A Long Weekend in Canada's Okanagan Valley
- Danielle Dybiec
- Apr 1
- 5 min read
Following my recent trip to Long Island's North Fork, which has ideal soils and climate for Bordeaux-like wines, another off-the-beaten path wine region worth exploring is Canada's Okanagan Valley.
Article below by Joanne Sasvari from 3/13/2024 can found here.
Come for the wine, stay for the beaches, blooms, and British Columbian charm. This story is part of traveling in Canada, created with support from Canada.
Long before it became one of the world’s best under-the-radar wine regions, British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley was known for its “peaches and beaches”: ripe orchard fruits, sunny weather, and warm lakes that still draw crowds of holiday seekers each summer. Then, in 1994, an Okanagan chardonnay (from Mission Hill, for those curious) was named the best in the world. Now travelers are as likely to visit the 8,000-square-mile-area – about a four-and-a-half-hour drive or an hour’s flight east from Vancouver – for its electric rieslings and perfumed pinots as they are for its easygoing lifestyle and spectacular scenery.
The valley stretches about 110 miles, from forested lake country in the north to Canada’s only desert-like habitat in the south, where daytime heat and cool, breezy nights make for an ideal grape-growing landscape. Summer is peak season for beach activity (and traffic), while spring sees orchards awash in blossoms, and fall revolves around the harvest. Some wineries and restaurants close in winter, but the Okanagan Valley’s four ski hills (SilverStar, Big White, Apex Mountain, and Mount Baldy) still draw crowds of Alpine and Nordic skiers.
For warmer-weather pursuits, here’s how to make the most of the valley in three days.
Day One: Straight to Winetasting
At first glance, Kelowna, Okanagan Valley’s urban hub, may seem like a sprawling strip mall. But venture off busy Highway 97 to discover the city’s charming neighborhoods, heritage orchards, and beautiful lake views, along with some of Canada’s oldest and finest wineries.
For a delicious taste of what the valley has to offer, venture through East Kelowna’s bucolic back roads to the rustic-elegant Home Block, a modern farmhouse restaurant at the CedarCreek Estate Winery with sweeping views across Okanagan Lake. Mediterranean-inspired cuisine (think woodfire-grilled bison or risotto with locally grown oyster mushrooms) pairs well with CedarCreek’s low-intervention wines. Later, meander into East Kelowna’s century-old and easily walkable downtown. Pick up a Tourbillon wine carafe at the Lakehouse Home Store before strolling along the waterfront to BNA Brewing Co. for a pint of super-hazy Ace pale ale.
Across the bridge in West Kelowna, travelers find Mount Boucherie, the extinct volcano where some of the region’s first (and still best) wineries are located. Visit the award-winning pioneers, Mission Hill Family Estate, for a bespoke winetasting experience, before a three-minute drive to Quails’ Gate winery and its farm-to-table Old Vines Restaurant for sunset over the vines.
Day Two: Break for the Bench
In Kelowna, early birds can watch the sunrise from a stand-up paddleboard on Okanagan Lake or opt to go directly to Sprout Bread for sourdough breakfast sandwiches. From there, drive an hour south to Penticton, a small city perched on a sandy isthmus between Okanagan and Skaha lakes, surrounded by wine subregions and the valley’s famous Naramata Bench: a narrow, elevated, seven-and-a-half-mile-long strip of land that’s home to around 40 boutique wineries.
Stop at The Bench Market to pick up a picnic lunch before continuing toward the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, where your Virtuoso travel advisor can have rental bikes waiting. Pedal along a portion of this long-decommissioned railway, past orchards and vineyards and across deep canyons, before stopping at the Little Tunnel lookout for a snack.
Once you drop your bikes off, hop back in the car and point your designated driver south, past the looming stone ridge known as McIntyre Bluff, which marks the beginning of the South Okanagan. Stop in at the District Wine Village, a collection of small wineries circled around a central plaza, for a leisurely tasting, then continue south through the town of Oliver to Terrafina for dinner surrounded by the vines at the Hester Creek Estate Winery.
Day Three: Indigenous Culture in Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country
At the valley’s southern end, 13 miles south of Oliver, travelers will find themselves in the town of Osoyoos – in true Okanagan desert country. Start the day at the beautiful Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, an interpretive center stewarded by the Osoyoos Indian Band that features exhibits, films, and a traditional village. It’s a moving introduction to the Syilx People of the Okanagan Nation, who have long called this area home.
Activities in Oliver Osoyoos skew outdoor heavy: Go boating on Osoyoos Lake, play a round at one of 14 golf courses, race around the track at the Area 27 Motorsports Park – or, of course, stroll through the vineyards at some of the area’s dozens of wineries. Favorites among them include the sleek, Tom Kundig-designed CheckMate Artisanal Winery; Rust Wine Co., known for its syrahs and some of the region’s oldest vines; and the Black Hills Estate Winery, where “wine evangelists” lead tastings in cabanas that surround a gorgeous water installation.
At the grand, art-filled Phantom Creek Estates, chef Alessa Valdez’s modern cuisine – tartare of locally farmed beef with bone-marrow aioli and Cornish hen with scape ash and quince jus – complements powerhouse wines from some of the valley’s oldest vineyards. Finally, wrap up a lovely, wine-soaked weekend at Miradoro at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards for wood-fired pizza, velvety cabernet franc, and a sunset glowing on the bluffs across the valley.
Start planning inspired travel and read more about me and what I can do for you!
Nine Muses Travel designs journeys to inspire artists, arts lovers and the culturally curious.
Danielle Dybiec
Founder & President
WHY USE A TRAVEL ADVISOR?
Nine Muses Travel offers a premium experience with flights, guides, drivers, rental vehicles, and the best accommodations to maximize your time, with expert advice on how to get the most out of any destination. We can include amenities for you at the world's finest hotels, the BEST OF THE BEST!
Complimentary room upgrades at check-in, subject to availability
Complimentary daily breakfast
Early check-in / late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
And more!
Nine Muses Travel works with exceptional suppliers who add unparalleled value:
Expert guides: artists, historians, naturalists, unique locals with insider tips & insights
Flexibility with your touring - See and do as much, or as little, as you prefer!
Custom-designed routings
Exclusive experiences
24/7 real-time support
Comprehensive travel protection plans
Comments