TRAVEL SERIES || Summer Wine Tasting Route in West Kelowna
Okanagan wine tastings are a summer staple.
With 84% of the province’s vineyard acreage, the Okanagan Valley is BC’s premier grape-growing region; there are surely no shortages of excellent wineries in this area known as ‘wine country’.
As BC restrictions ease, wineries are slowly starting to welcome visitors into their tasting rooms. If you are planning for your trip to the Okanagan, it can be quite difficult to choose which wineries to visit, especially if you have limited time. With nearly 200 different wineries located in the Okanagan valley, we suggest picking one area to explore. In the past few weeks, we’ve already shared two winery guides, one on South Kelowna and the other on Pentiction. Now it’s time to shine the spotlight on wineries in West Kelowna, a vibrant region located on the western shores and hillsides of Okanagan Lake.
Volcanic Hills Estate Winery
Volcanic Hills Estate Winery is situated on the south-eastern slope of Boucherie Mountain, a 60 million-year-old dormant volcano, which inspired the name Volcanic Hills. Since it’s opening in May of 2010, they continue to produce a variety of wine that has won a multitude of awards. The recommended wines here are: 2018 Rose, 2016 Pinot Noir, and 2018 Viognier.
Photo credit: Volcanic Hills Estate Winery
Inside the spacious wine shop, you’ll find many unique gift ideas, a children’s play area, comfy sofa chairs, a large wine bar and friendly, knowledgeable staff to help you select your new favourite wine. In addition, you can dine at Blu Saffron Bistro, a restaurant located at the winery that offers breathtaking lake and vineyard views. The menu changes daily, all paired with Volcanic Hills’ award-winning wines.
Mission Hill Winery
Situated on a prominent hill rising above the floor of the Okanagan Valley, the Mission Hill Winery has been named one of the best vineyards in the world—the only Canadian winery to rank in the 2019 list by the World’s Best Vineyards Academy.
This winery is not only renowned for producing award-winning wine, but also for its elegant architecture, stunning hilltop views, and the acclaimed Terrace Restaurant. Upon your arrival, the 12-stories tall Bell Tower will be greeting you to their estate. You are invited to enjoy their exquisitely crafted wine through one of their unique guided wine tasting experiences.
To complete your experience at Mission Hill, we recommend enjoying a meal with the perfect wine pairings at the Terrace Restaurant overlooking the breathtaking grapevines and Lake Okanagan.
The Hatch
The Hatch is unlike any other winery you have ever been to in the Okanagan. It is rustic, eccentric and charming, a barn-like winery decorated with antique tools and vintage decor. Reflective of their playful personality, the Hatch makes wines that are unique and complex while being authentic. Their collection of wine is ever-changing as they develop labels and blends based on the vineyards they work with. Besides great tasting wine, each bottle has an artsy label that tells a story of its own – something you get to learn more of during your visit. If you are visiting the area, don’t miss a stop at The Hatch!
Photo credit: The Hatch
Quails’ Gate
No visit to the Okanagan would be complete without a visit to one of the top wineries in West Kelowna, Quails’ Gate Winery. This winery is owned by the Stewart family, a third-generation that has been part of the community for over a century. Three generations have helped to build Quails’ Gate into the award-winning winery that exists today. Quails’ Gate’s vineyard covers 180 acres of land overlooking Okanagan Lake.
Photo credit: Quails’ Gate
You have the opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking views as you make your way through the rows of vines, discover their secrets to producing award-winning wine and sample top red wines, refreshing whites, popular sparkling and newly released rosé wines. When visiting Quails’ Gate, you can’t leave without dining at the Old Vine Restaurant, one of the top restaurants in Canada. Choose from their seasonal, farm-to-table menu, accompanied by Quails’ Gate Winery’s own selection of wine and a beautiful vineyard landscape view.
Photo credit: Quails’ Gate
This wraps up our wine tour guides for the Okanagan Valley. Trust us it was definitely tough for us to choose which to include on our winery bucket list. If you will be spending a few days in the area, make sure to visit our other wine tour guides for tips on planning your trip itinerary. We hope our Penticton, South Kelowna and West Kelowna wine tour guides can help you prepare for a restful and enjoyable visit to the beautiful Okanagan Valley this summer. Cheers!
