya Later Ranch
Liquidity
Blue Mountain
Bonamici
Blue Mountain
Eat and drink:
Liquidity Bistro - Another fantastic winery restaurant! Great foods, views and decent wine. Worth stopping by if you find yourself in the area!
Tickleberry’s - Another touristy/kid thing to do here. Tickleberry’s is a staple ice cream joint and perfect on a hot summer’s day at the lake!
Summerland
Wineries:
TH Wines
Silkscarf Winery
TIME Estate Winery
8th Generation
West Kelowna
Wineries:
The Hatch
Mount Boucherie
Little Straw
Eat and drink:
Old Vines at Quail’s Gate - I’ve dined here a few times and their food is perfection. Whether you in the lounge snacking on charcuterie or indulging in a supremely-cooked steak, it is heaven. They can do no wrong hear - delicious!
Terrace Restaurant at Mission Hill - Who can get sick of this view? Dine in Mission Hill’s terrace taking in the breathtaking view atop the hill in West Kelowna. Their fresh, handmade pasta rotates daily and s not to be missed.
Kelowna
Eat and drink:
Bouchon’s - My favourite French bistro in the Okanagan. Their beef carpaccio is my absolute favourite and they also have a foie gras feature of some sort - get it! Makes the perfect appetizer or an add-on to your steak frites. Delicious!
Waterfront Wines - Farm-to-table and curated wine list presenting the best that the Okanagan value has to offer. The halibut chowder was out of this world amazing.
RaudZ - Delicious comfort food here. The chicken poutine is not to be missed as well as their Okanagan fruit cocktails. It’s really special here, homey, and unpretentious - all in the heart of downtown Kelowna.
Summerhill Pyramid Bistro at Summerhill Pyramid Winery - One of the original organic wineries in the Okanagan. Although their wines are not my favourite, I do love going for a bite of charcuterie at their bistro. It makes for a great wine break!
Carmelli’s Goat Cheese - Ahhhh, don’t knock it til you try it! LOVE the goat cheese here. Definitely go for a tasting if you can. If you can’t, be sure to pick up a block of their Goatgonzola, a super old blue cheese (which actually appears brown!) and a scoop of their goat cheese ice cream.
Smack DAB - It’s a little Cactus Club-y but it’s connected to a resort and right on the water. I love this area of South Kelowna - very up-and-coming! Decent food and prices.
Wineries:
Vibrant Vines
Meadow Vista Honey Wines
Cedar Creek
Kitsch Wines
Spierhead Winery
See/do:
Kangaroo Creek Farm - Probably the best part of Kelowna! Did you know you can see kangaroos and hold baby joeys right here in Canada? No need to fly down to Australia, you can access this right here. I would suggest going right at opening if you want to enjoy the kiddies and get first dibs holding the baby joeys. Lots of cute albino kangaroos here!
Lake Country
Food and drink:
The Jammery - Sure, the line is long but their jams are worth it! Breakfast isn’t out of this world amazing but I would suggest definitely grabbing some of their jams! The ones I had gotten was served at breakfast and tinged with a bit of cinnamon. So good.
Wineries:
Arrowleaf Cellars
Gray Monk
Ex Nihilo
Osoyoos
Eat and drink:
The Patio at Nk’mip Cellars - Indigenous wines with incredible food. Stake out a spot on this patio and indulge in what the area has to offer.
Wineries:
La Stella
See/do:
Rattlesnake Canyon - The most bizarre amusement park I’ve ever been to. Definitely catered to kids but something to do when the sun goes down!
Keremeos
Wineries:
Clos du Soleil
Corcelettes Wine
See/do:
Fruit and produce stands - Not an attraction per se, but Keremeos is known as the fruit capital of British Columbia! I always purposely take Hwy 3 on the way back home to Vancouver to stock up on fresh produce. It’s always a treat.