Located in the south of Canada’s British Columbia Province, Kelowna is the beating heart of Okanagan Valley wineries.
Tucked between mountain ranges, this prominent wine region boasts lush pine forests, flawless lakes, and an abundance of gorgeous vineyards and orchards.
If you’re a wine enthusiast looking to indulge your taste buds in delectable wines outside the Ontario wine regions, a winery near Kelowna is a must-see.
10 Top Wineries in Kelowna
Just a 50-minute flight from Vancouver, Kelowna is a sun-drenched lakeside paradise. With over 40 wineries, the area is filled with stunning vineyards all about wine pairings.
Deciding on which vineyard tour to embark on may be challenging, so here’s a list of the top 10 Kelowna vineyards and wineries.
1. Mission Hill Family Estate Winery
You’ll find this winery at 1730 Mission Hill Road, along the banks of Okanagan Lake. This picturesque west Kelowna winery boasts elaborate architecture with arched openings and lakeside vines.
The winery is open daily from 10 am to 8 pm, and seated tastings of select Terroir wines, like their Naramata Ranch Pinot Noir, start from C$30 per guest for 45 minutes.
Mission Hill is renowned for its innovative winemaking, combining Old World techniques with modern technology. The winery also prides itself in being 100% organic—where bees and chickens replace pesticides, and earthworms and compost are used as fertilizers.
2. Cedar Creek Estate Winery
Comfortably resting at the foothills of Kelowna Mountain, this lakeside winery is located at 5445 Lakeshore Road and boasts a stone-faced farmhouse with lush valleys surrounding it.
Book an intimate 60-minute vineyard tour and seated wine tasting in the fireside courtyard for just C$40 and enjoy the best of North Okanagan wines, like the CedarCreek Chardonnay and Meritage.
CedarCreek Estate Winery is open most days from 11 am to 6 pm but closes an hour later from Thursday to Saturday. The winery features a deluxe tasting room with floor-to-ceiling windows, giving you stunning lake views.
3. Summerhill Pyramid Winery
On 4870 Chute Lake Road, you’ll find the dazzling Summerhill Pyramid Winery. Proud member of the Canadian Signature Experiences collection since 2011, this lakeshore estate hosts wine tours starting from as little as C$20 per person at 12 pm, 2 pm, and 4 pm.
Open seven days a week, from 10 am to 6 pm, the estate’s wine shop offers complimentary daily tastings of their organic wines. And if you’re strategic about your visit, you can enjoy the daily 3 pm to 5 pm happy hour, when they serve C$7 glasses of delicious wine to accompany the amazing lakeshore views.
4. Quails’ Gate Winery
Entice your taste buds with award-winning wines at Quails’ Gate Winery. This third-generation winery in Kelowna is a must-see. It’s open each day from 10 am to 8 pm for wine tastings and sales.
Head to 3303 Boucherie Rd West Kelowna for a 30-minute tour. You’ll sample four of Quails’ Gate’s estate selection of French wine varietals, like the Old Vines Foch, made from aromatic Maréchal Foch grapes.
Alternatively, book the elaborate 45-minute Vineyard Tasting Experience—this involves wine tasting at the Harvest Gathering Site while taking in magnificent Okanagan valley and mountain views.
5. Crown & Thieves
Uncover the mystic story of how Crown & Thieves’ project designer Jason Parkes became the Bad Boy of Canadian Wine. Located at 3887C Brown Rd, the winery opens daily from 11 am to 6 pm.
Taste one-of-a-kind wines at the striking four-story wrecked castle, with gorgeous ceiling murals and high bookshelves filled with wine bottles. Grab a glass of the Broken Wing Merlot or Crybaby Malbec, and enjoy these famous red wine types like you never have before.
6. Ex Nihilo Winery
Another one of the best Kelowna wineries boasts an exciting story. Inspired by a replica model of Frederick Hart’s Ex Nihilo on their trip to Napa Valley, the owners, Decoa and Jeff Harder, vowed to build a namesake winery.
Located at 1525 Camp Rd, this Kelowna vineyard offers award-winning wine tastings. Book the 20-minute Signature Tasting for C$10 per person, which starts you off with a glass of SX Imagine sparkling wine, followed by four other wines.
7. Mt. Boucherie Winery
West Kelowna wineries never cease to impress! Visit Mt. Boucherie Winery’s 15,000-square-foot luxurious building filled with stunning tasting rooms, and enjoy delicious wines backed by over 20 years of experience.
Located at 829 Douglas Rd, Mt. Boucherie Winery offers a superb tasting experience every day, from 11 am to 6 pm. You can book an Introductory Tasting for C$8 or a Reserve Tasting for C$12.
Mt. Boucherie Winery sits on the Westside Wine Trail, flanked by gorgeous mountain backdrops, rolling hills, and scenic lake views.
8. Tantalus Vineyards
Known as the oldest continuously producing BC vineyards, Tantalus offers an exceptional winemaking pedigree. Located on the eastern slopes of the Okanagan Valley at 1670 DeHart Rd, Tantalus overlooks the pristine Okanagan Lake.
Open daily between 11 am and 5 pm from mid-May to September, these outstanding vineyards offer tastings of their unique Riesling and Reserve wines. This is hosted in the gallery-style tasting room.
Book a 40-minute Flagship Tasting for just C$15. Or, take a C$45 Bees & Barrels Tour and Tasting and enjoy a casual stroll through the vineyard led by an expert wine guide.
9. Sperling Vineyards
Kelowna is all about family-owned vineyards and exceptionally crafted wines, and Sperling Vineyards is no exception. This charming fourth-generation winery sits in the heart of Kelowna, at 1405 Pioneer Rd.
This certified organic winery opens seasonally from 10 am to 6 pm. So why not spend a day tasting prestigious wines at one of their three outdoor tasting areas, the enclosed Heritage Room, picnic area, or Vineyard Labyrinth. Tastings range from C$10 to C$20 per guest.
10. Volcanic Hills Estate Winery
Another great option for west Kelowna wineries is the welcoming Volcanic Hills Estate Winery. Located at 2845 Boucherie Rd, this family-run vineyard boasts elegant wine tastings ranging from C$10 to C$140.
You can book the Proprietor’s Tour for C$50 and enjoy a guided exploration beneath the wine shop, the winemaking tank, and the barrel rooms. The winery is open all week from 10 am to 6 pm and closes at 7 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Kelowna Wineries Wrapped Up
Okanagan Valley wineries pride themselves on their unique wine-crafting philosophies and on creating fun-filled gastronomical adventures. Book a tasting at one of these top Kelowna vineyards to discover some of Canada’s most extraordinary lakeside wineries.
