Photo courtesy of Fort Berens Estate Winery, taken June 2024.

Jogging through vineyards in the Okanagan Valley during the Half Corked Marathon in May, wine lovers from around the world enjoyed spectacular mountain views, blue skies and delicious samples of Rosé, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and more as they walked and ran between wineries. Some of the vines were bare—their leaves hadn’t yet emerged after a record-breaking cold snap in January—but one thing was in abundance: Wine.

“Our wineries have wine to sell, and experiences to share,” agrees Jennifer Busmann, executive director of the Oliver Osoyoos Winery Association, which organizes the annual wine run and other valley events including Pig Out and Winter in Wine Country. “Things might look a little different than they did in the past, but the industry in our region is very optimistic about what they’re seeing in the vineyards.”

It’s a similar story across BC wine country, where grape farmers are watching vines leaf out after a cool spring that followed on the heels of two extreme weather winters, wildfires across the province in 2023, and a heat dome in 2021. 

“Farmers are eternal optimists in every situation. They have to be, and it’s appreciated,” says Busmann, noting it’s that resilience that will help the wine industry move forward.

In the meantime, there’s never been a better time to plan a trip to your favourite British Columbia vineyards. From Vancouver Island to the Thompson Valley, wineries are pouring everything from new release whites and Rosés to aged reds and Chardonnays, with tastings, tours and events on tap all season. Here are six compelling reasons to plan your grape escape now. 

1. An Abundance of Delicious BC Wine

Photo courtesy of JoieFarm Winery, 2024

After the January 2024 cold snap, wineries had to let the world know there had been a catastrophe in the vineyards, says David Paterson, winemaker and general manager at Tantalus Vineyards in Kelowna. Though the extent of the damage is not fully known, vines are resilient, and Paterson believes they will recover 90 to 95 percent of their vineyard. This could impact wine supply in 2025, but for now, Tantalus is pouring a new 2023 Rosé, 2023 Riesling Lab and 2022 Cabernet Franc. 

“We have plenty of wine this year and into next year, as do most wineries,” says Paterson. “This season is full steam ahead for everyone and it’s quite imperative that we have a good tourism season.”

At West Kelowna wineries, tasting rooms are serving new releases and delicious reds from 2022, considered one of the best vintages Okanagan wineries have ever seen. Quails’ Gate Estate Winery has your patio afternoons covered with a 2023 Lucy’s Block Rosé and a 2023 Orchard Block Gewürztraminer, along with an exciting new 2022 Old Vines Foch. 

South down the valley, Penticton wineries are pouring the love, too.

“The 2022 vintage was the perfect year to experiment, allowing me to make a handful of exciting wines in the Stand Apart Series, including fresh aromatic whites and vibrant juicy reds,” says Kaylee Barrs, winemaker at Red Barn Winery at Jagged Rock near Oliver.

2. Scenery and Sunshine

Photo Courtesy of D’Angelo Estate Winery, June 2024

From the patio at Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery in West Kelowna, the lake and mountain views are as sublime as the wine. Though Kelowna’s west side suffered a devastating wildfire in 2023, this spring’s rain and cool tempts have led to green vines and clear blue skies. Even Niche Wine Company, which was nearest to the MacDougall Creek wildfire, is open for business, with pretty Okanagan winery vistas, exciting pop-up events, and new releases to try. 

There’s a perception that August equals wildfires, but most years BC wine country is spared. British Columbia is huge, and you can easily find out where weather events are happening in the province.

While Okanagan Valley wineries are famous for their gorgeous scenery and beachy, California-vibe summers, that natural beauty extends to wine producers in the Similkameen Valley, Fraser Valley and across the Georgia Strait to Vancouver Island. On the islands, you’ll be wowed by stunning ocean views, like those from Sage Hayward Vineyards on Saturna Island. 

In between tastings you can go for a hike, hit the trails on a mountain bike, or relax at a lakeside—or seaside—beach and soak up the sun.

3. Fun Events All Summer Long

Photo courtesy of Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery.

The 2024 BC wine season kicked off with parties across the province—from a long table lunch to launch Mission Hill Family Estate’s new Rosés, to dinner in the vineyard at Road 13 Vineyards after the Half Corked Marathon—with many more events and experiences planned all summer. Listen to live music at Blue Grouse Estate Winery, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, District Wine Village, or Red Barn Winery at Jagged Rock; try bocce ball at SpearHead Winery; or do some downward dog during a yoga class at Kalala Organic Estate Winery or Cannon Estate Winery. 

Most wineries have gone to seated tastings since the pandemic, which offer a more relaxed way to try wines. At the same time, many wineries have expanded their experience rosters—you can learn about northern winemaking on a vineyard tour at CedarCreek Estate Winery in Kelowna, saber your own bottle of bubbly inside the cellar at Chronos (part of the TIME Family of Wines) in Penticton, or indulge in an Indigenous cuisine-focused food and wine pairing at Nk’Mip Cellars in Osoyoos.

Though concerts and experiences like food-paired wine tastings should be booked in advance, the beauty of BC wineries is there can still be spontaneity during a visit. 

“There’s still this feeling of whimsy and fun because not everything you do in wine country needs to be booked,” says Busmann, adding you can often just walk in for a tasting, even during the peak of summer.

4. Affordable Wine Tastings

In BC wine country, it’s still common to pay around $10 or $15 for a tasting of four or five wines, with fees waived with the purchase of a bottle. At vinAmité Cellars in Oliver, for example, you can score a patio table overlooking the vineyard and try five wines at leisure while a server walks you through each one. It’s a no-brainer to apply the $10 tasting fee toward a bottle of 2023 Pinot Gris, or the excellent 2021 Hidden Corner, a red blend, for a sizable discount. 

Many wineries also let you enjoy bottles of wine purchased at the wine shop, right outside in the vineyard. Combine this cool hack with an on-site food truck lunch, and it makes for an affordable wine country outing. You can pair bubbles charcuterie at Church and State Wines, or your preferred wine with a rotating food roster at Nostalgia Wines on Food Truck Fridays all summer.

5. So Many Ways to Wine Tour

Photo courtesy of Equines and Wine.

From traditional small-group van tours to self-guided e-bike tours, there are many unique and creative ways to get from one winery to the next. 

West Kelowna just opened a new bike route along its Westside Wine Trail that links several wineries, including Grizzli Winery, Volcanic Hills Estate Winery and Quails’ Gate. In Naramata, walk the new Aikins Loop and visit a few tasting rooms on foot like family-owned Deep Roots Winery and fruit winery Elephant Island Winery. You can even wine tour by horseback in the Similkameen Valley—Equines and Wine saddles up oenophiles for visits to five Keremeos wineries. 

Walking, cycling and horseback riding are all sustainable ways to wine tour, which is a growing trend in the province. You can even choose which wineries to visit based on their commitment to organic or regenerative farming practices, or a goal of becoming carbon neutral, like Poplar Grove Winery.

“We’re aiming to be carbon-free,” confirms Laura Walkinshaw, tasting room manager at Poplar Grove. 

Not only does this Penticton winery have solar panels that generate power, it offers free charging for electric vehicles, and the winery restaurant partners with area farms to serve up local, seasonal cuisine.

6. Winery Accommodations

Photo Courtesy of Peak Cellars.

After spending the day touring, extend the wine getaway by sleeping in boutique winery digs, from a stunning log home at O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars, to cozy suites that include breakfast like those at Therapy Vineyards in Naramata. 

These unique accommodations can fill up fast, so book well in advance at places like The Villa at Hester Creek, whose mediterranean-style suites come with vineyard views, plush robes and include breakfast on the terrace. 

For a resort feel, Spirit Ridge in Osoyoos—part of Hyatt’s Unbound Collection, and home to Indigenous-owned and operated Nk’Mip Cellars—has traditional guest rooms as well as multi-room condos. After a day of exploring, unwind at the outdoor pool, inside the spa and fitness centre, or over dinner at acclaimed restaurant The Bear, The Fish, The Root & The Berry.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of inns, wineries and events to check out this summer, but now that we’ve given you some inspiration, it’s your turn to start dreaming about your trip to BC wine country.  

For more ideas and to start planning, follow WinesofBC on Instagram or research your trip online.

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By Lisa Kadane – Lisa Kadane is a travel and lifestyle journalist. She lives in Kelowna, BC with her husband, two kids and Brittany spaniel. She writes about everything from heli-skiing to travelling with her son, who has autism, in publications including AFAR, Best Health, Dreamscapes, The Toronto Star, Today’s Parent, Vacations magazine and Postmedia newspapers.

Website: https://www.lisakadane.com/