Looking for the best wineries in Kelowna to visit during your stay in the sunny Okanagan? This post is for you!
There’s two things I really love: wine and warm weather.
Kelowna just happens to be the perfect place to experience both!
I’ve been coming to Kelowna a few times a year for the last 10 years since my parents first bought a place here.
And at this point I consider myself a bit of a Kelowna winery aficionado.
Over the years I’ve shared a lot of my winery knowledge on my instagram and most recently my TikTok.
But for some reason, I hadn’t put together a guide here till now.
I wanted to put together this guide to help you plan your visit to Kelowna, and give you a list of Kelowna wineries you absolutely can’t miss, from an (almost) local’s perspective.
I know there are a lot of wineries here, and it’s easy to just go for the touristy spots, but this list includes the real gems.
Here I list the Kelowna wineries with the best wine and tasting experiences that are going to leave you walking away thrilled you visited.
Before we get started, you might also want to check out these posts:
- 7 Best Wineries in Kelowna for Lunch
- 31 Awesome Things to do in Kelowna
- 35 Fun Things to do in Kelowna in Winter
- Best Lake Country Wineries – The top 6 Favourite Vineyards from a Local
- The Best Wineries in Oliver & Osoyoos
- The Most Instagrammable Places in Kelowna
Weather in Kelowna
Although you can absolutely visit most Kelowna wineries year round, most people tend to visit in the summer.
There’s no surprise there, summer in Kelowna is absolutely divine!
You can easily expect temperatures to be in the mid twenties all the way up to the forties (celsius of course).
Dress for warm weather if you’re coming in the summer!
Spring in Kelowna is also a beautiful time, as is fall.
During spring and fall you can expect temperatures from 15 degrees all the way up to the mid twenties.
Make sure to bring layers with you as some days can be chilly, while others hot!
Lastly, winters in Kelowna are quite mild.
Temperatures don’t often fall below zero, and although there is snow there is never a ton of it.
By the way, I have a whole guide on things to do in Kelowna in winter so be sure to check it out!
How to Get Around
Getting around from winery to winery in Kelowna is something that you definitely have to plan ahead.
A lot of wineries in Kelowna are quite spread out and require driving between them.
One of the best and easiest ways to enjoy a day of winery hopping is to book a wine tour.
Wine tours will give you a designated driver that will take you from winery to winery meaning you won’t have to worry about how much you drink or where you’re going!
There are also a few wineries you can visit by bike, but I would highly recommend to either travel with a designated driver or book a wine tour to really get the best out of your visit.
Best Wine Tours in Kelowna
As I mentioned above, one of the easiest and most stress free ways to truly experience the best wineries in Kelowna is to book a wine tour.
The Kelowna or West Kelowna Afternoon Sightseeing Wine Tour is easily the highest rated wine tour in the area.
This incredible wine tour gives you the option of touring 4 of the best wineries in Kelowna, or 4 of the best wineries in West Kelowna, and it’s totally up to you to pick!
Your Kelowna Afternoon Sightseeing Wine Tour includes pick up and drop off from your hotel or Airbnb, so your day will be virtually stress free.
As you drive from winery to winery, your Kelowna Afternoon Sightseeing Wine Tour guide will tell you all sorts of stories and information about the area and sights you’re seeing along the way.
It really is the best way to experience not only some of the best wineries in the area, but also some of the Kelowna sights and learn a little bit about its history!
There’s a reason why the Kelowna Afternoon Sightseeing Wine Tour is the top rated Kelowna wine tour on Viator, and this is one you definitely won’t regret booking.
But if you don’t believe me – one peek at the reviews on their page will prove that!
Now, onto the guide of the best wineries in Kelowna!
Kelowna Wineries with the Best Views
Although there are definitely some Kelowna wineries that will fit into multiple categories here, I tried to divide it as best as I could to make it super easy for you to pick wineries to visit based on features you might be looking for.
Let’s start the list off with some of the wineries in Kelowna that have the best views!
Trust me, you won’t want to miss seeing these incredible views.
Black Swift Vineyards
Address: 2345 Boucherie Rd
Black Swift Vineyards opened in 2020 and is easily one of my favourite wineries in Kelowna.
Owned by the same owner as The Hatch (Jason Parkes), Black Swift is lovingly referred to as the Hatch in a tuxedo.
Think the highest quality wines, a little bit pricier than The Hatch, but 100% worth every penny.
I was recently at The Hatch for another tasting, and our taster referred to Black Swift as your drunk cousin at a wedding.
He’s dressed real nice, he looks fancy, but underneath it all he’s far from well behaved and certainly isn’t pretentious.
Black Swift is the kind of winery for people who love good wines, but like any Jason Parkes’ winery they aren’t about being wine snobs.
In fact, all of Jason Parkes’ wineries are a bit of a snub to the classic wine snob type wineries.
The funny thing is, even though they’re far from pretentious, their wines always come out on top.
Not only does Black Swift Vineyards have a stunning view and incredible wines, but they have some of the friendliest staff around that make a visit to their winery a truly memorable experience.
If you’re planning a visit to Kelowna, you definitely don’t want to miss Black Swift Vineyards.
And make sure to ask for Grayson – he’ll keep you laughing throughout the whole tasting!
Quail’s Gate Estate Winery
Address: 3303 Boucherie Rd
Quail’s Gate Estate Winery is the first winery on this list of the best wineries in Kelowna that fit multiple categories, but if there’s one reason you have to visit Quail’s Gate it really is for the view.
Beyond having an incredible view, Quail’s Gate Estate Winery also has a great restaurant (Old Vines Restaurant) and is one of the tourist favourite wineries in the area.
Almost every wine tour stops at Quail’s Gate Winery because it really is quite the institution in Kelowna.
Quail’s Gate is one of Canada’s first family owned estate wineries, and the Stewart family who owns it has been in the viticulture business for 60 years.
And Quail’s Gate has been around for 30 of those years!
You can easily see why Quail’s Gate Estate Winery is a must visit in Kelowna.
If not for its incredible view, then definitely for its rich history!
Frind Estate Winery
Address: 3725 Boucherie Rd, West Kelowna
Frind Estate Winery is a fairly new winery in West Kelowna.
It also happens to be the first beachfront winery in all of North America!
Backing right onto the edge of Okanagan Lake, the views here truly are impeccable.
Frind Estate Winery is another winery that deserves to be in multiple categories here.
Beyond an incredible view they also have an amazing restaurant with incredible food.
In the summer you can grab a bottle of wine and some food on the patio, or take it to go and enjoy a picnic on the beach lakeside.
This really is a destination winery with great views, and you’ll want to spend all afternoon here!
Ancient Hill Winery
Address: 4918 Anderson Rd
Ancient Hill Winery is on the edge of Kelowna, by the airport and almost in Lake Country (Lake Country has some amazing wineries and you can read my guide on those here).
Even though it’s a bit of a drive, it is 100% worth it.
This beautiful Kelowna winery will make you feel like you’re somewhere in Europe.
Stop by here for a tasting, then grab a bottle of wine to enjoy on their gorgeous garden patio.
You can even purchase cheese and crackers to nibble on, or bring your own picnic!
Ancient Hill Winery really is the perfect place to spend a beautiful sunny afternoon in Kelowna.
Best Unique Wineries in Kelowna
Here are some Kelowna wineries that stand out above the rest in unique ways.
These happen to be two of my very favourites and definitely wineries you won’t want to miss when visiting Kelowna!
Crown & Thieves
Address: 3887C Brown Rd, West Kelowna
Crown & Thieves (another brainchild of Jason Parkes) has to be hands down the most unique winery in Kelowna.
You can check out my TikTok video here to quickly see why!
Having opened only a couple of years ago, it’s quick become one of the top visited wineries in the area.
It truly is such an experience!
Step into Crown & Thieves and you will immediately feel like you stepped back in time.
Crown & Thieves is a place where scoundrels and royalty alike come to sip fine wine in an opulent tasting room.
Although the building itself doesn’t look like much on the outside, just wait till you step inside.
You’ll feel like you stepped into something straight out of Pirates of the Carribbean.
There is also a restaurant on top (Salt & Thieves) and a speakeasy in the basement making Crown & Thieves the ultimate destination.
The Hatch
Address: 3225 Boucherie Rd
The Hatch opened in Kelowna in 2015 and quickly became one of my favourite wineries.
7 years later I can still proudly say that hasn’t changed one bit.
You can check out the TikTok video I made on The Hatch here.
The Hatch prides itself in being a laid back winery that’s a far cry from the traditional “wine snob” wineries you can find in most wine regions.
But even though these guys are laid back, the wines here are amazing.
The Hatch was the first winery Jason Parkes opened in the area (now there’s Black Swift and Crown & Thieves which are also on this list), and there’s no surprise why his brand has quickly grown.
These guys know how to make great wine, and they make the tasting experience fun.
If you want great wine at a great price, and want to taste it without the hoity toity-ness, The Hatch is for you.
Best Organic Wineries in Kelowna
Do you prefer drinking organic wines and supporting wineries who put big efforts into sustainability?
Here are the best organic wineries in Kelowna that do just that!
Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Address: 4870 Chute Lake Rd
Another winery that could easily fit into multiple categories on this list is Summerhill Pyramid Winery.
Although Kelowna (and the surrounding areas) has over 40 amazing wineries, one of my favourites to visit is always Summerhill Winery.
There’s a reason why this is one of the top wedding venues in Kelowna and it’s not just because it’s beautiful and has an incredible view.
All the wines at Summerhill are organic & biodynamic, and they make a great effort to keep their carbon footprint as low as possible.
The wines are really amazing too, and this is hands down my favourite of the organic vineyards in Kelowna.
They also have a bistro which boasts an amazing menu of delicious local & organic fare with plenty of vegan options.
Summerhill Pyramid Winery is definitely a must visit – and besides, who doesn’t want a picture with a giant bottle of bubbly?
Rollingdale Winery
Address: 2306 Hayman Rd
Rollingdale Winery is a family owned and operated, certified organic vineyard and winery in West Kelowna.
Here you can expect a down to earth tasting experience that’s held right in their wine cellar!
If you have a particular fondness for wines of the sweeter variety and with higher amounts of grams of sugar per litre, you are going to love Rollingdale.
Their sweeter wines are certainly sippable and you’ll find it almost too easy to get through a bottle!
Best Tourist Favourite Wineries in Kelowna
Although this guide to the best wineries in Kelowna was written from a (semi) local’s perspective, it wouldn’t be fair to not include the top tourist favourite!
Mission Hill Family Estate Winery
Address: 1730 Mission Hill Rd, West Kelowna
Mission Hill Family Estate Winery is hands down the top tourist favourite winery in all of Kelowna.
One visit to their incredible winery, and you’ll easily see why that is.
The grounds here are absolutely stunning!
Mission Hill really is the most beautiful winery in Kelowna, and there is no denying that.
If you’re looking to visit a winery simply for its looks and how beautiful it is, Mission Hill Family Estate Winery will not disappoint.
However, in my personal opinion the tasting experience here just doesn’t match up with some of the smaller family owned vineyards.
Unless of course you’re willing to pay more for one of their exclusive tasting experiences.
However, don’t just take my word for it.
Mission Hill has been recognized as Canada’s only five-time winner of Winery of the Year and receiving multiple best varietal awards on the international stage.
Their higher level wines are absolutely incredible, but like I said, you will have to be willing to pay more to try them out.
The entry level wines at more affordable prices are okay, so if you plan a visit to Mission Hill I do highly recommend paying to try their higher tier wines.
Mission Hill Winery does however run a concert series in the summer that’s an absolutely incredible experience.
If you’re planning a visit to Kelowna in the summer you should definitely try to get tickets.
Experiencing a concert outdoors on the beautiful Mission Hill Family Estate Winery property is an experience you will not forget.
Best Wineries with Restaurants
Although I’ve already named a few wineries on this list that have amazing restaurants (Frind, Crown & Thieves, Summerhill, Quails Gate) here are a few others you definitely have to check out.
Whether you’re looking to pop in for a tasting and have lunch, an afternoon snack, or dinner, these Kelowna wineries are great options.
BTW – I do have a blog post specifically on the best wineries in Kelowna for lunch so if you’re looking for that be sure to check it out!
CedarCreek Estate Winery
Address: 5445 Lakeshore Rd
CedarCreek Estate Winery is an award winning winery in Kelowna that’s not only organic, but has a great restaurant too!
Join CedarCreek at their contemporary farmhouse and discover what the North Okanagan Valley has to offer, before heading to enjoy a delicious and locally sourced meal at Home Block Restaurant.
All tastings and experiences are privately led either walking through the vineyards or seated in their beautiful tasting room.
And the wines here are incredible!
Mt. Boucherie
Address: 829 Douglas Rd, West Kelowna
Another great Kelowna winery with an amazing restaurant you need to visit is Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery.
In 2020 Mt. Boucherie unveiled their brand new luxurious wine experience centre which features a dining lounge, tasting room and multiple private event facilities with some of the best views in the valley.
The wines here are amazing, and every time I’ve visited we’ve had such an incredible wine tasting experience.
After your wine tasting experience, head upstairs to their restaurant The Modest Butcher to enjoy a mouthwatering meal with great wine.
Best Wineries with Other Offerings
Although there’s no denying most people visit wineries to try their wines, these Kelowna wineries offer more than just grape juice for you to try!
The View Winery & Vineyard
Address: 2287 Ward Rd
The View Winery is not only a kick ass winery that has amazing wines but they also make cider too!
They have a whole lineup of amazing year-round and seasonal ciders that are some of the most flavourful and delicious ciders I’ve ever tried.
Stop by to try their wines, ciders, or both!
By the way – they also offer wine in a can which is a great alternative for picnics in the sun.
Indigenous World Winery
Address: 2218 Horizon Dr, West Kelowna
Another great Kelowna winery that offers a little more than just wine, is Indigenous World Winery.
Indigenous World Winery is BC’s only 100% Indigenous owned winery, blending traditional Syilx culture with modern style.
Not only does Indigenous offer a great wine selection though, they also make and sell their own spirits!
Stop by to try their wine selection before moving onto their gin, vodka, and single malt whisky.
Best Winery Road Trips from Kelowna
Although Kelowna has a lot of great wineries, there are also a lot of great wine regions nearby that are just a road trip away.
If you’re spending multiple days in the Okanagan, it’s definitely worth considering doing a couple of day trips to these nearby areas to visit some of their wineries.
Wineries of Lake Country
While the wineries in Kelowna are amazing, there’s something special about the smaller, quainter wineries you’ll find in the Lake Country region.
There’s no denying these have quickly become some of my favourites, and we visit them all every time I’m in the area.
If you’re planning on spending a couple of days in Kelowna I definitely recommend doing the 20 minute drive and heading to these amazing wineries.
They’re all in very close proximity and it’s easy to get them all done in one day.
Check out my guide to the best wineries in Lake Country here.
Wineries of Oliver & Osoyoos
You’ll find some pretty amazing wineries in the Oliver & Osoyoos regions (which are right next to each other), which are 2 hours south of Kelowna
If you’re coming from Kelowna it is a bit of a drive but definitely worth it!
These regions are much hotter thank Kelowna (more of a desert climate) which means red grapes that don’t do well in Kelowna thrive here.
Expect to find wineries that specialize in big bold reds!
You can check out my guide to the best wineries in Oliver & Osoyoos here.
Final Thoughts
Kelowna has some pretty incredible wineries, and it can certainly be tough to narrow down which ones you’d like to visit, especially if you’ve never been to the area.
I hope that this guide to the best wineries in Kelowna has made the selection process just a little easier for you.
Whether you’d like to tour Kelowna wineries on your own, or book yourself in for The Kelowna or West Kelowna Afternoon Sightseeing Wine Tour, you’re going to have an absolute blast tasting your way through this wine region.
If you’re headed to Kelowna soon, don’t forget to check out these posts:
- 7 Best Wineries in Kelowna for Lunch
- 31 Awesome Things to do in Kelowna
- 35 Fun Things to do in Kelowna in Winter
- Best Lake Country Wineries – The top 6 Favourite Vineyards from a Local
- The Best Wineries in Oliver & Osoyoos
- The Most Instagrammable Places in Kelowna
Which Kelowna winery are you most excited to check out?
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