Best Okanagan Wineries To Visit In the Off-Season
There’s something incredibly cozy about Okanagan wine country when it becomes covered in a whimsical blanket of snow. Many Okanagan wineries are open year-round, hosting festive events and tours during the winter season. And with fewer people visiting in the off-season, there’s a more intimate winery experience for you to discover.
No matter the season, wine flows through the very heart of the Okanagan Valley, which is why we’ve prepared a list of local wineries to cozy up to during your stay this winter.
Hester Creek
Pair a portfolio of decadent wines with a delectable basket of snacks at Hester Creek. If you don’t want to make a reservation, you can stop by for a complimentary wine tasting at the tasting bar. For those that plan ahead and prefer a more private experience, you can reserve a signature tasting offered daily from 11 am and 2:30 pm.
Although their estate tours, patio, and outdoor activities are closed from September to May, visiting their cozy indoor tasting room, bar, and wine shop just once will have you coming back year after year. If you’re planning on stopping at Oliver, BC this winter, we couldn’t recommend Hester Creek enough.
Inniskillin & Jackson-Triggs
As you enter through the gateway to the South Okanagan, stop off and visit two esteemed winemakers in one location! Inniskillin and Jackson-Triggs have joined forces with wines and vineyards that complement each other, giving you a better understanding of what sets their vintage apart. Try Inniskillin’s famed ice wines this winter back-to-back with Jackson-Triggs’ 2004 Grand Reserve Shiraz, which won “Best In World” at London’s International Wine and Spirit Competition.
Black Hills Estate Winery
The Black Hills Estate Winery is located 13 km north of Osoyoos, right in the center of Canada’s only desert region. This makes it one of the sunniest locations in the country, allowing for the most favourable grape-growing conditions around.
The resulting wines are rich with flavour. Tastings are available year-round, but their Tapas Kitchen is closed for the season. Besides daily wine tastings, Black Hills also hosts different events every day of the week, including Wine Down Wednesdays and The Vertical Flight Experience every Friday.
Bordertown Cider & Winery
Bordertown Cider & Winery sits right in the heart of Osoyoos, and their beautiful Mission-style wine tasting room is one of the best you’ll find in the region. Their Malbec 2019, Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Cabernet Franc Reserve 2019, and Cabernet Franc 2019 have all won medals in the 2022 National Wine Awards Of Canada so you can expect a portfolio that is packed with character, flavour, and history.
Expect a warm welcome any day of the week from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Nk’Mip Cellars
Nk’Mip Cellars is the first indigenous-owned winery in North America, proudly bottling their legacy into expertly crafted vintage such as their Dreamcatcher white blend. Don’t miss out on their yearly dinners, including the Winter Solstice Dinner hosted on December 17th and the Sweetheart Dinner they host to celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 11th.
We also recommend reserving a spot now for their Vertical Tasting Series, a limited monthly tasting that they’ll host on January 20th-22nd and February 17th-19th.
Gehringer Brothers
Established in 1985, the Gehringer Brothers pair delicious wines with fantastic service, making them a staple in the Osoyoos community, nestled in the very heart of the Golden Mile among several neighbouring vineyards. They’re open from 10 AM – 4:30 PM on weekdays, and for only $2 extra, we recommend trying their delicious ice wines when you visit this winter – we promise you won’t regret it!
There’s tons more Okanagan wineries around Osoyoos to choose from this winter so we recommend preparing a list of the ones that catch your eye before visiting.
