Make your own choice of world-class wines in British Columbia!
The Okanagan Valley is the premier wine region in British Columbia, with over 80% of the total vineyard acreage in the province. Wineries range from large, world-class facilities to small family-owned boutique vineyards.
British Columbians have long taken inordinate pride in their wines, with over seventy wineries operating in the Okanagan Valley from Vernon south to Osoyoos, some offering tasting rooms. Most are open throughout summer and through the wine crush in September. Kelowna is the centre of the burgeoning wine industry. The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society organizes four seasonal festivals with hundreds of wine-themed events annually.
Okanagan Valley Vineyards surround Vaseux Lake and the McIntyre Bluffs, British Columbia, Canada.
Take yourself on a guided or self-guided driving or cycling winery tour to magnificent and historic estates consistently ranked among the world’s best at international competitions, or enjoy intimate tastings at boutique wineries rich in character. Winery restaurants offer an enhanced dining experience guaranteed to delight all the senses. Maps for self-guided tours of the wineries are available from the British Columbia Wine Institute, 1855 Kirschner Road, Kelowna, BC V1Y 4N7.
Beloved by thousands of visitors and inhabitants alike for the unparalleled variety of its climate and landscape, the Okanagan Valley in south central British Columbia has something for everyone: hoodoos, orchards, vineyards, mountains, valleys, lakes, highlands, ski slopes, and trails. This is truly one of the most desirable locales in BC for year-round outdoor fun. After even one visit to this spectacularly diverse area, you’ll understand why superlatives are constantly used to describe it.
Kalamalka Lake in Vernon, North Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada.
Starting in the south, near the US border, you’ll find spectacular backcountry, with the remains of old mining settlements dotting the highway. After you pass through the arid Osoyoos and Oliver regions and head north up the valley, you will encounter orchards and vineyards, evidence of some of the best fruit- and vegetable-growing land in the world.
You could spend months exploring the Okanagan Valley region. There are more than 60 provincial parks, and dozens and dozens of recreation sites. Dozens of parks surround Okanagan Lake, an outdoor adventure playground where the only difficulty is deciding what to do with your time. The open terrain of the Okanagan makes for ideal hiking and backpacking, and many of the spots so loved in summer offer a whole new set of opportunities in winter. There are 37 golf courses scattered from Osoyoos to Vernon, most of which open in March.
Click for more information on the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, including information on parks, ski resorts, outdoor activities and towns and cities.
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