While many CMH guests start their summer tour in Banff, some choose to link up their journey with a stay in British Columbia’s beautiful Okanagan Valley Wine Country.
It’s a great option for self-drive visitors who aren’t riding the CMH coach en route to their CMH Summer Adventure.
With more last-minute availability and greater destination flexibility during the summer high season, the Okanagan Valley region is an undiscovered gem for oenophiles, for sun worshipers and for those who would rather choose the less crowded self-drive route to or from our summer lodges.
What is there to do in the Okanagan Valley?
Flying into Kelowna International Airport (KLW), travellers can head south to explore Canada’s premier grape-growing region through winery tours and tastings as well as accommodation en route at luxury spas such as Sparkling Hill Resort, off-season ski resorts such as Sun Peaks or in a cottage on one of the region’s 50-plus lakes.
The region is also a hub of cycling potential, featuring the Kettle Valley Trail, an iconic and historical 500-kilometre rails-to-trails bikepacking route.
With a sunny high-desert climate that is warmer than California’s Napa Valley—and distinctive in tasting circles for longer summer sunlight but cool, Canadian nights—the Okanagan Valley has produced wines consistently ranking among the world’s best. The lakeside region is also a hot bed for microbreweries and microdistilleries with many offering educational tours and tastings—but with so many tasting options, you might get a bit waylaid for a few days.
Many of the wines stocked at our CMH lodges are produced in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. For our guests, a tasting trip or winery tour at the source is an exciting way to deepen the CMH Summer Adventures experience. To get a few suggestions we reached out to CMH’s tasting and buying expert, Martin Whithey, a WSET Level 3-rated Advanced Sommelier. Below are a few suggestions on building a tasting tour itinerary in Canada’s best viticultural region and one that also has a thriving brewing and distilling scene.
The CMH recommended wine tour list
North Okanagan-Kelowna area
Tantalus Vineyards, Kelowna, BC
With vineyards featuring some of Canada’s oldest plantings, Tantalus is a highly authentic producer of terroir-driven Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. First planted in 1927 as Pioneer Vineyards, the operation carries forward the tradition as one of the founding vineyards of BC’s thriving wine industry.
In 2010, Tantalus built a groundbreaking facility, which earned the distinction of becoming BC’s first LEED-certified winery. Tantalus wine labels feature the meticulous artwork of renowned Tlingit carver Dempsy Bob, an Officer of the Order of Canada, whose work is displayed in the UBC Museum of Anthropology, the Audain Gallery, the Vancouver Art Gallery, the National Gallery of Canada and the Smithsonian. The tasting room also features a flagship collection of his works.
Cedar Creek Vineyards, Kelowna, BC
An award-winning winery in the North Okanagan, Cedar Creek is famous for vibrant, dynamic and aromatic cool-climate wines crafted from the distinctive growing subregion at the north end of the lake. With four decades of viticultural history, Cedar Creek is a pure expression of the North Okanagan in taste, terroir and texture. In addition to five-star lake views, the winery and tasing rooms complex also features Scottish Highland cows and the locavore-focused Home Block restaurant, with ingredients sourced from their own gardens as well as local farmers, foragers, and ranchers.
in Napa. | Image by Destination BC/Tanya Gohering.
Mission Hill, Kelowna, BC
Eight tasting experiences, a summer concert series and a visionary founder’s expression of a majestic valley resting on the threshold of being an economic giant—nothing about Mission Hill is small in scope or scale. Yet the wine itself is the biggest draw, with Mission Hill being Canada’s only five-time winner of winery of the year. It, of course, also offers world-class hospitality and creates a broad diversity of wines using organic and regenerative practices from its expansive vineyards.
Blue Mountain Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, BC
Established by the Mavety family in 1971, this three-generational family operation specializes in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Traditionnelle Methode sparkling wine, complex varietals that evoke the winemaking culture of the Champagne, Burgundy and Alsace regions of France. With a sister and brother tandem of winegrower and winemaker now at the helm, Blue Mountain Vineyard is a truly authentic original that helped build the winemaking culture in the Okanagan. Situated in an idyllic 31-hectacre location, the Blue Mountain property overlooks Vaseux Lake and is just minutes away from the Vaseux Lake Bird Sanctuary.
South Okanagan – Oliver Area
District Wine Village, Oliver, BC
Not to be skipped, this one-of-a-kind wine tasting hub combines an inviting community vibe with thirteen small but mighty wineries from the South Okanagan region. Founded to feature artisan production and craftsmanship, it also hosts a brewery, eatery and distillery in addition to vast tasting opportunities in one central location. In addition, it also hosts farmer’s markets, community events and a summer concert series in its 610-person amphitheater.
Hester Creek, Oliver, BC
Originally planted in 1968, Hester Creek is another foundational vineyard in the Okanagan wine landscape. Family-owned and community first, the longstanding winery traces its Italian roots to a Tuscan-themed winemaking tradition. The operation sits within the Golden Mile Bench, the Okanagan Valley’s first official sub-geographical-indication, which consists of four creeks each with their own alluvial fan. A destination winery, Hester Creek offers on-site accommodations and an Italian-inspired restaurant.
Church and State, Oliver, BC
Magnificent, modern and elegant, the Church and State experience offers a panoramic view of their 35-hectacre Coyote Bowl vineyard. Originally founded as an estate winery on Vancouver Island, they doubled their winemaking footprint in 2011 with an expansion east to the Oliver area. World-class and award-winning are two of the consistent adjectives that apply to Church and State selection of ultra-modern-themed wines including Syrah, Cabernet, Pinot Gris and a signature Bordeaux blend.
Phantom Creek Estates, Oliver, BC
An ultimate example of winery extravagance, the $100M private investment into Phantom Creek has created a super-premium example of oenophile luxury that for some must be seen to be believed. Yet beyond a chef who worked at three different Michelin-starred restaurants, a 500-seat amphitheatre and an estate center-pieced by an ornate Chihuly sculpture, the three-tiered tasting experiences at Phantom Creek are all highly recommended by CMH’s resident wine expert. The winery brought in a legendary Alsatian winemaker, built a state of the art winemaking operation and committed to biodynamic principles, resulting in the excellence you would expect from such a significant investment.
Further afield wine tour options
Courcelettes Estates Winery, Keromeos, BC
Ranked as one of the top ten small wineries in Canada, this Similkameen Valley winery is a bit further afield and more off the beaten wine tour path, based in a rugged magical valley that was once Canadian wine’s best kept secret. While much of the Okanagan experienced two destructive arctic outflow events in 2022 and 2024, the resilient Courcelettes Estates Winery is currently undergoing an extensive replant with a commitment to return to its exceptional vintage reputation.
Moon Curser Vineyards, Osoyoos, BC
Bucking tradition, this East Bench boutique, family-owned winery hones its craft while focusing on grape varieties such as Tannat, Colcetto, Tempranillo and Touriga Nacional that are rare in the region. Awarded recognition as the top best performing small wintery in Canada in 2019, Moon Curser Vineyards has also attained a second overall rank in the top 25 wineries in Canada. After the tastings, Osoyoos is known for its hot summer climate and cooling lakeside access.
Okanagan activities, sights & lodging
Kettle Valley Rail Trail – The Naramata Bench
For roadies, e-bikers or bikepackers, the 500-kilometre Kettle Valley Rail Trail (KVT) and its spurs are an extensive rails-to-trails conversion through some of the most stunningly scenic bike route terrain in North America. Featuring iconic trestles and tunnels, the 650-kilometre network converted from historic railway grades is an inspiring and rewarding tour through former mining towns, small BC communities and stunning mountain terrain.
If the full weeklong KVT bikepack from Hope to Christina Lake is too much to tackle, we suggest the more leisurely, half-day 20-kilometre pedal on the Naramata Bench section that winds through the heart of BC’s lakeside wine country. Many local bike outfitters, including Hoodoo Adventures in Penticton, will rent you bikes and shuttle you to-and-from the trailheads.
Chute Lake Lodge
Located in the hills above Naramata south of Kelowna, Chute Lake Lodge is an elevated base camp experience that serves up adventure and relaxation. A combination of lodge rooms, log cabins, traditional yurts and glamping wall tents provide elevated rustic character without the rough, grit or grind.
Sparkling Hill Resort
At the other end of the lake and on the other side of the spectrum, Sparkling Hill evokes the feel of a high-end wellness retreat you’d find in Europe. The largest luxury spa in BC, the destination wellness resort is marked by its Swarovski-crystal architecture and an extravagant but relaxing feel. Overlooking Okanagan Lake, the 40,000-foot spa-and-stay facility is complete with steams, themed saunas, endless treatments, an outdoor infinity pool and a cryo cold chamber.
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