Why the Okanagan Should Be Your Next Wine Vacation | Wicked Tours

Vineyards at Maverick Winery

Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley is perfect for your next wine vacation. Wicked Tours offers the best-rated Okanagan tours. Find out more!

View of Lake Okanagan, BC, Canada
Courtesy of tourismkelowna.com – Daily Courier

Why Should Canada’s Okanagan Valley Be Your Next Wine Vacation?

Most wine enthusiasts fantasize about a wine vacation to Tuscany or Burgundy and should visit these unique places. However, to everyone’s surprise, Canada’s wine scene has flourished recently. The Okanagan Valley in the beautiful British Columbia countryside is an excellent option for oenophiles seeking a wine tour in North America. We’re not saying you shouldn’t go to France or Italy if you love wine — just that you should come to Kelowna in the Okanagan first! If anything in this blog piques your interest, check out our Kelowna Wine Tasting Tours range.

 

Maverick Estate Winery, Oliver, BC

Visit the Epicentre of Canada’s Wine Renaissance

If you were to visit the Okanagan Valley two decades ago, you would have found a very different place. It would still have offered the beautiful green forests and countryside BC is famous for, but there would only have been around 31 wineries in the region. Fast forward to 2020, and there are 182 wineries here! (Note: I’m sure this number will be out of date within a couple of months of writing as new vineyards are established in the region.) 

So, what changed in the Okanagan Valley that made it the place to be in the Canadian wine scene? The long answer would take several blogs, and a lot of the information is covered in our wine tours — but suffice it to say that people realized how good the Okanagan Valley was for growing and making beautiful wine. Thus more and more people decided to give winemaking a go. A visit to the Okanagan — and Kelowna in particular — is a chance to walk through the vineyards of one of the most up-and-coming wine-producing regions in the world. While it doesn’t have the prestige of Napa Valley, we think it’s only a matter of time.

 

BC Peaches
Courtesy of tourismkelowna.com

The Incredible Foodie Scene in the Okanagan

Wine and food go together like… well… wine and food. It’s hard to celebrate the finer side of either without marrying the two together. This is perhaps why the food scene in the Okanagan has flourished alongside wine production. Some wineries like Mission Hill Family Estate are particularly famous for their food, pairing it with their excellent wine. The best food can be found in Kelowna — the town in the heart of the Okanagan Valley, resting on the banks of Okanagan Lake. We also think that most of the best wineries also orbit Kelowna. This is probably why Okanagan Wine and Kelowna Wine have become synonymous.

However, even if you disregard the wine scene in Kelowna for a moment, the increased number of visitors to the region also prompted local chefs to innovate and develop the Okanagan’s own definitive food scene. But artisanal wine will always be the center of attention in this region as all restaurants offer diverse selections of local wine, with many enjoying unique relationships with specific vineyards. 

One thing you will notice about food in the Okanagan is that most of the ingredients are local. This is partly due to Canada’s strict export laws and partly due to the region’s lush climate. After all, conditions perfect for growing grapes are ideal for many other fruits and vegetables.

 

Downtown Kelowna Boardwalk
Courtesy of tourismkelowna.com – Shauna Merritt

There’s Much More to Kelowna than Just Wine

It would be best if you visited Kelowna to taste our wine and get a taste of the beautiful countryside and the passionate people that create it. But you can’t taste wine constantly on your trip; this goes for anywhere you decide to have a wine-centric vacation. The good news is there is much more to see and do in Kelowna and the more expansive Okanagan Valley, with little to do with wine. 

For many Canadians, the Okanagan is a fantastic place for water sports. Lake Okanagan is the perfect spot for jet skiing and wakeboarding. And if you prefer something a little slower, it’s also ideal for swimming and kayaking. 

There are also lots of luxury spas with all kinds of treatments available. You can look forward to scrubs, rubs, and creams packed with local products, such as grape stems, pips, and skins. Some spas even offer “vinotherapy treatments” where you can enjoy skincare products made from ingredients taken from the local vineyards. The luxury spas in the area tend to be part of the hotels and resorts — another aspect of Kelowna tourism that has picked up over the years.

That’s all we have time for today. I hope that I have given you a taste of Kelowna and that you’ve added the Okanagan to your wine tour bucket list. I didn’t go into the tasting notes of the countless wines produced here, but that’s because talking about the flavour of the wine is never a good substitute for tasting it. If you have questions about the tastings and wine tour experiences Wicked Tours offers, please feel free to get in touch.

Wicked Wine Tours Kelowna
Duration
3 hours
Group Size
At least 2

West Kelowna Wine Tour

Explore the enchanting vineyards and breathtaking views on a West Kelowna wine tour. With its rolling hills, lush orchards and majestic lake views, the Westside Wine Trail offers a unique mix of sophistication and rural charm that impress even the most discerning travellers. Sample locally-crafted wines, chat with knowledgeable winemakers, and capture stunning landscapes throughout this fascinating tour.

★★★★★
★★★★★
from
109 CAD
Duration
5 hours 30 minutes
Group Size
At least 2

Westside Wine Trail Wine Tour

Take a memorable journey through the beautiful Okanagan Valley on one of the wine tours from Kelowna. Enjoy an eclectic mix of farm-style hospitality and upscale elegance as you explore vineyards along the Westside Wine Trail. Marvel at the stunning lake views and rolling vineyards before indulging in some of the finest cuisines the area offers.

★★★★★
★★★★★
from
139 CAD
The View Winery
Duration
3 hours
Group Size
At least 2

Kelowna Wine Tour

Kelowna's wine scene is bursting with hidden gems. Explore them all on a guided tour of the city's Southeast area. Discover unique family-run, limited-production wineries with chic bohemian vibes and unforgettable Instagram-worthy posts. Enjoy samples of the area's best-kept secrets, and don't miss out on this off-the-beaten-path adventure!

★★★★★
★★★★★
from
109 CAD
District Wine Village BC
Duration
5 hours
Group Size
Up to 14

District Wine Village

At the District Wine Village, you can take a self-guided tour of the wineries, breweries, and distilleries. It's the only place of its kind in Canada and an absolute must-see for wine lovers in any season! For a complete tasting experience, we'll stop by Tickleberry's on our way in and pick up some handmade fudge and homemade ice cream!

★★★★★
★★★★★
from
99 CAD
Arrowleaf Cellars
Duration
3 hours
Group Size
At least 2

Lake Country Wine Tour

Tour Okanagan Lake Country and explore some of the region's best wines. Taste world-class Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir and experience their crisp flavor, delicate earthy aroma, and superb quality. Immerse yourself in a relaxed and unpretentious atmosphere as you savor some of this area's finest wines.

★★★★★
★★★★★
from
109 CAD