Last Updated on September 18, 2023.
Whether it’s to feel Canada’s Warmest Welcome or you want to see exactly where Canada’s Wine Capital is, visiting the southern Okanagan Valley means spending time in Osoyoos and Oliver respectively. Each of these small communities has its own lake and abundance of seasonal outdoor activities, but what makes the region truly special is that it’s home to more than 40 wineries (truth). Even some of the most dedicated wine adventurers might not know this region exists, but that’s starting to change.
Long before Europeans ‘discovered’ the area, Osoyoos and Oliver were home to the Syilx Indigenous peoples. Osoyoos translated is sẁiẁs (pronounced soo-yoos) and means ‘narrowing of the waters’ in the Okanagan language of Syilx’tsn. It’s also where you can find Canada’s first Indigenous-owned and operated winery, Nk’Mip Cellars (pronounced inn-ka-meep). Here you’ll find road signs in both English and Syilx. The provincial government has also renamed Haynes Point Provincial Park to its original place name of Sẁiẁs Provincial Park, and McIntyre Bluff is in the process of being renamed its original place name of nʕaylintn. When we explore Oliver and Osoyoos wine country, it’s on Syilx lands we travel. Their roots here run deepest.
Scroll down to learn about specific wineries, hotels, restaurants and other activities to explore in the Oliver & Osoyoos areas. You can also browse some beautiful lake-side hotels we recommend in the region right here.
Osoyoos and Oliver are in the southern part of British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, accessible by Highway 97 (extending through Washington state) and a scenic 120km / 75mi drive from Kelowna where there’s an international airport for arrivals from Seattle, Spokane, and larger centers in the US and Canada. Penticton, a 60km / 39mi drive from Osoyoos, has a regional airport with daily flights to/from Vancouver and Calgary that will tempt you to extend your visit to Canada by just a few days. Because we’re nice like that.
If you’re traveling by road be sure to check provincial resources like DriveBC.com for traffic news and weather updates. Check the current best flight deals into the area right here. We recommend renting a car once you arrive in Vancouver or Calgary, since this is the most beautiful way to experience the natural beauty of British Columbia.
Once you’ve arrived in the region and have checked into your hotel, we highly recommend arranging a privately guided tour of the region hosted by a local. Sagebush Tours lets you schedule a day trip in advance, and they allow you to customize your itinerary so that it includes sights and wineries important to you, with local input from them.
Alternatively, consider booking an Oliver & Osoyoos wine tour that includes visits to 4 of the region’s best wineries, led by a councilman of Osoyoos! Hotel pickup and drop-off are provided.
This is the best way to experience Canada’s Wine Capital without having to worry about driving while enjoying the fruits of the land. If you’d prefer to do a self-guided tour, read on as we discuss some of our favorite wineries to visit in the region.
In Osoyoos for their signature blend ‘Afraid of the Dark’ (Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne), Carménère (indeed), Dolcetto (truth), Malbec (you got it), plus much more of the like.
Off Black Sage Road south of Oliver to fall in love again with Semillon (ask winemaker Michael why it’s one of his favorite grapes and settle in for a long story), Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Rosé (grab what you can).
On the Golden Mile Bench south of Oliver and drink like a local because it’s our secret go-to for Rosé (while it lasts), Ehrenfelser (fact), and Optimum Series Pinot Gris or Pinot Noir.
In Oliver for the Pinot Gris, Malbec Rosé (also while it lasts), Cabernet Franc, and magnificent red blend Corner Stone
Between Osoyoos and Oliver for the sparkling Ella, red blend Rubicon, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc.
On the Golden Mile Bench in Oliver because Don Triggs is one of the wine visionaries in the province and this is his swan song so try everything you can but take note of the Decora (Riesling), Unicus (Grüner Veltliner, I’m serious), Saignée (a most delicate and intense rosé), Chardonnay, and red blend Hypothesis.
On the Golden Mile Bench south of Oliver and try one of the only Trebbianos in Canada (rumor is the vines were smuggled here by the original property owner), Pinot Blanc, Reserve Cabernet Franc, a co-fermented Syrah Viognier (as it should be), and a signature red blend called The Judge named after one of the area’s largest early-settler property holders, Judge Haynes, whose ranch you can see the crumbling remnants of on Black Sage Road (it’s now a protected site).
Hester Creek also features Terrafina, a Tuscan-inspired restaurant that serves seasonal dishes made with local ingredients.
Just south of Oliver for the most adorable wine experience you can imagine with some seriously heavy-hitting wines like the Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Gamay Noir (join team #gogamaygo), Petit Claret (your new fave, trust me), and red blends Hidden Corner or Ouest.
On the edge of Osoyoos, Canada’s first winery owned and operated by First Nations (the Osoyoos Indian Band) and known for so many tasty offers but particularly the Qwam Qwmt series (pronounced kw-em kw-empt) including a Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Syrah.
This winery is home to the Patio Restaurant, which offers a menu inspired by Indigenous cuisine and pairs it with their award-winning wines.
North of Oliver next to that high elevation McIntyre Bluff, for organic farming practices and a true farm experience (they have Barbados blackbelly sheep and Highland cattle) and be sure to find their Roussanne Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon, Pinot Blanc, red blend Amicitia (pronounced ah-mee-cha-tia), and Grand Reserves when available.
By appointment, and for serious collectors
In Osoyoos, almost at the US border, for a garagiste winery experience, tastings in a Quonset hut / cellar or on the crush pad and be sure to buy several of whatever you fall in love with because it will be gone in a flash – the entire portfolio consists of a Viognier, Carménère, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a ridiculously remarkable red blend named after the vintage (Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, etc)
On the Golden Mile Bench just west of Oliver for serious wines in a most unexpected place; try everything you can and take note of the Sauvignon Blanc (it can age), Cabernet Franc or Sauvignon if still available, Two Hoots (a cab/merlot blend), and the Premier Series including The Bear (a giant of a red blend) plus the Iconoclast (a four-barrel run of special Cabernet Sauvignon) and even a Grüner Veltliner (yes, another one – we’re beyond excited around here).
Meaning “old pine”, on the Black Sage Road outside of Oliver, a study in elegance and attention to detail; book a tasting in advance and be guided through the portfolio to fully enjoy yourself; make note of the Vaîla Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Ava (blend of Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne that’s named after winemaker Severine’s daughter) Chardonnay (take home as much as you can), Syrah (the Cuvée Violette, Cuvée Classique, and Equinoxe), and Cabernet Franc but the entire portfolio truly sings in Sev’s hands.
For a true deli experience in the Oliver industrial park (yes it actually has one), owned and operated by nice people who believe that ‘connecting people through food creates a better community (the sandwiches will absolutely slay you).
Food truck / seasonal joint just on the town line south of Oliver, for authentic and delicious Mexican foods (you might not get what you order but you’ll be too happy to care).
In Osoyoos, because it’s a local institution with a lovely BC wine list and if you order well you’ll have delicious leftovers.
537 Tinhorn Creek Rd, Oliver, BC V0H 1T0, Canada
887 Rd 8, Oliver, BC V0H 1T0, Canada
500 Burrowing Owl Pl, Oliver, BC V0H 1T1, Canada
1400 Rancher Creek Rd, Osoyoos, BC V0H 1V4, Canada
Hester Creek Estate Winery hotel, nestled in the heart of British Columbia’s picturesque Okanagan Valley, offers guests a tranquil retreat amidst lush vineyards and rolling hills. This charming boutique hotel features elegantly designed rooms with modern amenities, ensuring a comfortable and memorable stay. Guests can indulge in an exquisite farm-to-table dining experience, savor award-winning wines at the on-site tasting room, and participate in exclusive winery tours and events.
Burrowing Owl Winery hotel, situated in the idyllic Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country of British Columbia, offers its guests an unparalleled escape into a world of luxury and viticulture. This sophisticated boutique hotel boasts lavish accommodations, complete with modern amenities and stunning vineyard views, ensuring a restful and unforgettable stay. Guests can treat their taste buds to delectable gourmet cuisine at the on-site restaurant, sample exquisite wines at the tasting room, and explore the property on guided vineyard tours. For those seeking relaxation and rejuvenation, the hotel also features a delightful pool and spa area.
Spirit Ridge Lake Resort by Hyatt, set against the captivating backdrop of Osoyoos Lake and the South Okanagan desert, offers a unique and immersive retreat in the heart of Nk’Mip Cellars, British Columbia’s premier Indigenous-owned winery. This luxurious resort features spacious accommodations with contemporary amenities and breathtaking views, ensuring a relaxing and memorable stay. Guests can indulge in mouthwatering dining options, partake in wine tastings at Nk’Mip Cellars, and enjoy an array of recreational activities, including golfing and rejuvenating spa treatments. As a destination that celebrates the rich Indigenous culture, Spirit Ridge Lake Resort by Hyatt provides an unparalleled experience for guests seeking a fusion of wine, culture, and relaxation in the enchanting landscape of Canada’s wine country.
European settlers arrived in the south Okanagan in the early 1800s and brought with them ground crop agriculture and ranches. Today’s orchard and vineyard landscape didn’t manifest until the 1920s, after an irrigation channel helped ensure access to water in this arid and desert-like climate. What we see now is the direct result of a century of trial and error and only truly began in earnest commercially in the 1990s. Hybrid grapes were the norm until the North American Free Trade Agreement came into effect and Canada realized it would need to take itself a little more seriously to compete on quality. Farmers ripped out hybrids from their vineyards by the acre, some savvy enough to participate in a government replanting initiative to focus on vinifera while others left plots fallow. Driving along the Black Sage Bench or Golden Mile today, it’s hard to imagine anything but the postcard-worthy vineyards that stretch for miles.
Along the east of the valley is the Black Sage Bench, an unofficial sub-region but one recognized by growers for its unique offer. Stretching from Oliver down to the north end of Osoyoos Lake, this bench is known for enormous sand deposits; at times hundreds of feet deep, they date back millennia to the glacial age when this was truly a bench in a large glacial lake. The south and west-facing vineyards get hours of sunlight well into late day and an enormous granite rock face holds heat long through the night. The north end is an active floodplain with alluvial fans and terraces, and soils along the bench are composed primarily of glaciaofluvial materials underpinned by granite bedrock.
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To the west of the valley is the Golden Mile Bench, the province’s first official sub-gi (geographical indication). It was established in 2015 by the efforts of a dedicated group wanting to show definitively why their region was truly exceptional. The Golden Mile Bench is determined by landform, landscape position (aspect, elevation), mesoclimate, air drainage, and soil materials. Only nine wineries qualify to use the designation, and the process wasn’t without controversy. Still, rigor and science prevailed and set the tone for subsequent regions seeking official designation elsewhere in the province.
Oliver and Osoyoos are where up to half of the grapes are grown in the Okanagan Valley. It’s the northernmost point of the Great Basin Desert and one of the hottest areas in Canada, where average summer temperatures reach 35C / 95F during the day and exceeding 100F is not uncommon. Extremely low precipitation levels means the area relies on irrigation and although vineyards hold more ground there is still a healthy representation of orchards to keep agriculture somewhat diverse. Osoyoos Lake works to moderate and provides reflective qualities, lengthening ripening times so grapes can reach good sugar levels (brix) and develop complex phenolics.
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Overall, the Oliver and Osoyoos area has +40 wineries to explore. Give yourself plenty of time, because even the most seasoned wine pros would have difficulty visiting every winery in a week. Your adventures can take you from the US border wherein one vineyard your mobile phone won’t know whether to join a US or Canadian network, to the magnificent basalt-faced McIntyre Bluff north of Oliver that holds many first nations legends and is large enough to impact local weather patterns. Serious geography.
Grab a map of Oliver and Osoyoos wine country[1], make a list, and choose a starting point. Then take an unexpected detour because that’s where the best adventures are found. Happy exploring.
[1] http://www.oliverosoyoos.com
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