Which West Kelowna winery should you visit? Here’s a guide with helpful suggestions to direct you to the best West Kelowna wineries curated by a local.

West Kelowna wineries are very distinct from their counterparts across the Bennet bridge. West Kelowna has its own unique terroir being made up of extinct volcanoes and slopped hills with their backs to the sun come Spring and Summer evenings.

There are 18 West Kelowna wineries you can visit with a tasting room, 1 without visiting space and 1 liquor store to get all the wines and local beers. Some wineries have restaurants, others have food trucks and others solely focus on their wines. I’ve created this comprehensive guide to focus on what each winery does well and why you’ll want to visit. But I do have to be honest, some wineries are producing wine that I simply don’t enjoy. That’s not to say you won’t enjoy them. Everyone’s pallets are different and each year wines can vary greatly from one vintage to the next. This guide is for those who want to narrow down which wineries they should visit based on their own tastes, preferences and desired amenities. Let me know which is your favourite in the comments below!

Please note, due to the pandemic many West Kelowna wineries are now requiring reservations, although all will allow for walk-ins if the tastings rooms aren’t busy. To avoid disappointment I suggest booking ahead and leaving approximately 30-45 minutes per tasting at each stop. The reservations allow guests to receive more of the narratives behind the wine which has been an advantage for everyone involved. 

1. Ciao Bella

Quaint & informal. but big on taste, this small winery offers tastings out of their family home. The Fiume family runs all facets of the winery from pouring tastings to bottling to harvest. Growing wine is in their blood with family having produced wine in the Naples area of Italy. After immigrating to Canada’s Arctic and residing there for 30 years it wasn’t until 1986 that the family planted roots here in the Okanagan. Little did they know it at the time but their property was one of the first parcels of land to have grapes planted upon it in West Kelowna. Go figure!

2. Kalala Winery

Another family owned winery is Kalala which means Miracle Place, a fitting name for the Okanagan! This winery offers real bang for your buck with reasonable prices and delicious organic wines. Sip among the vines on their estate with the occasional food truck that may make an appearance. In 2021 Kalala offered an outdoor theatre with a local food truck.

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3. Off The Grid Winery

Off The Grid is a West Kelowna winery favourite with my family. We like to take the kiddos there so they can watch the goats and spot the turkey. The view of West Kelowna and the Okanagan Lake is the perfect backdrop for a small picnic to pair with a bottle of their chilled wine on an Okanagan summer day.
The tasting room itself is an architectural gem it being straw bale construction and is solar powered. You can’t go wrong with their wine selection and I highly recommend the orange wine if they have it open to taste. But the Heritage Pinot Gris has my heart and if you’re looking for a truly delicious Zweigelt then the Blauer Montag will impress any wino.

4. Crown & Thieves

2021 brought us the opening of this truly unique West Kelowna winery by Jason Parkes (a name to know in the Okanagan wine scene). Anything he touches turns to liquid gold and I haven’t found a wine he makes that isn’t worth sharing. The vibe is Peaky Blinders meets Medieval church with reliquaries, altars, portraits to the criminally infamous and above all great wine. 

I hail from two generations of antique enthusiasts. Crown & Thieves is a marvel for the eyes and a logistical feat (how did he obtain a bench that survived the Windsor Castle fire of 1992?) that speaks to the soul of each individual who passes through the door.

 

5. Frind Winery

Frind is North America’s only waterfront winery with beach access and a gorgeous fire pit. If you enjoy sparkling wines then you’ll probably enjoy this stop. Their winemaker hails from Summerhill Pyramid Winery but has since made the switch to Frind bringing his expertise. Annie’s cafe is a great spot for outdoor dinning! If you’re looking for a great view you’ll find it at many West Kelowna wineries.

 

6. Mission Hill Winery

Who doesn’t visit Mission Hill during a wine tour in West Kelowna winery trail? Perhaps the most iconic Okanagan winery, it can get very busy but be sure to make reservations for both the dinning space (The Terrace restaurant) as well as a wine tasting experience on their website to maximize your time here. There is a cellar built beneath the winery utilizing the coolness of the damp cave-like atmosphere blasted into the extinct volcanic mountain.

The most incredible antique display of wine vessels and very old, prized wines rest within the side-altar space. It’s a bucket list experience!

7. Quails’ Gate

In peak season many West Kelowna wineries have line ups out the door. This is one of those places. I absolutely love the fact that Guinness’ gardeners, The Stewarts, bought this property way back in the 1950s when looking for an ideal plot of land. Prior to them it was owned by the Allison’s and you can still find their home today which is used for wine pick up parties. In fact, Susan Allison, early settler believed she saw the Ogopogo monster one night as her husband crossed the lake. There is an unfinished opera I had the pleasure of experiencing on the actual property in 2014.

So the property has some great history as well as views. Lunch or dinner here is a favourite of my family’s and many celebrations have been had here. Reservations are required during the on season! The word seems to be out on the Okanagan wine region.

8. The Hatch

Jason Parkes has three West Kelowna wineries on this list. Not far from Quails’ Gate is The Hatch. One of my top offbeat picks in the Okanagan wine region, this winery has some character as do their wines. It’s a lighthearted favourite for both the experienced wino and those who just like to drink good wine.

The Hatch is part of the Jason Parkes family of wineries which also include Black Swift and Crown & Thieves as well as Truck 49 Cider. You gotta try all Parkes’ wines to know he’s a genius at what he does and makes some really interesting results that will turn you into a wino!

9. Little Straw

I love to pop into Little Straw Vineyards or bring guests here. It is a surprise because you probably haven’t heard of them and their wines are delicious. Like most wineries in the area, Little Straw is the result of the Salmka family, immigrants who moved here looking to create their own Canadian piece of heaven. Barb Hall is the wine maker and has a list of impressive accolades. Try the Sauvignon Blanc, a local Okanagan wine varietal I am really enjoying right now! I love to compare varietals between the North Okanagan and the South Okanagan wineries vs what is being grown at West Kelowna wineries (central Okanagan).

10. Volcanic Hills

Volcanic Hills is a popular winery and even better gift shop. I never turn down a peruse through their awesome shop filled with Indian spices and fun wine related gifts. Where else can you find a parrot wine holder? 

11. Mt Boucherie

The new building that is the Mt Boucherie Tasting room and restaurant is very modern and impressive. A far cry from the smaller boutique style tasting room they had before. You’ll find plenty of visitors posing ‘for them gram’ with the impressive backdrop of the Okanagan Lake, vineyard and mountains behind them. Delicious wines and food await. Nothing that disappoints about Mt Boucherie unless you can’t get in. It is one of the most popular West Kelowna wineries so get that reservation in asap!

12. Beaumont

I love Beaumont. It is a small boutique winery running out of a revamped garage. Sometimes you’ll get the winery owners pouring your tasting and I hope you do, they’re so much fun! Delicious wines at excellent price points and retains that boutique winery feel. Aside from the big names of Mission Hill and Quails’ Gate, West Kelowna wineries also provide these quality boutique stops for those who like something different than what you can already get at the liquor store.

 

13. Rollingdale

Again, not going to beat around the bush. These wines are too sweet for me but if you enjoy that then you must go! It is a favourite with many locals who prefer sweeter wines. It’s a small winery and the tastings are inside the very room the wine making process occurs. That’s a redeeming quality for me as it qualifies as a boutique in my books. I love great wines that are hard to come by. They make for great gifts and fun finds for out of town guests. And maybe that’s why it is a favourite for some who are also connoisseurs of  West Kelowna wineries

 

14. Grizzli

Ask a local wine expert and you might get a sigh when you ask if they recommend West Kelowna winery Grizzli. Aside from their news making owner who is currently stuck in China for tax fraud the wines themselves are unlike anything I’ve tried before and that can come with a wide variety of reactions and opinions. I personally do not enjoy the wines but again that’s me. I wouldn’t be opposed to trying their wines again but I haven’t tried one that I enjoy yet. However, ice wine is huge here and general opinion is that this is what they excel at. So if you like ice wine or trying something very different then go for it!

15. Black Swift

A new and premier West Kelowna winery. A must stop for any wino who’s a sucker for a good view and interesting wines. Again, part of the Jason Parkes family and there’s something to impress any level of wine drinker. Added bonus, you can find wines from The Hatch and Crown & Thieves here, so three birds with one stop.

16. Indigenous World Winery

Within the coming years I expect to see more Indigenous wine makers, restaurants and other businesses in the Okanagan come to the forefront. In West Kelowna, just across the bridge Indigenous World Winery used to have the excellent Red Fox Club restaurant but the pandemic forced them to close. I do hope they return with another winery but time will only tell.

These wines, particularly the red options, are excellent!

17. The Gallery Winery

The Gallery is a local’s winery. Small, unassuming and likely overlooked by your guide. It’s well worth stopping especially if you enjoy lesser known boutique style wineries. Offering red, white, rose and bubbles there truly is something for everyone at this West Kelowna Winery. However, no food is offered on site.

18. Niche Wine

Sadly this winery is temporarily closed due to the 2023 winery scorching their backyard. You can read about their harrowing experience here. Stay tuned for updates on their social media and be sure to buy their wines at local liquor stores!

Cask & Barrel

Ok so this isn’t a winery but if you’re in need of a quality liquor store that features both world and local Okanagan wine selections then head to Cask & Barrel. This is the Okanagan’s best liquor store and their staff are incredibly helpful. It is so much fun to peruse through the selection, some of which are very rare and hard to find so it’s a perfect stop for gifts.