Lifestyle
Kelowna Wineries and Wine Tours
Facts checked · How we check facts
In this guide:
The best wineries in Kelowna are Quails' Gate, Mission Hill, CedarCreek and Summerhill Pyramid, with Gray Monk the top pick in Lake Country. Tourism Kelowna counts more than 40 wineries within a short drive of the city. They sit in three main clusters: the Lakeshore Wine Route in southeast Kelowna, the Westside Wine Trail in West Kelowna and the Scenic Sip route in Lake Country. This guide covers the wineries worth visiting in each area, which ones suit beginners, where to eat, what tastings cost, when to go and how to get around without driving. Hours, prices and booking rules change by season, so check each winery's site before you head out.
Best Wineries in Kelowna
The best wineries in Kelowna pair good wine with a great setting and an easy visit. If you only have one day, pick one area and stay there. Wineries are often 10 to 30 minutes apart by car, and Tourism Kelowna suggests two to four stops a day, with three being ideal.
Quails' Gate Estate Winery
A Stewart family winery (quailsgate.com) at 3303 Boucherie Road in West Kelowna, founded in 1989 on land the family first planted with vines in 1961. It has lake views and Old Vines Restaurant on site. Classic tastings start at $20, and walk-in Big Reds tastings are first come, first served.
Mission Hill Family Estate
A hilltop estate (missionhillwinery.com) at 1730 Mission Hill Road in West Kelowna, known for its 12-storey bell tower and courtyard designed by Olson Kundig. Visits are by reservation or membership, and all tastings are 19+. The Terrace Restaurant is seasonal.
CedarCreek Estate Winery
One of BC's early wineries (cedarcreek.bc.ca), at 5445 Lakeshore Road in southeast Kelowna. It farms organically and focuses on cool-climate wines like Pinot Noir. Tastings are booked online, and Home Block Restaurant serves lunch and dinner.
Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Tourism Kelowna calls it Canada's largest certified organic and biodynamic winery (summerhill.bc.ca). It's at 4870 Chute Lake Road, with a pyramid cellar used for aging wine and Nature's Table restaurant. Wine shop tastings are drop-in, with no reservation needed.
Gray Monk Estate Winery
A Lake Country winery (graymonk.com) at 1055 Camp Road, founded in 1972 by George and Trudy Heiss, who planted Canada's first Pinot Gris. It makes Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Noir, and The Lookout Restaurant is on site.
Kelowna Wine Tours
On a Kelowna wine tour, a driver takes you between wineries, so nobody in your group has to stay sober. Most tours pick you up from your hotel or home, visit three to five wineries and include tasting fees in the price. Local operators include BARE Wine Tours, Canadian Craft Tours and Lakeside Eco-Sports, which runs e-bike tours from downtown.
Tourism Kelowna's Visitor Centre keeps a list of local operators and can help you book. For prices, pickup areas and how to choose a tour, see the full guide to Kelowna wine tours. If you plan your own day, book a driver, taxi or e-bike first and stick to one area.
Lakeshore Wine Route (Southeast Kelowna)
The Lakeshore Wine Route is the cluster of wineries along the shore of Okanagan Lake in southeast Kelowna. Tourism Kelowna says it has some of the valley's oldest vines and most established vineyards. The list below adds two nearby wineries that pair well with a route day.
CedarCreek Estate Winery
At 5445 Lakeshore Road, with lake views and Home Block Restaurant. Tastings range from a signature Taste of Terroir flight to a Pinot Noir comparison. Book through the winery's site.
Summerhill Pyramid Winery
At 4870 Chute Lake Road, farming organically since the Cipes family bought the vineyard in 1986. Drop-in tastings cost $15 to $25, and a Pyramid visit and tasting tour is $40. Nature's Table restaurant has lake views.
Tantalus Vineyards
At 1670 DeHart Road (tantalus.ca). Tourism Kelowna calls it the oldest continuously producing vineyard in BC, and the site was first planted in 1927. It makes several Rieslings, and the LEED-certified tasting room doubles as an art gallery. There's no restaurant, and tastings can be booked online.
The View Winery
At 2287 Ward Road in Kelowna (theviewwinery.com), in a 1920s apple packing house that overlooks the city and lake. The family also makes Wards Cider, a nod to its orchard past. Walk-in tastings run seven days a week, and it's dog friendly.
St. Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery
On Lakeshore Road near the other route stops. All its wines are estate grown on the South Kelowna Slopes. There's no restaurant, but the tasting room is relaxed.
Westside Wine Trail (West Kelowna)
The Westside Wine Trail is the group of wineries in West Kelowna, across the William R. Bennett Bridge from downtown. Tourism Kelowna counts 16 wineries on the Westside, the largest cluster in the Central Okanagan. Many sit along Boucherie Road, so you can visit several with little driving.
Quails' Gate Estate Winery
At 3303 Boucherie Road, with lake views and Old Vines Restaurant. Options include $20 to $35 classic tastings, a $40 estate walking tour and a $50 wine and cheese tasting. Book tours ahead, and note that walking tours don't allow kids under 12 or pets.
Mission Hill Family Estate
At 1730 Mission Hill Road. A seated Seasonal Tasting costs $40, and the 90-minute Estate Experience costs $80. Visits are for members or by reservation, though same-day bookings are taken when there's room.
Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery
At 829 Douglas Road (mtboucherie.com), named after the extinct volcano in West Kelowna. The tasting room is open daily year-round, and The Modest Butcher, its farm-to-table kitchen and market, is on site.
Grizzli Winery
At 2550 Boucherie Road (grizzliwinery.com). The award-winning building houses an art gallery, and 31 Charkay restaurant overlooks the vineyard. It's family and pet friendly and open year-round.
The Hatch
At 3225 Boucherie Road (thehatchwines.com), a playful tasting room that mixes wine, art and humour. A five-wine flight costs $20, and booking ahead is recommended. A food truck serves lunch Wednesday to Sunday.
Off the Grid Organic Winery
At 3623 Glencoe Road, a family-run certified organic winery with a straw-bale tasting room powered by solar. A seasonal food truck serves local food. It's closed Mondays and Tuesdays in summer.
Lake Country Wineries (Scenic Sip)
Lake Country's wineries are grouped on a route called the Scenic Sip, in the district just north of Kelowna. It has fewer stops than the Westside, so a day here feels slower. Several of the wineries have restaurants, which makes it easy to build a lunch stop into the trip.
Gray Monk Estate Winery
At 1055 Camp Road, making wine since 1972 and known for Pinot Gris. The Lookout Restaurant serves meals with lake views, and Sunday brunch runs in July and August. The winery also hosts paired tastings and events through the year.
50th Parallel Estate
At 17101 Terrace View Road (50thparallel.com), specializing in Pinot Noir and aromatic wines. BLOCK ONE Restaurant cooks with regional, seasonal ingredients. Book tastings through the winery's site.
Ex Nihilo Vineyards
At 1525 Camp Road (exnihilovineyards.com), making Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and rosé. The tasting room is open daily, reservations are recommended and walk-ins are welcome if there's space. Chaos Bistro runs a dinner series rather than regular service.
Wineries for Beginners
The best wineries for beginners have drop-in tastings, low fees and staff who explain the wines without jargon. You don't need to know anything about wine to enjoy a tasting. Start with lighter wines and work toward reds, use the spit bucket if you want to and drink water between pours.
Summerhill Pyramid Winery
The easiest first stop in southeast Kelowna. Drop-in white and red flights cost $15 to $25, and there's no need to reserve. The $40 Pyramid tour takes you inside the pyramid cellar.
The Hatch
A casual, humorous tasting room in West Kelowna that doesn't take wine too seriously. The five-wine flight is $20. Staff tell stories as they pour, which helps first-timers unsure of tasting etiquette.
Quails' Gate Estate Winery
The Classic Tasting is four wines in about 30 minutes, from $20. It's a simple way to learn what Okanagan Pinot Noir and whites taste like. Add lunch at Old Vines if you want to make a day of it.
The View Winery
Walk-in tastings seven days a week in a relaxed room in Kelowna. You can try ciders as well as wine. It's a good stop for groups where not everyone loves wine.
Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery
Open daily year-round, so it works for off-season visits. Its wines come in five tiers, which makes it easy to compare price points. Grab food at The Modest Butcher after you taste.
Wineries with Restaurants
A winery with a restaurant lets you pair a tasting with lunch or dinner without moving the car. Book a table in summer, since winery patios fill up fast. Some winery restaurants close for part of the off-season, so check hours first.
Old Vines Restaurant at Quails' Gate
On the Quails' Gate grounds in West Kelowna. Book through the winery's site.
Home Block Restaurant at CedarCreek
In southeast Kelowna, serving lunch and dinner. Reservations are taken on OpenTable.
Nature's Table at Summerhill
In southeast Kelowna, with lake views. It's open select days, so book on OpenTable.
The Terrace at Mission Hill
Mission Hill's outdoor restaurant in West Kelowna. It's seasonal, so check whether it's open before you plan a meal there.
31 Charkay at Grizzli Winery
In West Kelowna, serving contemporary Canadian food with views of the vineyard. Grizzli is open year-round.
The Modest Butcher at Mt. Boucherie
A farm-to-table kitchen and market at the West Kelowna winery.
The Lookout at Gray Monk
In Lake Country, above the lake. Sunday brunch runs in July and August.
BLOCK ONE at 50th Parallel
In Lake Country, cooking with regional and seasonal ingredients.
How Much Do Wine Tastings Cost in Kelowna?
A standard wine tasting in Kelowna costs about $15 to $40 per person, based on prices listed on winery sites. Summerhill's drop-in flights are $15 to $25, The Hatch charges $20 for five wines, Quails' Gate's Classic Tasting is $20 or $35, and Mission Hill's seated Seasonal Tasting is $40. Guided and premium experiences cost more.
Quails' Gate's walking tours run $40 to $75, Mission Hill's Estate Experience is $80, and its Oculus vertical tasting is $150. Tourism Kelowna notes that some wineries waive the fee if you buy a bottle, but that isn't guaranteed. Wine club members often taste for free or at a discount.
If you take a guided tour, tasting fees are usually part of the ticket price. These prices change, so check the winery's booking page before you go.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Kelowna Wineries?
The best time to visit Kelowna wineries is late spring or early fall, when everything is open and crowds are thinner than in July and August. You can tour wineries year-round, but hours vary by season. Here's what each season looks like, based on Tourism Kelowna's touring guide.
Spring
Quieter tasting rooms and new releases. The Okanagan Spring Wine Festival, run by the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society, kicks off the season with winery events and the BC Wine Awards.
Summer
Longer hours and lots of outdoor tastings, but it's the busiest time. Mission Hill takes visitors by reservation, and Tourism Kelowna recommends booking ahead at other wineries too, especially on weekends.
Fall
Harvest activity and fewer crowds. The Okanagan Fall Wine Festival runs from late September to early October, with harvest events across the valley. Popular events sell out, so buy tickets early.
Winter
A slower pace and more personal tastings. Some winery restaurants close for the season, while others, like Grizzli and Mt. Boucherie, stay open year-round.
Getting Around (Don't Drive)
The safe way to get around Kelowna's wineries is to leave the driving to someone else. Tasting pours add up over three or four stops, and even small sips count. Your easiest options are a guided tour, a taxi or Uber, which has operated in Kelowna since 2023, or an e-bike tour.
If your group drives, pick a designated driver before you leave. Plan your route by area, since the Westside is across the William R. Bennett Bridge from southeast Kelowna and Lake Country is north of the city.
Book tours early in summer and arrange your ride home before your first tasting.
Tasting Tips: Bring water, eat lunch and keep it to three or four wineries in a day. Spit buckets are there for a reason, and nobody minds if you use them. Mission Hill's tastings are 19+, and Quails' Gate's walking tours don't allow kids under 12 or pets, so check before you bring them.