It’s easy to find wineries in the Okanagan Valley Region when you follow the maroon and white-colored square WINE ROUTE signage, showing a cluster of grapes. These signs are placed along all major roadways to designate nearby wineries. You might also want to consider finding a wine tour company that offers a selection of half-day and full-day guided excursions.

The Okanagan Valley is known for its spectacular vineyards producing fine wines that regularly win national and international wine competitions. Few wine-producing regions in the world can match this region’s combination of mountains, lakes, fresh air and intense sunlight with so many grape varieties.

Just 10 minutes from downtown, over a dozen wineries are located in Kelowna with over 60 in the whole Okanagan Valley region. All wineries offer wine tasting. As well, several wineries have facility tours to teach visitors the art of winemaking. Wine tours can last from 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the winery.

Many wineries have food services available. Gourmet regional cuisine, tapas-style fare or cheese and fruit platters are served either indoors or on protected patios, all with spectacular lake and valley views. Reservations are not required. Tours are open to people of all ages; however children under the age of 19 are not permitted to taste the wine.

The sun-drenched valley surrounding Kelowna is dotted with farm-gate wineries too, where each vintage is lovingly bottled by hand.