Best Lake Country Wineries – The top 6 Favourite Vineyards from a Local

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. Without further ado, here are the best Lake Country Wineries (in my opinion)!

By the way, before we get started… if you’re looking for more things to do while visiting the Okanagan, Kelowna, and Lake Country regions of Canada you might want to check out these posts!

• 31 Awesome Things to do in Kelowna – the Ultimate Kelowna Travel Guide
• 7 Best Wineries for Lunch in Kelowna
• The Best Wineries in Kelowna – Kelowna Winery Guide
• 35 Fun Things to do in Kelowna in Winter
• The Most Instagrammable Places in Kelowna
• Oliver & Osoyoos Winery Guide

Now onto the list of the best wineries in Lake Country!

1. Blind Tiger Vineyards – Organic Winery

I absolutely adore Blind Tiger Vineyards so much so that I already featured it in this post on the Most Instagrammable Places in Kelowna. Blind Tiger Vineyards is a family-owned small organic winery that brings all the rustic vintage farmhouse vibes. They’re the only organic vineyard in Lake Country so naturally they’re the best!

Beyond having AMAZING organic wines, Blind Tiger also hosts incredible outdoor pizza & concert nights on their property during the summer. tickets for these are only $10! You can buy bottles of their wine at the wine shop prices and enjoy live music while feasting on incredible Italian style pizza from their in-house pizza restaurant.

I’ve watched this incredible little winery grow over the years and remember the days when the pizzas came from a little pizza truck parked on the grounds. It’s been so incredible to watch it evolve and continues to surpass my expectations year after year. It is definitely one of the best wineries in Lake Country.

Location details for Blind Tiger Vineyards here

2. Arrowleaf Cellars – Lake Country Winery with an Amazing View

Arrowleaf Cellars, although it’s been around for awhile officially opened their new tasting room in 2014. I remember visiting it the year it opened and it’s changed so much since then. Beyond having a spectacular view they’ve won numerous awards. Most recently they won #8 Winery in Canada in 2019! Their newest addition is the Summerstorm Sparkling Rose made from Zweigelt grapes and is an absolute must try.

Like Blind Tiger, Arrowleaf Cellars is also family owned. Their labels are designed by one of the daughters and another daughter bakes all the sweets and pastries they sell in their shop! I just love supporting small family owned businesses don’t you?

Arrowleaf Cellars has a stunning patio which has the best view of Lake Okanagan. You can sip their wine and nibble on charcuterie and pastries purchased in the shop. Or if you prefer, you also have the option to bring your own picnic! Just purchase a bottle of their wine and enjoy it in their beautiful picnic area overlooking the sweeping vineyards and lake below. It definitely has one of the best views of all the Lake Country wineries!

Location details for Arrowleaf Cellars here

3. Ex Nihilo Vineyards – Best Quality

I’ve loved Ex Nihilo since the first time I visited their winery in Lake Country. They have an incredible story on the inspiration behind the winery which got it’s name from a sculpture of the same name. Make sure to ask about the story when you visit their winery in Lake Country!

Beyond having a great story behind the name, Ex Nihilo makes unbelievable wines. They have one of my favourite Chardonnays in all of the Okanagan and the overall tasting lineup is superb. Although they do charge a small tasting fee (waived with the purchase of a bottle) it’s 100% worth it.

Ex Nihilo also has an on-site restaurant, Chaos Bistro, with a large patio overlooking the vineyard. The patio is so gorgeous and they serve pizza and other Italian fare. They also host special event concerts during the summer. A couple of summers ago I attended one of their concerts and it was such a fun experience! They are a little pricier than Blind Tiger’s concerts so it’s more of a special occasion thing. However, they do bring in some pretty prominent names so you definitely want to keep this on your radar!

Location details for Ex Nihilo Vineyards here

4. Gray Monk Estate Winery – A Family Favourite of Lake Country

Gray Monk will always hold a special place in my heart and will forever be one of our favourite wineries in Lake Country. When I was a wine & spirits sales rep I used to rep their wines which is how I was first introduced to the brand. I had the pleasure of meeting the old owners (it was recently bought out by Andrew Peller Limited) and I just loved their story.

Even Gray Monk Estate Winery is no longer a small family owned vineyard, the wines remain exceptional. It’s a must visit while you’re in the Lake Country & Kelowna area. Take time to visit their wine shop, sample some of their wines, take in the views from the patio and stop into their on-site restaurant for some great eats!

Location details for Gray Monk Estate Winery here

5. Intrigue Wines – Lake Country Winery with the Best Value

Intrigue Winery has amazing wines in all price ranges, but I am particularly fond of how wonderful their cheaper priced wines are. You definitely get the most out of your money in terms of quality. I find it’s difficult to find cheap wines that are exceptional in the Okanagan, but Intrigue’s Social White and Social Red truly are. Their “I Do” Rose is also really good and makes for the perfect patio sipper.

Intrigue Winery also has a little cooler in their wine shop where they sell some amazing local cheese. Word on the street is this year they opened up a patio where you can enjoy wine and cheese. We will definitely be checking this out next time we visit their winery in Lake Country!

Location details for Intrigue Winery here

6. O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars – A New Favourite of Lake Country & Best Happy Hour

O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars is fairly new to Lake Country (in fact it’s the newest in the area!) but that doesn’t mean it’s any less notable. We visited it twice this summer and there’s definitely a reason for it. They have amazing wines and so much to offer beyond an incredible view.

O’Rourke’s has an on-site garden where they grow fresh veggies that are used in dishes at their garden bistro. You can book one of their tours through the garden & vineyard before you visit, which includes a tasting for $8. They also run a 4pm tour which includes a seated tasting for just $12. Lastly, they also offer private tours and tastings which can be booked through their site.

The Garden Bistro at O’Rourke’s has an amazing menu (I LOVED the lobster pizza). They have the best happy hour of all the wineries in Lake Country which includes a bottle of wine and pizza for just $40. We had dinner there twice in a week because the pizza and wine were that good!

Location details for O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars here

If you ever visit Kelowna make sure you save a day to visit the amazing wineries of Lake Country. With only a 20 minute drive separating Kelowna from Lake Country, it’s really worth the trip!

If you’re visiting the Okanagan soon you might want to check out these posts chock full of things to see and do while you’re here!

• 31 Awesome Things to do in Kelowna – the Ultimate Kelowna Travel Guide
• The Best Wineries in Kelowna – Kelowna Winery Guide
• 35 Fun Things to do in Kelowna in Winter
• 7 Best Wineries for Lunch in Kelowna
• The Most Instagrammable Places in Kelowna
• Oliver & Osoyoos Winery Guide

Feel free to pin one of the below to refer back to next time you’re in the Kelowna or Lake Country regions 🙂

With love, Kirsten