Okanagan Valley: The Unsung Wine Region That’s Worth The Journey

The Okanagan Valley, British Columbia is the wine world's best-kept secret. The area is blessed with warm days, cool nights, and the lowest rainfall and humidity of any wine-producing region. The unique latitude and altitude conspire to yield a dramatic viticultural landscape that produces intense and balanced fruit. Furthermore, the region will be 100% organic certified later this year. This would make the Okanagan Valley the region with the highest concentration of certified organic vineyards of any wine-producing region in the world.

Here are wineries that can be added to a wine lovers’ travel bucket-list:

• Mission Hill Family Estate: Mission Hill Family Estate shines as the unexpected crown jewel of the northerly wine region. Enticing guests with its exemplary winery tours, a broad selection of innovative tastings, and culinary programs, the winery proves that it belongs among the ranks of the world's greatest wine destinations. Beyond the vine, Mission Hill offers guests a relaxing and culturally diverse experience with its spectacular architecture and design, an extensive exhibition of French sculpture, and impressive concert series held in an outdoor amphitheater.
• Martin’s Lane Winery: Martin’s Lane Winery is perhaps the most advanced new Pinot Noir winery of its kind in the world. The architecturally stunning 6-level, gravity-fed winery is a bold reflection of the region’s passion, and approach to winemaking. Martin’s Lane Winery uses gravity instead of pumps to produce very limited quantities of the highest-end Pinot Noir and Riesling. With design at the forefront as well, Martin’s Lane Winery (designed by Tom Kundig) has recently received a 2021 American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Architecture Honor Award.
• CedarCreek Estate Winery: CedarCreek operates a working wine farm, with unusual “staff.” With the elimination of pesticides and chemicals, the winery has integrated Scottish Highland cattle, chickens, honeybees, and earthworms into the ecosystem in different ways to contribute to the biodiversity and terroir of the wines produced in the valley. While coyotes and hawks maintain the balance at the vineyards. In unison, the livestock and the wildlife are assisting CedarCreek with its transition to growing and producing Certified Organic grapes and wine.
• Beyond the wines: Any time, any day, any season, Kelowna (the gateway to the Okanagan Valley), offers a world of things to do. Your options are endless, and there`s something for everyone. Visit organic farms as part of the Kelowna self-guided Farm to Table tour. Relax on the beach or hike at one of our beautiful parks. Golf one of the many courses available throughout the valley. Fill the sun-drenched days of summer with paddle boarding or kayaking on Okanagan Lake. Explore the surrounding hillsides and forests by hiking, by bike, or on horseback through our many trails where you can encounter the brilliance of nature just steps from the city and perhaps even some local wildlife.