VineRoutes looks at 20 BC wineries standing out at the moment, based on recent first-hand visits, panelist impressions and a combination of wine quality, hospitality and the overall visitor experience
There is no shortage of excellent wineries in British Columbia. From the Okanagan Valley to Vancouver Island and beyond, the province’s wine industry has developed into one of Canada’s most diverse and compelling wine regions.
But what makes a winery truly memorable?
For VineRoutes, it isn’t simply a matter of what’s in the glass. The experience of visiting a winery encompasses far more: the welcome at the door, the knowledge and enthusiasm of the people conducting the tasting, the setting and architecture, the food, the sense of place and, ultimately, whether the wines themselves deliver on the promise of the property.
That was the thinking behind our mission to craft a list of BC wineries that stand out right now.
Read Also: Navigating the Okanagan Valley: Where to eat, drink, and stay
The selections are based on recent visits and the collective impressions of several VineRoutes panelists, including editorial team members, who were asked to submit their own selections based on their recent experiences at wineries across the province. Those observations were considered alongside the quality and consistency of the wines, the hospitality and the overall satisfaction of the visit.
Note: This isn’t intended to be a definitive ranking of every great winery in British Columbia. Nor is it an annual competition. For now, this is a one-off snapshot of where we believe some of the province’s strongest wine and visitor experiences can be found at this particular moment. And the timing is significant.
Courtesy of Wines of British Columbia.
After wildfires disrupted travel to parts of the Thompson-Okanagan this summer, BC’s wine industry is entering harvest with a clear message: wine country remains open, and communities throughout the province are ready to welcome visitors.
The annual Fall for BC Wine campaign is putting that message into action throughout September and October, encouraging visitors to explore the province’s wine regions and support the wineries, restaurants, accommodations, farms, shops and other businesses that form the backbone of wine-country tourism.
Harvest, in particular, offers visitors a different perspective on the industry. Vineyards are changing colour, grapes are arriving at wineries and winemaking teams are at work. It is a reminder that wine country is about considerably more than the finished product.
With that in mind, here are the 20 British Columbia wineries that currently stand out in the eyes of the VineRoutes team:
50th Parallel Estate Winery and Block One Restaurant.
Set on a striking 61-acre property in Lake Country overlooking Okanagan Lake, 50th Parallel Estate has built a reputation around a focused portfolio and a highly considered visitor experience. Founded by Curtis and Sheri-Lee Krouzel, the estate began with the planting of its first 10 acres in 2009 and has grown into a destination where architecture, vineyard and landscape are central to the experience. The winery has a particular focus on pinot noir and cool-climate aromatic varieties, while its transparent tasting room, wine caves and Block One restaurant add further dimensions to a visit. For us, it is the combination of place, hospitality and a clear commitment to quality that makes 50th Parallel stand out.
High above Okanagan Lake in Kelowna, Azhadi offers a distinctly contemporary interpretation of the winery experience, drawing together Persian cultural influences, art, architecture and cuisine. The property pairs panoramic lake views with sculptural design, curated artwork and an emphasis on gathering and hospitality. Its culinary program brings together French technique and Persian influences, while the winery describes its approach to production as combining traditional methods with modern precision. What distinguishes Azhadi for our panel is the way those elements come together: rather than treating the setting, food and design as additions to the winery experience, they form an integral part of its identity.
Black Swift has developed a distinctly individual identity in West Kelowna, with a focus on single-vineyard wines and an equally unconventional approach to the visitor experience. The winery takes its name from the elusive Black Swift bird, using the idea of rarity and individuality as a thread through its winemaking philosophy. Its tasting room, known as the Nest, offers a relaxed and informal setting that stands apart from the more traditional Okanagan winery experience. That combination of focused winemaking, personality and an unpretentious approach to hospitality is what makes Black Swift an interesting part of the province’s contemporary wine landscape.
Burrowing Owl has been part of the South Okanagan’s wine landscape since Jim Wyse began establishing the vineyards in 1993, and its setting remains central to the experience. Located between Oliver and Osoyoos, the property sits within the northern edge of the antelope-brush ecosystem, with vineyards extending across Oliver, Osoyoos and the Similkameen Valley. The winery’s environmental philosophy is particularly notable, from its use of gravity-flow production and underground cellars to habitat initiatives supporting birds and other wildlife. The property also incorporates the Sonora Room restaurant and Guest House, making it a destination where landscape, food, hospitality and winemaking come together.
CedarCreek Estate Winery.
Located on Kelowna’s Lakeshore Road, CedarCreek offers a visitor experience that feels closely connected to the land surrounding it. The Home Block vineyard sits at the heart of the property, with the winery taking a holistic approach to farming that incorporates cover crops, bees, chickens, Scottish Highland cows and other elements of a thriving vineyard ecosystem. That philosophy carries through to the contemporary farmhouse-style winery, where the knowledgeable and welcoming team provides a relaxed introduction to the estate.
The experience extends beyond the tasting room. Home Block Restaurant, led by Chef Neil Taylor, takes a terroir-to-table approach, drawing on the Okanagan’s agricultural bounty and ingredients grown on and around the property. The combination of estate-grown wines, thoughtful farming, architecture, hospitality and food makes CedarCreek a particularly complete wine-country experience.
Set in Oliver against a rugged landscape, CheckMate has made its architecture and sense of place central to its identity. The estate’s contemporary design is matched by a highly structured visitor program, including guided seated experiences and private tastings that explore the winery’s approach to chardonnay and merlot. This combination of dramatic surroundings, distinctive architecture and an intentionally curated guest experience has established the winery as one of the more recognizable contemporary winery properties in the South Okanagan.
More than six decades of farming have shaped the Da Silva family’s approach to the Okanagan (first as orchard owners in 1959 after the family immigrated from Portugal), with the winery now drawing fruit from vineyards across the Okanagan while maintaining a strong connection to its Naramata Bench home. The property brings together the winery, vineyard views and The Kitchen, a small restaurant overlooking the vines. It’s that combination of family heritage, agricultural knowledge, a strong sense of place and a thoughtfully developed visitor setting that makes Da Silva a distinctive part of British Columbia’s wine landscape.
Four Shadows brings a distinctly personal character to the Naramata Bench. Family-focused at its core, that sense of personality carries through to the visitor experience. Four Shadows has the feel of a smaller, intimate operation rather than a large-scale destination, with a guesthouse overlooking the vineyard adding another dimension to the property. For us, it is precisely this combination of family involvement, setting and character that demonstrates how smaller producers continue to shape the region’s identity.
Hester Creek is one of the established names of the Golden Mile Bench, with a story that reaches back to 1968, when BC wine pioneer Joe Busnardo planted European Vitis vinifera on the property. Some of those original vines remain productive today, giving the estate a particularly strong connection to the history and character of the South Okanagan.
That history is complemented by a thoroughly developed estate experience. The property combines its vineyard and modern winery with panoramic views, the Tuscan-inspired Terrafina restaurant and The Villa, a six-suite accommodation offering overlooking the valley. It is this combination of old-vine heritage, sense of place, hospitality and the breadth of the estate experience that makes this place really stand out.
An important part of the South Okanagan’s modern wine story since 2006, the winery takes its name from the French expression for “the old pine,” a nod to the old Ponderosa pine trees found on the property, while its winemaking has long drawn inspiration from the Rhône Valley and other classic European regions. That influence is evident in a focused portfolio built around varieties well suited to the South Okanagan, with an emphasis on precision, balance and expressing the character of the vineyards. Le Vieux Pin represents the kind of producer that has helped broaden the conversation around what BC wine can be—combining a strong sense of place with an approach that feels both distinctly local and internationally informed.
Liquidity is a property where the setting immediately becomes part of the experience. Situated in Okanagan Falls, the winery combines sweeping valley views with contemporary architecture, art installations and a carefully designed visitor environment. Its approach extends beyond the tasting room, with a restaurant, private events and The Loft at Liquidity adding further dimensions to the property.
What makes Liquidity particularly noteworthy is the way those elements have been brought together. The winery presents a decidedly modern interpretation, not to mention, polished example of how the region’s winery destinations continue to evolve.
The spiral staircase at Martin’s Lane Winery.
Martin’s Lane makes an impression before you even reach the tasting room. The property’s six-level gravity-flow winery, designed by architect Tom Kundig and built into the hillside, is as much a part of its identity as the surrounding vineyards themselves. Inside, the architecture is decidedly modern, with a series of private spaces adding a more intimate dimension to the otherwise dramatic setting.
The winery’s production is focused exclusively on pinot noir and riesling, with fruit drawn from four estate vineyard sites spanning Kelowna, West Kelowna and the Naramata Bench. Each site differs in elevation, geology and aspect, giving the winery a distinctly site-driven approach to its portfolio.
Meyer Family Vineyards has been part of the Okanagan wine landscape since 2006, with its Okanagan Falls winery and tasting room opening in 2010. The family-run operation has built its identity around small-lot chardonnay and pinot noir, with an emphasis on expressing the character of individual vineyard sites. Its home McLean Creek Road Vineyard, planted in 1994, is part of the Okanagan Falls sub-GI and forms an important part of the estate’s story. The winery produces approximately 8,000 cases annually, with fruit also coming from sites elsewhere in the Okanagan. The property itself is relatively intimate, with a tasting room overlooking the vineyards and Peach Cliff Bluff.
One of the more established winery properties of the Okanagan, with more than four decades of history in West Kelowna, Mission Hill’s architecture and hilltop setting have become defining elements of the property, overlooking Okanagan Lake and incorporating spaces designed by architect Tom Kundig.
The estate’s current programming extends well beyond its core winemaking operation. Guided experiences include tours and seated presentations, while The Terrace restaurant incorporates produce from the estate garden and local farms. The property also hosts a summer concert series in its outdoor amphitheatre, now a long-running part of the Okanagan cultural calendar. Its annual Festival of Trees supports BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, adding a community-focused dimension to the estate’s seasonal programming.
Noble Ridge.
Situated on a ridge above Okanagan Falls, where the surrounding vineyards and valley landscape are central to the character of the property, the winery’s name reflects both its elevated setting and the grape varieties grown on the estate. Its approach to farming incorporates a broader sustainability program focused on land, water, energy and biodiversity.
The property has a relatively intimate footprint, with a tasting room and private space complemented by outdoor areas that take advantage of the surrounding views. Sparkling wine has also become an established part of the winery’s portfolio, alongside its broader estate-grown production.
O’Rourke Family Estate reflects the rapid development of Lake Country as a distinct wine-growing area in the northern Okanagan. The estate occupies roughly 300 acres, with vineyards planted across granite benches overlooking Okanagan Lake. Its cool-climate focus centres on pinot noir and chardonnay, with the geology, elevation and lake influence playing an important role in the way the property approaches its vineyard sites.
The immense scale of the estate is equally notable (possibly the most ambitious winery project in the country?). Contemporary architecture is built directly into the hillside, incorporating an extensive underground cave network, while the property also includes an amphitheatre, restaurant and other gathering spaces. The project remains an ongoing, multi-phase development under proprietor Dennis O’Rourke.
A substantial property on the Black Sage Bench, the vineyards and architectural design are closely integrated with the surrounding South Okanagan landscape. The winery’s scale is immediately apparent, from the hillside setting to the expansive estate facilities, but the property’s identity is also shaped by its attention to design and presentation.
The estate includes a striking contemporary winery, extensive underground cellars and a range of structured visitor experiences that explore the property, its vineyards and its winemaking approach. The setting places Phantom Creek within one of the South Okanagan’s most significant agricultural landscapes, while the architecture provides a distinctly modern counterpoint to the surrounding terrain.
Poplar Grove has been part of the Naramata Bench landscape for three decades, with the estate marking its 30th vintage in 2026. The family-owned operation describes itself as estate-grown and locally farmed, with vineyards extending across the Naramata Bench and Osoyoos. That agricultural foundation is an important part of the winery’s identity, particularly as the property has developed beyond its original production facilities.
The Naramata property brings together the winery, tasting room and restaurant, with the surrounding vineyards providing a strong connection to the landscape. Its history also places Poplar Grove within the broader development of the Naramata Bench as an important wine-growing area in British Columbia.
The popular view from Quails’ Gate.
One of the long-established family-owned wineries of West Kelowna, with the Stewart family’s connection to the property dating to 1956. The winery’s modern history began with the planting of its first vines in 1989, and the estate has since grown into a substantial property overlooking Okanagan Lake.
Agriculture remains central to the operation, with the estate encompassing vineyards as well as orchards and other crops. The property also incorporates Old Vines Restaurant, which draws on ingredients from the Okanagan and the estate’s own agricultural resources. Its lakeside setting and mature landscape provide another important element of the property’s identity.
Roche brings a distinctly French perspective to the Okanagan, rooted in the family’s experience in Bordeaux and Burgundy, and represents the increasingly diverse range of small, family-scale approaches found within the BC wine landscape.
Pénélope and Dylan Roche established their family-scale winery after arriving in the Okanagan in 2011, opening their winery on the Naramata Bench in 2017. Their approach emphasizes hands-on organic farming, small-lot production and a close connection between vineyard and cellar.
The estate vineyard sits on the southern edge of the Naramata Bench, overlooking Penticton and Okanagan Lake, with additional vineyard sites farmed elsewhere on the Bench. The winery also incorporates French cultural influences through its collaborations with Canadian artists and its emphasis on traditional artisanal practices.
Courtesy of Wines of British Columbia.
Editor’s note: A snapshot, not a ranking
There is a temptation with any list like this to ask why one winery made the cut while another did not. That’s fair. BC has no shortage of worthy candidates, and narrowing the field to 20 inevitably means leaving out some very good wineries.
But that’s also the point of this list.
The best winery visit isn’t necessarily the one with the longest list of accolades, the largest cellar or the most impressive building. Sometimes it’s the person who makes you feel welcome. Sometimes it’s the view, the food, the architecture or a conversation that stays with you. And, of course, the wines have to deliver. The above 20 wineries do that in different ways.
Featuring the contributions of VineRoutes editorial members and invited panelists, including Matt Steeves, Leah Spooner, Paula Henriques, Carmelo Giardina and Valerie van der Gracht, as well as wine influencers and frequent BC wine tourists Tom and Wilson.
