Wineries of Okanagan Falls

With Okanagan Falls at its heart, vineyards stretch Northwards along the East Bench of Skaha Lake and across the water to Kaleden and then South over rolling hills above Vaseux Lake. Originally named Dogtown, which was derived from the name Dog Lake ("skaha" means "dog" in the Okanagan language), the current name derives from the former small set of the falls that used to lie on the Okanagan River at the outlet of the lake.

The Vineyards of the Okanagan Falls displays the beautiful scenic views thats has made the Okanagan famous.


See -Ya - Later Ranch Winery

See Ya Later Ranch winery is located five Kilometers southwest of Okanagan Falls high on the mountain side sits the historic farm house made of hand-split stones The vineyards' site was settled in the early 1900's by the Hawthorne Brothers, and wine grapes have been growing here since the early 1960's. Hawthorne Mountain Vineyards as it exists today, was incorporated in 1995. The winery was originally opened in 1986 as LeComte Estate Winery. Today it is one of the best known and most popular of the Okanagan Wineries. Read More

Stag’s Hollow Winery Larry Gerelus and Linda Pruegger started with a 10 acre vineyard in 1992 and established their Winery in 1995. Stag’s Hollow Winery is the culmination of a longtime dream. Larry’s interest in the Okanagan started in 1981 with the first sampling of Okanagan wines. In 1991 Larry left the Oil Industry and spent the summer researching prime grape growing areas in the Okanagan. This research led him to the Okanagan Falls area, which was described by one well-known viticulturist at the time, as the “grape growing centre of the universe” for the valley. In 1992 the existing 10-acre vineyard was purchased. Later, in 1995 after its first crush, 

Named winery of the year by Wine Press Northwest 2012. Winner of 2013 BC Lieutenant Governor Award of Excellence. 2016 InterVin International Wine Awards Gold – 2014 Renaissance Syrah

Blue Mountain Vineyard is located next to a bird sanctuary and wilderness area overlooking beautiful Vaseux Lake. The Mavety family produces a limited quantity of superb wines, using traditional winemaking methods. Winemaker Ian Mavety's goal is to produce wines of quality and style that compliment the emerging Northwest Cuisine. Focusing on varietal wines made from Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Chardonnay...


Blue Mountain Vineyards and Cellars

Blue Mountain Vineyards The Mavetys were among the pioneers Okanagan having the fortune to acquire a site where they believed the geographic factors came together better than anywhere else in the valley. Named for the hazy blue mountains that frame the vineyards, the foundations for Blue Mountain were thus established in 1971. Blue Mountain is a true family operation. The winery is worked by Ian's wife Jane, daughter Christie and son Matt.

In 2002 Chris and Evelyn Campbell moved from Vancouver to their new home in Okanagan Falls . It was unproven but established vineyard. They decided to give the winery a name that would pop. Today the winery is extremely well known for its funny labels and quality wines. Blasted Church has grown over tenfold in sales, has become one of the most recognized, and admired wineries in Canada. The winery has won numerous awards including Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in British Columbia Wines, for its 2012 Holy Moly Petit Verdot. Cabernet Merlot 2008 took home the grand prize by winning the red wine of the year at the 2011 All Canadian Wine Champs.

Our wine labels, however, give heartburn to the most discriminating oenophiles. 

Krāzē Legz Vineyard and Winery is a family owned and operated estate winery. Gerry and Susan Thygesen visually differentiated this winery from its peers by adopting a Roaring 1920s theme. Besides their wines the most amazing feature of the winery is its spectacular views from their Kaleden location. The wines, whose labels feature jazz dancers, are branded around the musical terms or the colloquial language of the 1920s. Charleston was the era’s most popular dance. 2014 Lieutenant Governor's Award of  Excellence in BC Wines. Read More


Noble Ridge Vineyards

Noble Ridge, Leslie and Jim D’Andrea purchased their vineyard on Oliver Ranch Road in 2001. The original planting in 1986 included Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay. The winery's name is inspired by the ridge at the top of the property and by the noble varieties that they intended to plant. Won Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in British Columbia Wines 2016 for their sparkling wine. The wine shop is perched at the top of the ridge, with views both of Peach Cliff to the north and Vaseux Lake and McIntyre Bluff to the south.


Meyer Family Vineyard

The Meyer Family Vineyard is owned by JAK Meyer and Janice Meyer-Stevens. They produce wines in traditional French burgundy style focusing on small case lots of varietals best suited and expressive of their unique place of origin with an emphasis on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. James Cluer and Rhys Pender were hired to build their business plan. Also hired was Pierre Levesque to look after the vineyard and the final piece of the puzzle was winemaker Chris Carson. They produce less than 8000 cases.

Meyers wines have twice received the honour of best Chardonnay in Canada at the National Wine Awards which is Canada’s largest and most prestigious wine competition. John Schreiner in his recent blog post! 95 Points ~ Meyer Micro-Cuvée Pinot Noir 2014 “. Decanter magazine nominated their Pinot Noir as one of the best 80 in the world outside of Burgundy.

Liquidity Wines is situated midway between Skaha and Vaseux Lakes upon the "Vaseux Bench", the most narrow region of the Okanagan Valley. The vineyards shares the same road as Blue Mountain and a fence line with Noble Ridge and the Nature Trust of British Columbia. The tasting room and bistro feature sweeping views over rolling vineyards to Vaseux Lake and the mountains beyond. Ian MacDonald is the hands-on manager and creative mind of Liquidity. The vineyards include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Viognier, Merlot, Riesling and Dornfelder.

Liquidity Bistro offers a modern urban take on classic Canadian wine country cuisine with influences from around the Okanagan Valley and Pacific North West.

Top Shelf Winery is the second one to open in Kaleden. Leonard and Myra Kwiatkowski, who operate this winery, have two sons who once played hockey. Joel played 17 years of professional hockey, including 282 games in the National Hockey League, while his older brother, Jason, played seven years in the minor leagues before becoming a pilot. Leonard and Myra dipped into hockey lore for both the winery name and the names of the wines. A top shelf goal is scored when a rising shot goes into the net just below the crossbar.

In 2008 they bought property in Kaleden where a previous owner had once pastured horses. Leonard considered the agricultural potential of the sandy loam soil. After deciding against cherries – he preferred not to climb ladders to harvest fruit – he planted vines in 2010.

Synchromesh Wines, is ‘Everything Working Together’, a reference to the holistic farming approach and natural, no additive winemaking followed here. The Dickinson family which owns this winery has a long interest in motor racing; John Dickinson once raced sports cars, and restoring and collecting classic and performance cars is a passion shared by several members of the family. That is why the family named the winery Synchromesh, referring to the technology that allows the smooth shifting of manual transmissions. 

 In March 2010, Allan and his wife, Amy, moved from Vancouver after buying a two-hectare (five-acre) vineyard on a unique and isolated outflow above Okanagan Falls. The anchor variety was Riesling and the remaining varieties were replanted to additional Riesling and Pinot Noir.

 


Painted Rock

Painted Rock began with John and Trish Skinner's belief that the Okanagan Valley had enormous, largely unrealized, potential. The goal was simple: find the best property and apply the most aggressive mandate for quality. Their extensive search took nearly three years and ended when they found "The Black Hawk", a spectacular 60 acre bench on Skaha Lake in Penticton. In 2004 they purchased what was once "the largest apricot orchard in the British Commonwealth". Their rise to success, guided by winemaker, Alain Sutre  unbelievable! Read more and Painted Rock .

Wild Goose Vineyards, the Kruger family began planning this winery in 1988.The winery regulations at the time required estate wineries to own or manage a minimum of 20 acres. In June of 1990 Adolf, along with the owners of two small vineyards on the Naramata Bench, persuaded the provincial government to create regulations allowing “farmgate” wineries on smaller vineyards. Wild Goose was the first licensed to grow, make wine and bottle on site!  Almost thirty years later they rank among the best wineries in Canada. Wild Goose has grown to one of the largest and most awarded of the Okanagan Falls wineries, including nine Lieutenant Governor’s Awards of Excellence in Winemaking

The Wild Goose Vineyards 2016 Pinot Gris won top honors at the fifth annual Cascadia Wine Competition at the Columbia Gorge Hotel in Hood River, 

 The Smoke & Oak Bistro at Wild Goose Winery is celebrating its third year with a new chef, new menu and extended hours. The Bistro takes guests on a culinary trip around the world with a menu inspired by the heat of South America and the smoke flavours of the Southern USA . Vine trunks and oak staves are used to smoke our meats in an authentic competition worthy smoker, imported directly from Tennessee. Read More

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Kaleden is a small historic, and modern rural satellite community located south of Penticton in the Okanagan Valley in the province of British Columbia, Canada. The community of 4.32 kilometres (2.68 mi), with its population of about 1,300. The community is known for its stunning views of Skaha Lake.

An interesting nearby stop is at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory a research facility and located southwest of Okanagan Falls with their radio dishes pointing into space .  A popular summer spot is always the Tickleberry's Ice Cream.  

Skaha Lake, historically known as Dog Lake and originally Lac Du Chien, is a  freshwater lake located along the course of the Okanagan River in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. It has a surface area of approximately 20 km², with a maximum depth of 55 metres. The lake is situated directly south of Okanagan Lake and forms the southern shoreline and boundary of the city of Penticton, British Columbia. The community of Okanagan Falls is located at its southern end, the community of Kaleden lies in the upland area to its west.

See all the wineries near Okanagan Falls and Skaha Lake

Where to stay ~ Where to Dine ~ Weddings in the Vineyard

 

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