Discover
Golden Mile Bench WIne Country
Golden Mile Bench Wine region
Wine, delicious food, and sun-soaked trails invite adventure in Canada’s pocket desert.
Perched on the northern edge of the Great Basin Desert, which stretches into the US, winemakers invite you to “uncork the sun” in Canada’s Wine Capital. The Golden Mile Bench is a vibrant hub for south Okanagan wine tasting, home to some of BC’s most acclaimed wineries. Tour celebrated tasting rooms along the Golden Mile and nearby Black Sage Road, where every pour reflects the area’s distinct terroir and generous sunshine.
Whether you’re dining al fresco or exploring benchlands dotted with grasslands, sagebrush, and Ponderosa pines, the adventure doesn’t end with wine. Hike, bike, or ride horseback through the vast trail network, or climb Mount Kobau for panoramic views. This area is also known for its year-round culinary events, including the beloved Half Corked Wine Marathon, a vineyard race where tastings are part of the course.
Moderate
Golden Mile Bench lies one of the warmest and driest parts of British Columbia, receiving more than 2,000 hours of sunshine annually. For vintners, temperature moderation is key to balanced ripening in this sub-region, especially given the low amount of precipitation in this part of the province. While summers are typically hot and dry (this is a pocket desert, after all) cool mornings and breezes from Osoyoos Lake moderate temperature extremes. West-facing vineyards benefit from gentle morning sun and are naturally shielded from the searing heat of late afternoon.
Diverse Soil Mosaic
Golden Mile Bench features a rich and diverse mosaic of soils that contribute to complexity and minerality in the wine. Glacial deposits, sandy loams, gravel, stone, and silt form layered surfaces shaped over millennia by glacial movement, ancient rivers, and volcanic activity. These well-draining soils are ideal to nurture deep root systems and flavour concentration.
WINERIES
Exploring British Columbia’s vineyards reveals the unique terroir & diverse varietals flourishing in this picturesque Canadian province.
North Okanagan Valley
South Okanagan Valley
Central Okanagan Valley
North Okanagan Valley
Central Okanagan Valley
Central Okanagan Valley
North Okanagan Valley
North Okanagan Valley
South Okanagan Valley
EXPLORE
MORE BC WINE REGIONS
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Gulf Islands
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