Uncork Outside: Warm-Weather Wine Experiences in the Okanagan Valley (And Beyond)
Photo: River Stone Estate Winery
Yoga in the vineyard, silent discos, open-air concerts and a wine tasting half-marathon. Wineries in the Okanagan Valley wine region are buzzing with fun outdoor events and activities throughout the spring and summer. Here are a few of our favourite ways to embrace warmer weather and sun-soaked days in BC’s largest and oldest wine region.
Hit a High Note at Grand Concert Experiences
Acoustic guitar on a lazy afternoon and smooth jazz in the moonlight. Live performances that celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of British Columbia are on full display at Okanagan Valley wineries during the warmer months. So, grab a glass of BC’s best wine and enjoy shows on a garden terrace or a sun-drenched patio at these venues. There are plenty of BC wineries to choose from.
The 100-acre property of O’Rourke Family Estates includes a grand amphitheatre that overlooks Okanagan Lake, which serves as a centrepiece for concerts, paired with wine tastings and gala dinners.
Groove to reggae and let the powerful sounds of opera wash over you as the sunset lingers with orange hues. This is the perfect backdrop to sample the winery’s diverse varietals, many produced using the process of cave élevage. Their award-winning Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are especially popular.
Across Okanagan Lake in West Kelowna, the Summer Concert Series at Mission Hill Family Estate Winery is a ticketed series featuring monthly concerts with high-profile performers, including Tom Cochrane, Amanda Marshall and Burton Cummings.
Sample their lauded varietals to find out why they have been named Winery of the Year at the WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada for six years running. During the concerts, you can also enjoy ready-to-go culinary selections created by Executive Chef Lee Wood of Delta Grand Resort.
Photo: Tinhorn Creek Vineyards
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, located on the Golden Mile Bench in the Okanagan Valley, pairs local talent with award-winning wine at their weekly Sunset Concert Series. The concerts take place in their scenic amphitheatre, framed by views of the South Okanagan.
While you’re in the Okanagan, District Wine Village is a must-visit. The market-style wine tasting adventure features 13 BC wineries and hosts live concerts and happy hours in their plaza. Rock out, two-step, or take in one of their summer silent discos.
Pétanque, You Say?
Pour a glass of a new release and step into the throwing circle. The ancient lawn game of Pétanque, a national sport in France, lands somewhere between lawn bowling and bocce. Quails’ Gate Estate Winery has embraced the sport and invites guests to play each summer, perfect for never-evers or seasoned players who want to throw the boule in style.
Stay for seasonally inspired dishes on the stunning garden patio at Old Vines Restaurant, named one of the 2026 Top 100 Romantic Restaurants by OpenTable.
Photo: Quails’ Gate Estate Winery
At the family-run Bartier Bros. Vineyard & Winery in Oliver, you can enjoy a leisurely afternoon on Black Sage Terrace. Pour a lively Rosé or a fruity Chardonnay and settle into their outdoor gathering space with lawn games. Brothers Don and Michael Bartier are often around, and you can ask them your burning questions about winemaking.
If timing aligns, be sure to sign up for The Pairing Passport Project, a series of tastings with fun snack pairings like chocolate and potato chips. On occasion, they also host a gourmet hot dog truck for the ultimate summer indulgence.
“Un-Wine” With Yoga & Mindfulness Experiences
Mindfulness begins with a single sip and the Okanagan Valley is the perfect place to do just that. Let the peace and tranquility of BC wine country wash over you.
In East Kelowna, The View Winery hosts one-of-a-kind wine experiences that blend wine tastings, local delights and mindfulness practices. Participate in a horse and meditation session as you stroll through the vines with your four-legged friend, find your inner tranquility at a sound healing and hiking event, or recharge with a tasting session that includes yin yoga, chocolate and wine.
On the Westside Wine Trail across the lake, wineries are all-in on calming activities to pair with your pour. Volcanic Hills Estate Winery hosts a morning yoga, bubbles and bites session where you can calm your mind and nourish your soul with a little sip of something special.
Neighbouring Off the Grid Organic Winery also hosts a weekly outdoor yoga session with panoramic views of Okanagan Lake. While you’re there, you can visit their farm with sheep, goats, chickens, bunnies, and a turkey.
Photo: Volcanic Hills Estate Winery
Summer Sips That Will Keep You On the Move
Lace up your sneakers, saddle up and sip your way through wine country on the move.
The Half Corked Marathon is a beloved annual tradition that weaves participants through the vineyards and valleys of the south Okanagan Valley’s iconic wine-growing areas, including the Black Sage Road and Golden Mile, with winery stations dotting the route.
The May event blends wine, whimsy, and stunning scenery, welcoming 1,700 participants, many in elaborate costumes. The four-day weekend also includes a relaxed Tailgate Social and several farm-to-table dinners. Tickets are allocated by lottery and sell out fast, so plan ahead.
Meanwhile, Saddle Up & Sip at Nk’Mip Cellars with a guided full-day adventure that you can book through Grape Savvy in Penticton. The experience begins with a coffee stop and an intimate storytelling session with Syilx Okanagan Elder to learn about the deep cultural connection between the Syilx people, the land and the wild horses that roam here.
From there, it’s a guided horseback ride through sagebrush trails with sweeping desert views, followed by a seated tasting of award-winning wines at North America’s first Indigenous-owned winery. No horseback riding experience is required for this unforgettable wine tour
Wine Festivals On Our Radar
The Spring Okanagan Wine Festival in May showcases wineries throughout the Okanagan Valley. The calendar begins with the British Columbia Wine Awards, considered by many to be the flagship event of the spring. The festival also features Spring Invitational, winemakers’ dinners and a range of tastings celebrating the season’s new releases. As the season heats up, look out for the Summer Okanagan Wine Festival and its lineup of tastings and signature events across the region.
Celebrate La Vie en Rosé
Pour a glass of pink when you visit BC wineries. Several Rosé-inspired events celebrate summer’s favourite sip. 3 Sisters Winery invites visitors to the DRINK Pink Rosé Party in June, with a steady flow of the pink stuff from their Bench and Signature Series Rosés.
River Stone Estate Winery celebrates International Rosé Day on June 26 with an artisan market and Rosé-tastings all afternoon. In July, Poplar Grove Winery rolls out the Rosé carpet for a Garden Party, complete with food and wine stations, lawn games, and live music.
Raise your pink goblet and dance the day away with a Rosé in hand. This July, Rose Disco in Kelowna and Vancouver ushers in a plush celebration of summer in a glass.
The pink-themed festival features beach balls, bubble machines, and world-class DJs, paired with iconic Rosés from 30+ wineries and chef-prepared bites. Party-goers are encouraged to dress in their best pink outfit with plenty of whimsical photo ops all day long.
Browse BC wineries and upcoming events to start planning your next wine tasting adventure.
Photo: Rose Disco
Top Winery Accommodations in the Okanagan Valley
- North Okanagan: The Outside Inn at Niche Wine Co. along the Westside Wine Trail offers a boutique vineyard stay in West Kelowna. Located on the working farm and winery, the three modular-built cabins sit right in the heart of the vineyard, featuring a soaker tub, rain shower, queen bed, and a fully stocked wine fridge. The Inn also partners with local wellness businesses to offer a sauna and cold plunge, mobile massage and spa treatments.
- Central Okanagan: Nighthawk Vineyards is a boutique family farm gate winery overlooking the scenic valley above Okanagan Falls. Their signature tenthouse suites are solar-powered, off-grid, and tucked into the trees, each with a private deck, outdoor soaking tub, and locally crafted furnishings. A continental breakfast is delivered to your door each morning and the Vineyard Kitchen & Patio is just steps away, serving Mediterranean fare cooked in a Portuguese wood-fire oven.
- South Okanagan: The Sonora Desert Inn at Mythology Vineyard offers several artfully decorated rooms in a spacious estate, with a tasting room and picnic grounds steps away. Wake to sweeping views of sunlit vines and mountain silhouettes, then move through the day at a vineyard’s pace, exploring Osoyoos, Oliver, and the surrounding desert benchlands.
Amber Turnau
Amber is a freelance storyteller and outdoor adventurer who has spent nearly 20 years living in the beautiful Sea-to-Sky Corridor. When she’s not writing, she spends her spare time snowboarding, hiking, biking, and SUPing her way through beautiful BC—all the while indulging in delicious local food and wine.