TRAVEL SERIES || Summer Wine Tours and Tastings in South Kelowna
Hailed as the birthplace of British Columbia’s wine industry, the city of Kelowna beckons to be your next culinary discovery this summer.
A small town brimming with possibilities and never too crowded, Kelowna is merely a few hours drive from Vancouver – ideal for a weekend getaway with the family. Taking the scenic route, Highway 97, will bring you to this scenic hotspot cradled within majestic mountains, pine forests, and provincial parks. Blessed with long summers and abundant sunshine (2,000 hours per year), the city lies along the pristine Okanagan Lake where sandy beaches provide wonderful opportunities for boating, swimming, water-skiing, windsurfing, and fishing.
What Kelowna is most renowned for, however, is its internationally-acclaimed wineries and vineyards offering wine tours and sophisticated dining options. Although this year's wine tasting might look a little different than it has in the past, you can still expect to be enchanted as knowledgeable proprietors, dedicated hosts, and award-winning winemakers pour their wines and share their stories.
In Kelowna, there are well over 40 wineries and vineyards in the region. To help narrow down your search, here are four wineries concentrated in the city’s south that we highly recommend you incorporate into your travel itinerary if you are planning a weekend road trip to the Okanagan Valley.
(Note: As businesses are taking all precautions necessary to protect the health of patrons, make sure to check their hours of operations and reservation policies in advance to avoid disappointment.)
SUMMERHILL PYRAMID WINERY
Summerhill Pyramid Vineyard overlooks Okanagan Lake and comprises over 65 acres, of which approximately 45 are planted. Their organically-grown grape varieties include Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer, Ehrenfelser, and Pinot Meunier. The grape clones have been imported from the finest European vineyards of Champagne, Bordeaux, the Rheingau, and Mosel.
The most striking feature of their establishment is their pyramid-shaped wine cellar where every Summerhill wine ages in barrels, owing to the belief that sacred geometry has a positive effect on liquids. Grab a chair at their bistro to sample farm-to-table dishes, expertly paired with different wines made here. You can also refer to their COVID-19 Safety Plan here.
ST HUBERTUS & OAK BAY ESTATE WINERY
The St Hubertus & Oak Bay vineyards were originally planted in 1928 by J.W. Hughes during a time when agricultural land was plentiful. Since 1984, the Gebert Family has used sustainable farming practices to produce 100% estate-grown wines that reflect the terroir of the North Okanagan Valley, to show off the complexity associated with the old world, but with the clean fresh fruit flavours of the new world.
Currently, they offer wine tastings from 12 PM to 16 PM daily, with groups of maximum 4 people allowed at a time. No reservation is required.
CEDARCREEK ESTATE WINERY
One of the first 8 pioneering wineries of BC, CedarCreek is a family-owned and operated winery, elevating winemaking from product to craft by thoughtful attention to all aspects of viticulture and winemaking, from their selection of varietals to bottle aging. Their winemakers craft two tiers of elegant wines, with the very best of those wines designated as "Platinum". This must-visit Okanagan winery has produced some of the best wines in the valley and has been recognized as "Canada's Winery of the Year" twice.
“We’re in a constant state of evolution here. Our team continues to push the boundaries of winemaking and viticulture even further with sustainable practices that will improve the quality of our entire portfolio of wines. These awards clearly underscore that we are on the right path with our organic commitment in our vineyards and at the winery.”
They currently offer a wide range of sensory-inducing tasting experiences in a warm and intimate setting where patrons sample their award-winning wines paired with thoughtfully crafted small plates, while their team shares remarkable stories of their organic farming and winemaking. Make sure to book in advance!
Photo Credit: CedarCreek Estate Winery
SCORCHED EARTH WINERY
Though modest and small in acres, the Scorched Earth Winery is amongst the most beautiful characteristic wineries in Kelowna, producing 500 cases of wine annually from hand-picked and hand-sorted premium French Pinot Noir clones. Their vineyard, located on a sloped area towards Lake Okanagan, provides great airflow as well as cooling effect which further benefits the grapevines.
Their tasting room recently re-opened and can be reserved by phone (250-717-7994) or email.
