The best winery visits don’t just involve fine wine. They’re about combining a beautiful location, excellent service, quality wine and a little something else: Personality. Wine grapes have grown in British Columbia’s beautiful Okanagan Valley since the 1800s, but the industry started expanding in the late 1980s.
These days, with more than 40 wineries located in and around Kelowna, there’s plenty to see, sip and savour. Don’t have time to see them all? Here’s a condensed list of Kelowna’s top 10 best wineries, based on online reviews, industry awards and on-the-ground research.
#1. Mission Hill Family Estate
Every year, Mission Hill’s wines rate amongst Canada’s top in competitions, including the International Wine and Spirit Competition and Decanter World Wine Awards.
But there’s more than wine to experience — which is part of the reason Mission Hill Family Estate ranks as our top choice for Kelowna wineries. Terrace Restaurant offers locally inspired cuisine paired with wines. The outdoor amphitheatre features Blue Rodeo and Chris Botti concerts, and the tasting room and gift shop have something for everyone.
You’ll want to try the Mission Hill Family Estate 2020 Reserve Meritage. This rich red blend has dark berries and vanilla notes and pairs well with steak. You can grab a bottle for $30.
Wine tastings and tours at Mission Hill Family Estate range from $75 to $225 per person, guided by their wine ambassadors.
#2. Tantalus Vineyards
Overlooking Kelowna and Lake Okanagan, Tantalus’s vineyards are some of the valley’s oldest — the first plantings were in 1927! Sign up for group tours offering a behind-the-scenes look at the vineyards and facility, or stop in and enjoy the beautiful tasting room and wines. Tastings and tours range from $15 to $45 per person. While you’re there, check out work by Canadian artists, including Indigenous carver Dempsey Bob, whose art appears on the wine labels.
Tantalus makes some of Canada’s best Rieslings. Try them all, especially the 2019 Old Vines Riesling for $39 per bottle.
#3. Gray Monk
One of the Okanagan Valley’s oldest and most beloved wineries, the Gray Monk, has vineyards dating back to 1972.
If you’re in a hurry, you can try a stand-up tasting. All the time in the world? Enjoy a seated tasting, or a casual meal on the Lookout Restaurant patio, with its picture-perfect views. Need to relax? Try yoga and brunch. Are you bringing the kids? The winery welcomes little ones, too. These tastings range from $20 to $70 per person. But the variety of options is just one of the reasons the Gray Monk ranks third on our list of Kelowna’s top wineries.
Try out the Gray Monk Odyssey 2021 Pinot Gris. It’s pale coppery pink; it’s fresh and fruity and pairs excellently with smoked salmon at $30 per bottle.
#4. Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Famous for its massive pyramid, Summerhill Pyramid Winery is a family-owned gem on the Kelowna wine scene. Every solstice, equinox, full, or new moon, the team celebrates the earth with a group meditation in the pyramid, vegetarian potluck, drumming and dancing. For just $20 per person, you can taste some of the best wine in the Okanagan Valley. You can stop in any time for a tasting of its many award-winning wines, a meal, or a night in the Summerhill Estate House.
A favourite is the Summerhill Pyramid Winery non-vintage Cipes Brut. A multi-award-winning sparkler, it’s organic and biodynamic, with delicate apple and floral notes at $32 per bottle.
#5. Quails’ Gate Estate Winery
With a reputation for outstanding Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Quails’ Gate sits on an extinct volcano, which gives the vineyard soils richness and depth. The Old Vines Restaurant is cozy any time of the year, and the Market offers wood-wired pizza in summer. Experience a sit-down technical tasting, dinner in the vineyard, or stay at the Lake House or the Nest. The price ranges from $15 to $50 per person.
One of our favourite glasses of wine out of the top 10 Kelowna wineries is The Quails’ Gate 2020 Pinot Noir. It pairs with mushroom risotto or duck with spicy cherry and raspberry notes. Each bottle rings in at $32.
#6. The Hatch
With some of the quirkiest, most creative packaging in Canada, The Hatch team also makes gorgeous wines — reds, whites, bubbles and rosés — and offers a visiting experience and gift shop like no other in the valley. The labels are as brilliant as the wines, with cool, creative sketches by Canadian artist Paul Morstad. Stop in any time for tasting, and their team will do their best to accommodate your group and provide plenty of sips.
Nearby sister properties Crown & Thieves and Black Swift Vineyards have food, live music and entertainment in summer.
If you go, we recommend you try The Hatch 2021 Rose Ahtow for $22 per bottle. It’s an intense pink pleaser that’ll pair with charcuterie.
#7. Volcanic Hills Estate Winery
The Gidda family grew grapes for other wineries for years before starting their winery on a 60-million-year-old dormant volcano. They now offer a variety of wines and tastings, including sabering in the vineyard and a proprietor’s tour with owner Bobby Gidda. Depending on your budget, these tastings range from $10 to $70 per person.
Be sure to book a meal at Blu Saffron Bistro; the menu features local ingredients with a global twist.
The Volcanic Hills Estate Winery 2020 Pinot Gris is our favourite. It’s an unoaked juicy white made for hot days and prosciutto with melon and is $22 per bottle.
#8. CedarCreek Estate Winery
Lake Okanagan’s views are enough reason to stop here, but the wines and the winery are also spectacular. In the summer, renowned Canadian musicians perform in the garden, and Home Block Restaurant — named one of Canada’s best new restaurants when it opened — is always a crowd-pleaser. Wine club members also access Aspect House, a cool and modern space for private tastings and events. If you’d like to attend a tasting or tour, you can expect to spend between $22 to $75 per person.
In our opinion, the CedarCreek Estate Winery 2019 Merlot delivers well above its $23 price tag, with notes of violets, cedar and raspberries.
#9. Sandhill
Located in downtown Kelowna, Sandhill offers award-winning wines and an urban winery experience that most others can’t beat. Because of its urban location, it’s not unusual to bump elbows with Canadian celebrities, winemakers, and staff from competing wineries, all drawn to its convivial atmosphere and delicious wines. There’s a patio and live music on Thursdays throughout summer, too. For $10 to $20 per person, you can experience a tasting or tour at Sandhill.
If you’re looking for a great summer drink, try the Sandhill 2021 Rosé. It’s the perfect pairing for summer dishes such as bruschetta, Caprese salad or charcuterie and runs at $21 per bottle.
#10. The View
Located in a charming 1920s-era fruit packing house, The View is a family-owned winery on land that has been in president Jennifer Turton-Molgat’s family for 100 years.
You can sign up for a long table dinner or yoga in the vineyard, a movie night in the barrel room, cooking classes, or the 100th-anniversary celebrations. All of these options range from $6 to $100 per person.
We recommend you try the View 2020 Silver Lining White, a blend of Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Ehrenfelser, paired with Thai green curry, salads and roast chicken. Each bottle costs just $18 and is well worth every cent.
Final Thoughts
Whichever Kelowna winery you choose to visit, you can’t go wrong. Each winery has exceptional views and unique wines to taste, and most of them will even ship cases of your favourite bottles back to your home if you’re travelling from a distance. We hope you have a great experience touring Zolo’s top 10 ranked wineries in the Okanagan Valley.
