British Columbia's Okanagan Naramata Bench wine regions

The Naramata Bench is a major wine region in the Okanagan. If you are arriving from the south it is the first wine region along Okanagan Lake on the east side of the lake (the main highway runs along the west side). There is only one way in and one way out, you must go through the city of Penticton to reach the bench. Thirty-two wineries (as of April 2013) call Naramata Bench their home.

The rolling hills and variable soil types result in unique microclimates that can be matched to the right varieties by experienced fruit growers. The eastern side of Lake Okanagan basks in warm sunny days resulting in a super long growing season. The moderating effects of the lake and gentle slopes minimize the incidence of frost and enable fruit-harvests at optimum maturity.

Okanagan Lake tempers the climate, meaning no vine-killing winter temperatures, few late spring frosts and a very long autumn that brings grapes to optimal ripeness. Merlot and other Bordeaux reds grow well here, along with elegant Pinot Noir, peppery Syrah, full-flavoured Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Viognier.

Hillside Estate Winery began planting their vineyards here in 1984 and is (was at one time) the only BC winery to produce Muscat Ottonel, a truly unique and unusual aromatic white wine.

~ 1 Mill Road
~ Aasha Wines
~ Aces Wine Group
~ Black Cloud Winery
~ Black Widow Winery
~ Carson Pinot Co
~ Chain Reaction
~ Coolshanagh Wines
~ D'Angelo Winery
~ Deep Roots
~ Elephant Island
~ Forgotten Hill wine co
~ Four Shadows Vineyard
~ Fox and Archer Winery
~ Foxtrot Winery
~ Hillside Estate
~ Howling Bluff Estate Wines
~ Joiefarm Vineyards
~ Kettle Valley Winery
~ La Frenz Winery
~ Lake Breeze Vineyards
~ Lang Vineyards
~ Laughing Stock Vineyards
~ Little Engine Wines
~ Maple Leaf Spirits
~ Marichel Vineyards
~ Misconduct Wine Company
~ Mistral Estate Winery
~ Moraine Estate
~ Nichol Vineyard and Estate Winery
~ Origin Wines
~ Poplar Grove Winery
~ Red Rooster Winery
~ Ruby Tuesday Winery
~ Roche Wines
~ Singletree
~ Serendipity Winery
~ Soaring Eagle Estate Winery
~ Stone Estate Winery
~ Synergy Winery
~ Terravista Vineyards
~ Tightrope
~ Township 7 Winery
~ Therapy Vineyards
~ Upper Bench Vineyards
~ Wesbert
~ Van Westen Vineyards

Wines of the Okanagan