We only had one day to visit what is affectionately nicknamed the “Canadian Napa Valley” but the day was truly epic. The wine region’s real name is a bit more complex for a couple of winos from the U.S….it’s the Okanagan Valley (pronounced Oh-Can-Ah-Gun). During our one day visit we felt like two kids in a candy store here. With over 170 wineries in a 132 mile vicinity, it was difficult to decide where to start.
We loved Canada’s Okanagan Valley and have vowed to return soon!
The region is known for several varietals with the main ones being Pinot, Chardonney, Merlot, Syrah, and Zinfandel. Since we are Cabernet Savignon lovers, we narrowed the field by finding the area with the biggest reds. The Penticton/Naramata area came up as an option. To be responsible winos, we also wanted our lodging to be nearby so we could walk to tasting rooms rather than driving. We found an Airbnb in northeast Penticton and we made our plans.
There are several communities in the Okanagan Valley and each offers a half-dozen or more winery options and plenty of lodging choices. Communities include Lake Country, Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland, Summerland, Naramata, Penticton, Kaleden, Okanagan Falls, Oliver, and Osoyoos. Most come with the added perk of a view of Okanagan Lake or Skaha Lake. Many of these communities also have wine tour shuttle options for wine tasting and you can even rent bikes to go along the Naramata bench.
It should be noted that this area is not year-round due to the weather. Most tasting rooms operate fully from Spring (around April/May timeframe) through October. Our visit was in mid September and we found most wineries were still open but with less crowds than they have in summer. To get there you can either take a lovely four hour drive east from Vancouver BC, or fly in to the airport in Kelowna from Seattle, Vancouver BC, or several other Canadian cities.
With over 170 wineries in the region, the Okanagan Valley has wine for all tastes.
For our visit we were exploring the Canadian Rockies so we were “in the area” and driving was the best way to get there. We decided to start the day with Mr. Wino being the designated driver and then drop off our truck to finish the day on foot so we could both partake in the fun. In all, we ended up visiting a whopping 10 wineries! Because there are so many so close together, its easy to just keep going…but on the flip side…its hard to decide which to visit. We like having that dilema!
In addition to offering so many choices, the Okanagan Valley is also VERY affordable with most tastings at just $5. And most wineries have stunning lake views. Its truly a wino paradise! Overall, we highly, highly recommend this area. We will definitely be going back! With so many choices in wineries, wine varietals, and with extremely affordable tasting fees and amazing views, you can enjoy an entire week of tastings and never get tired.
Below is a list of the wineries we visited during our epic wine tasting day, along with a brief description of what they have to offer.
Lang Vineyards
Spectacular view from Canada’s Lang Vineyard
Our first winery of the day was stunning. The view of the lake over rows of vineyards is unlike any other we’ve seen. The tasting room at Lang Vineyards is elegant and modern yet the servers were very friendly, welcoming, and made us feel at home. The tasting room is spacious and there is plenty of outdoor seating on the expansive patio.
An interesting fact we learned about Lang Vineyards during our visit is that it’s one of the first vineyards in the area and when the owner decided to operate a tasting room he actually had to lobby to change the laws. So basically he made it possible for other wineries in the area to run as they do now. Another interesting fact we learned: most “old vine” grapes are less than 30 years old, so it really is a newer wine region.
Overall with a great wine, affordable tasting fees, a stunning view, and friendly servers that educate you on the wine and history, we would return again.
Winery Overview
Information current as of January 2018
Tasting Cost: $5 per person
Hours: November-March: Tues-Sat 11 am – 4 pm; April-Oct: Daily 10 am – 5 pm (call ahead to confirm hours)
In town/Rural/Remote: Slightly rural but near other wineries
Location: 2493 Gammon Rd. Naramata, BC
Quality of Wines (1-5 smiley faces): 🙂 🙂 🙂
Winery Style: Elegant, Fun & Friendly, Educational
Space for Weddings & Events: Yes, contact winery.
Website: https://langvineyards.ca/
Daydreamer Wines
This vineyard was recommended by some locals as having great wines, especially reds. The winemaker is a master winemaker so that means he really knows his stuff. They also use sustainable practices in making wine, which is a bonus.
We liked the rustic feel of Daydreamer Wines in Canada, but it lacked in available wines.
The tasting room is reminiscent of a colorful shed and is extremely small. It can only accommodate about 6 people comfortably. Unfortunately we had a group of 8 come in so we had to wait to get in and taste. They have a small outdoor table area but that is also quite small so again, it would be tough to navigate on a busy day.
The server was extremely friendly and did a fantastic job of attending to everyone. Unfortunately for us we had a disappointing experience because they had recently sold out of several wines and only had two to taste. Worse yet, we were charged for a full tasting which is only $5 per person but not very good considering the pours were very small. This was enough to sour the experience.
Due to the friendly server and down to earth atmosphere we’d consider trying it again but maybe earlier in the day to avoid crowds and we’d check ahead to make sure they have full flights.
Winery Overview
Information current as of January 2018
Tasting Cost: $3 per person
Hours: Noon – 5:30 Thursday through Sunday (May 19-June 30); June 30-Canadian Labour Day same hours daily
In town/Rural/Remote: Slightly rural but near other wineries
Location: 1305 Smethurst Rd., Naramata, BC
Quality of Wines: 🙂 🙂 🙂
Winery Style: Rustic & Low Key
Space for Weddings & Events: No
Website: http://daydreamerwines.ca/
Nichol Vineyard
Our next stop on the Epic Canadian Wine Tasting Day was Nichol Vineyard. This was another small tasting room with very charming grounds filled with lovely landscaping and modern decor.
Another great view of Okanagan Lake from Nichol Vineyards
The sign out front points you to the “wine shop”, which is the Canadian phrase for tasting room. Similar to Daydreamer the very stylish tasting room can only accommodate about 6 people comfortably. However, there is an outdoor seating area that gives you a fantastic place to enjoy the wine with a spectacular view of the vines and the lake below.
Our server was very friendly but as luck would have it, they also had sold out of several wines and only had two to taste. However, she was apologetic and waived our tasting fee. That’s the way to do it! We were left wanting more but happy about the outstanding service. We took a moment to enjoy the stunning view again before we headed to our next stop. We would also come back again for a second try…but again…making sure ahead of time they had full flights.
Winery Overview
Information current as of January 2018
Tasting Cost: Free for three tastes!
Hours: 11 am – 5 pm daily, starting May Long Weekend through mid October
In town/Rural/Remote: Slightly rural but near other wineries
Location: 1285 Smethurst Rd., Naramata, BC
Quality of Wines: 🙂 🙂 🙂
Winery Style: Elegant, Rustic & Low Key
Space for Weddings & Events: No
Website: https://www.nicholvineyard.com/
Therapy Vineyards
Therapy totally redeemed our Canadian wine tasting day after two wineries that served half flights. Walking in we were greeted by the Therapy mascot “cardboard cutout” of a Sigmund Freud lookalike holding a bottle of wine and a sign saying “Need Therapy”? We immediately knew this was our kind of place – lighthearted and not too serious.
Mr. Wino definitely loved his Therapy…wines that is!
The tasting room was medium sized and seemed to be enough to accommodate about 12-15 people. It was very modern and sleek. The best part was the Therapy theme that was all around. Play on words and clever bottle labels depict wine as therapy (which we totally agree!!)
The server made our day too. She was funny, friendly, and energetic about explaining the wines and pouring them for us. The tasting fee was extremely low and the cost of bottles were about $20, which at the time was about $17 USD. We purchased a few of their exceptional big bold reds.
Overall, we needed Therapy and it helped us a lot! We will happily return for another session for sure, and have designated this wonderful winery as a Wino’s Pick.
Winery Overview
Information current as of January 2018
Tasting Cost: $3 per person
Hours: 11 am – 5 pm (Spring – Autumn)
In town/Rural/Remote: Slightly rural but near other wineries
Location: 940 Lower Debeck Road, Naramata, BC
Quality of Wines: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Winery Style: Fun & Friendly, Energetic Party Zone, Elegant, Unique
Space for Weddings & Events: Unknown
Website: https://www.therapyvineyards.com/
Serendipity Winery
Literally next door to Therapy is Serendipity. Makes sense, right? The grounds of this winery are fantastic with abundant seating on a spacious outdoor patio. Inside there is a large elegant bar area where servers pour a variety of wines.
During our visit we had a wonderful server who took the time to explain how the wines were made. We felt like we got a great level of service and a more detailed than usual discussion of how the wines were made. We are not sure if it was just our server but if you want to learn about the wine making process, this is the place to go. The prices were reasonable too with bottles in the $20 range and a very affordable tasting fee.
Canada’s Serendipity Winery had a classy patio, classy servers, and classy wine.
One other perk for us was that there were not too many people there. Our visit was on a Friday afternoon in September so it was not the busiest time of the year. But we are aware of two things. 1) The size of the tasting room indicates they can handle large crowds during peak times. 2) We are continuously reinforced about our strategy to go on a Thursday or Friday as early as possible helps us avoid crowds and enjoy this kind of one-on-on service.
We had a good time at Serendipity and although we found ourselves enjoying other wineries more due to moe “free spirit” atmospheres, we understand many people enjoy learning about winemaking so we recommend a visit to Serendipity.
Winery Overview
Information current as of January 2018
Tasting Cost: $3 for full tasting
Hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily Spring-Autumn ; through full winter by appointment only
In town/Rural/Remote: Slightly rural but near other wineries
Location: 990 Lower Debeck Road, Naramata, BC
Quality of Wines: 🙂 🙂 🙂
Winery Style: Elegant, Educational
Space for Weddings & Events: Unknown
Website: serendipitywinery.com
Van Westen Vineyards
This was one of the more unique wineries we found in the Okanagan Valley wine tasting day. Location is what could be considered a fairly nice garage, Van Westen Vineyards puts its attention on the wine rather than the ambiance. Don’t get me wrong…some of our favorite wine tasting has happened in barns, warehouses and garages so we loved the feel there.
Van Westen Vineyard in Canada had one of the most unique tasting rooms we’ve seen.
The tasting bar is rather small but there’s plenty of space to spread out so it can accommodate a moderate amount of people. There’s also a fairly good sized outdoor area that could be used.
During our visit we were lucky enough to have the assistant winemaker pouring tastes and describing the wines. She had worked in Sonoma and made her way to the Okanagan Valley recently. She was outstanding in mixing fun with information and truly making the experience delightful. The wine was great and the tasting fee couldn’t be beat…it’s an optional donation to a local charity. Way to go Van Westen!
We enjoyed our time at Van Westen and highly recommend it, especially for those winos that enjoy a unique wine tasting experience.
Winery Overview
Information current as of January 2018
Tasting Cost: Free, but can donate towards a local charity
Hours: Friday-Sunday starting Easter Weekend, 11 am – 5 pm; Open daily 11 am – 5 pm from July long weekend to Fall Wine Fest; appointments needed for groups of 8 or more
In town/Rural/Remote: Slightly rural but near other wineries
Location: 2800 Aikins Loop, Naramata, BC
Quality of Wines: 🙂 🙂 🙂
Winery Style: Rustic & Low Key, Fun & Friendly, Unique
Space for Weddings & Events: Yes, but uncertain if management allows. Contact winery for details.
Website: https://vanwestenvineyards.com/
Ruby Blues Winery
When you pull up to Ruby Blues you automatically sense the energy that comes with this place. During our visit it was one of the most “hopping” places on the Naramata Bench. Outside the tasting room is a mix of beautiful flowers and foliage mixed in with eclectic art. It gives a feel of funky fun.
Canada’s Ruby Blues Winery is a cool, funky and fun place to go wine tasting.
Inside a funky, retro feel carries into the fairly small tasting room. A fantastic view of the lake is prominent on the west side of the room. Although it’s small you can tell the servers have plenty of practice juggling guests to give them all plenty of attention. Our server was very attentive and was a bundle of energy. It seemed like she really truly loved her job and it carried over to us loving our experience.
The wine tasting offered some of the better mixes of varietals and the price point couldn’t be beat. When we asked how much, we were told “just a smile”. We had plenty of that at Ruby Blues! Bottles were also affordable in the teens and twenties range so we picked up a bottle to enjoy later.
On our way out we stopped to admire Ruby Blues’ cool little outdoor area. There’s a funky gazebo and an outstanding view of the lake. It’s a perfect place to duck away from the crowd and the energy of the tasting room to soak in nature.
With a fun, energetic, funky, friendly atmosphere, we highly recommend Ruby Blues and are proud to give it a Wino’s Pick.
Winery Overview
Information current as of January 2018
Tasting Cost: Free! (Or as they say there…just a smile!)
Hours: 11 am – 5 pm daily (May-October)
In town/Rural/Remote: Slightly rural but near other wineries
Location: 917 Naramata Rd., Penticton, BC
Quality of Wines: 🙂 🙂 🙂
Winery Style: Friendly & Fun, Energetic Party Zone, Unique
Space for Weddings & Events: Yes, but uncertain if management allows. Contact winery for details.
Website: www.rubyblueswinery.ca
Kanazawa Winery
We almost thought we got lost. Finding Kanazawa is a little confusing but worth it. It’s right off a main road but when you pull in the drive it looks like someone’s house. Luckily the local who told us about this place described it perfectly so we kept going. At the end of the driveway is a small shack next to steel wine holding tanks and a small sign to let you know you’ve reached your destination.
Kanazawa Winery’s tasting room may be small but their wines pack a big punch
Inside is Mr. Kanazawa himself. He’s the owner, winemaker and server. The room is only suited for 6 people maximize so if you are in the queue be prepared to wait. He takes his time with each person and gives great attention. He explains what makes Kanazawa different from the rest and he shares his passion for unique wines.
The tasting fee is very reasonable but the bottles are a little more than we saw elsewhere, landing in the $30 range. However, the wines are truly unique and definitely worth trying. Our visit here was definitely a good one and we recommend our fellow winos check out Kanazawa.
Winery Overview
Information current as of January 2018
Tasting Cost: $5 per person
Hours: 11 am – 5 pm Friday- Sunday (April-May); daily (May-Oct. 10)
In town/Rural/Remote: In town (outskirts) and by several other wineries
Location: 1465 McMillan Ave., Penticton, BC
Quality of Wines: 🙂 🙂 🙂
Winery Style: Rustic & Low Key, Educational
Space for Weddings & Events: No
Website: www.kanazawawines.com
Perseus Winery
Our last three wineries were visited “on foot” and Perseus was the closest to town so we headed up the short walk. It is a larger tasting room and is quite elegant. The decor is modern and had a Napa Valley feel. There is a very large outdoor area with plenty of seating and we got the impression the winery can get quite crowded. But with all of that seating, it looked manageable.
Perseus combines a very classy tasting room with friendly service
Inside the classy look remained and we also were delighted with the “all window” wall that offers a fantastic view of the lake. However, the tasting room is on the other side of a very busy road so when you are outside, the traffic sounds are party of the ambience. Perseus seemed to recognize this and placed the outdoor seating a bit to the side to tuck it away a more. It cuts down a bit in the view but is still quite lovely.
Our server was nice and very informative. Even though it was getting to closing time she seemed to enjoy sharing about the wine and we didn’t feel rushed at all.
The wines at Perseus were also very classy. But with that came a bit of a price. Don’t get me wrong…it’s still so much more affordable than Napa, Sonoma, and many other California regions, but it’s on the higher side for Okanagan Valley. But food for thought…it is good wine and honestly they probably can charge a bit more. Luckily they keep their tasting fee at the standard Okanagan level so we were happy to have made the stop.
We recommend Perseus because it was affordable, friendly, and very convenient. But if you are more about the wine than the experience, then you’ll really love this stop.
Winery Overview
Information current as of January 2018
Tasting Cost: $5 or free with a purchase of a bottle
Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am – 5 pm (until Oct. 15); By appointment only Oct. 15-March 1
In town/Rural/Remote: In town (outskirts) and by several other wineries
Location: 134 Lower Bench Road, Penticton, BC
Quality of Wines: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Winery Style: Elegant
Space for Weddings & Events: No, but patio area can accommodate small groups
Website: https://www.perseuswinery.com/
Monster Vineyards
Mr. Wino joins in on the fun with Monster Vineyard’s two-headed monster.
We saved the best for last. Not on purpose…it just happened. Just to review, the Traveling Wino and Mr. Wino look for four main things in a winery – friendliness, affordability, a down-to-earth atmosphere, and if we are really lucky…an all-around fun time where we laugh and make new friends. Monster Vineyards slam-dunked the whole thing.
From the outside you might mistake Monster Vineyards’ tasting room for a warehouse. In fact, it might actually be just that. However there are plenty of signs at the entrance to let you know you’re in the right place. As you enter the tasting room, you are greeted by a giant two-headed wood-carved monster at the entrance and plenty of colorful monster-themed cartoon decor throughout the tasting room. But what catches your attention even more is the energy and fun that springs from the tasting room bar.
Its hard to NOT have a good time at Monster Vineyards in Canada’s Okanagan Valley.
Our server was very friendly and was quick witted and ready to share a joke or enjoy one thrown her way. At the same time she was professional and gave us loads of information on the wines being served. It almost seemed like Monster’s mission statement is to just simply have fun and make sure guests have fun too.
One unique aspect of Monster Vineyards is that the monster bottles of wine actually glow in the dark. How cool is that!?!? And during our visit we also got some Monster logo plastic tasting glasses to take with us.
To top all of this off, the wines were great, the bottle prices were all in the twenties or lower, and the tasting fee was very low.
Our last tasting room in the Okanagan Valley was fantastic. Monster Vineyards is a wino pick!
Monster Vineyards checked all of our boxes and then some. We will definitely make our way back and we hope you make it there too to see just why this is one of our top Wino Picks.
Winery Overview
Information current as of January 2018
Tasting Cost: $5 for six wines
Hours: Fri & Sat 10 am – 5 pm; 11am-6 pm daily (May – Oct)
In town/Rural/Remote: In town (outskirts) and by several other wineries
Location: 1010 Tupper Ave. Penticton BC
Quality of Wines: 🙂 🙂 🙂
Winery Style: Fun & Friendly; Energetic Party Zone, Unique
Space for Weddings & Events: No. Small patio area only.
Website: www.monstervineyards.ca
