Stretching from the Canadian Rockies in the north down to the U.S. border in the south, B.C.’s Thompson Okanagan (TO) region offers verdant vineyards, clear lakes and mountain peaks. The destination is also home to more than 180 different wineries. In fact, the town of Oliver, B.C., located at TO’s southern end, produces more than 50 per cent of all of B.C.’s wine grapes and is considered the wine capital of Canada.
With so many wineries to choose from, a day of tasting is fun and largely accessible in the TO — many wineries welcome walk-ins for tastings with no reservation required. But there are a few tasting experiences that are worth pre-booking and making a special trip for.
Tasting at Martin’s Lane Winery
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The wine at Martin’s Lane, especially the pinot noir, is exceptional, but a large part of the appeal of a tour here is to see the stunning architecture. Located on the northern side of Okanagan Lake, about 20 minutes from downtown Kelowna, Martin’s Lane is the sister property to Cedar Creek Winery, which is steps away.
Martin’s Lane is built across six levels that slope down, which means the winemaking process is entirely done through gravity. Designed by architect Tom Kundig, the building draws inspiration from its surrounding landscape. Its weathered, corrugated steel siding is meant to resemble the tree bark of the ponderosa pines, and a multi-level steel staircase represents a spiralling vine. Limited tasting experiences are offered each day, and reservations, which can be made online, are required.
Behind the Cellar Door Tasting Experience at Mission Hill Family Estate Winery
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Mission Hill Family Estate Winery sits on the slopes of Mount Boucherie in West Kelowna. It’s the only winery in Canada to win Winery of the Year six times from the WineAlign National Wine Awards. Its wines are delicious. The Bordeaux-style reds and crisp rosés are especially good.
However, like Martin’s Lane — both of which are owned by Anthony von Mandl — a visit to Mission Hill is also about the stunning architecture and sculptural artwork located throughout the grounds, including striking metal human figures by Icelandic artist Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir. Book the Behind the Cellar Door tasting experience. The 90-minute tour offers an in-depth explanation of the winery’s history, taking you down into the underground barrel cellar, and concludes with a curated wine and food pairing.
The Ride Tasting Experience at Red Barn Winery
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Located in the southern Okanagan, approximately 12 minutes outside of Oliver, B.C., the Red Barn at Jagged Rock Vineyard is a jewel of a winery, offering fruit-forward, highly innovative wines. It’s named for the distinct red of its building and sits on the black sage bench with a backdrop of jagged rocks, giving the vineyard its name.
“The Ride” tasting experience includes a tour of Red Barn’s production area, complete with concrete egg-shaped fermentation tanks, followed by a seated tasting. You can also book “The Hungry Ride,” which includes pizzetta and panino with your pours.
Avenue’s writers and editors are occasionally invited to experience dining or adventure experiences as a guest, including some of the experiences in this story. Neither complimentary experiences nor advertising are required for coverage in Avenue. Neither companies that advertise nor those that provide other incentives are promised editorial coverage, nor do they have the opportunity to review or approve stories before publication.
