No matter where you live in British Columbia or where your travels take you, there are excellent wineries to discover across the province’s nine wine regions. According to Wine Growers BC, there are more than 300 wineries spread throughout the province, including:
- Vancouver Island (22 wineries)
- Gulf Islands (11 wineries)
- Fraser Valley (28 wineries)
- Lillooet (2 wineries)
- Thompson Valley (3 wineries)
- Shuswap (6 wineries)
- Okanagan Valley (210 wineries)
- Similkameen Valley (17 wineries)
- Kootenays (7 wineries)
Many wine lovers are familiar with marquee names such as Burrowing Owl, Mission Hill, Cedar Creek and Summerhill. These wineries often combine quality wines with spectacular views, dining experiences, and, in some cases, on-site accommodations.
Visitors also tend to explore the smaller wineries that line the province’s best-known wine routes. In the South Okanagan, for example, names such as Kismet, Gold Hill, Cassini, Gehringer Brothers, Second Chapter and vin Amité are regular stops for wine tourists.
There is nothing wrong with revisiting old favourites, but I always encourage people to venture a little farther afield. Some of the most memorable winery experiences happen when you turn down a less-travelled road and discover a new favourite.
Here is a short list of wineries worth seeking out, organized alphabetically by community.
Abbotsford
- SingleTree
Cawston
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- Clos du Soleil
- Orofino
- Vanessa Vineyard
Comox Valley
- 40 Knots
Cranbrook
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- Baillie-Grohman
- Skimmerhorn
Duncan
- Alderlea
Kaleden
- Black Market
Kamloops
- Monte Creek
- Privato
Kelowna
-
- Ancient Hill
- Nagging Doubt
- SpearHead
- Tantalus
- The View
Lake Country
-
- Arrowleaf
- Azhadi
Langley
- Glass House
Lillooet
- Fort Berens
Naramata (more than 30 wineries spread along a 20-kilometre stretch.
-
- Chain Reaction
- Daydreamer
- Deep Roots
- Van Westen
Okanagan Falls
- Blasted Church
- Mayhem
- Meyer Family Vineyards
- Noble Ridge
Oliver
-
- Fairview Cellars
-
- Le Vieux Pin
- Nostalgia
- River Stone
- Rust
Osoyoos
- Lariana
- Mythology
Penticton
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- Howling Bluff
- Painted Rock
- Pentâge
- Terra Vista
Summerland
- Haywire
- Solvero
West Kelowna
- Ciao Bella
- Niche
- The Gallery
What started as a short list quickly became a long one, and there are many other deserving wineries which could have been included.
The beauty of exploring these destinations is that you will inevitably discover others nearby. A winery visit often leads to another recommendation from a tasting room host, and before long, you’ve uncovered a corner of BC wine country you might otherwise have missed.
I have enjoyed visits to all of the wineries listed here, and each offers something a little different. This season, consider showing some of the smaller producers a little extra support.
Do you have a favourite among these wineries, or one that deserves to be added to the list? Let me know in the comments.
For more detailed information, check out:
https://winebc.com/wine-regions/
(All photos – Sam Hauck)