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History: In 1859, Oblate missionary Father Charles Pandosy planted the first vineyard at the Oblate Mission near present-day Kelowna.

Geography: Lake Okanagan, at 144 kilometres long and 3.5 kilometres average width, is the source of much-needed water for irrigation for vines in the Okanagan Valley.

Acidity: This natural tartness in grapes and other fruits contributes to vibrant flavours.*

Growing Regions: There are five main DVAs (Designated Viticultural Areas) in British Columbia — the Okanagan Valley, Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, the Fraser Valley and the Similkameen Valley.

Geology: Mt. Boucherie (near Kelowna), home to a number of wineries, is an extinct volcano.


*Schreiner, John - British Columbia Wine Country, Whitecap Books Ltd., 2003

 
 
KELOWNA - SOUTH
 

WINERIES VISITED

 

1. Tantalus Vineyards
 

2. Summerhill Pyramid Winery
 

3. St Hubertus Estate Winery
 

4. CedarCreek Estate Winery
 

Orchards and vineyards surround Kelowna, a city of about 100,000 people. Kelowna sits on the shores of 110 km-long Lake Okanagan and has miles of beautiful parkland, much of which is located along sandy beaches. It is the central access point to North Okanagan wine country and makes an excellent base from which to explore the surrounding vineyards and wineries.
THE TOUR
 

Start your tour from downtown Kelowna heading SOUTH on PANDOSY ST. toward LAKESHORE RD.

The first winery on your tour is Tantalus Vineyards. Tantalus crafts wines from some of the province’s oldest Riesling vines, planted from 1978 to 1982.

PANDOSY ST. becomes LAKESHORE RD. Follow LAKESHORE RD. TO DEHART RD. Turn LEFT onto DEHART RD. and follow the WINE ROUTE signs to Tantalus.

Tantalus is also located near the place where Father Charles Pandosy established a mission in 1859 and planted the first grapes in the province of British Columbia.

From Tantalus, visit Summerhill Pyramid Winery. Start out going WEST on DEHART RD toward CRAWFORD RD. Turn LEFT onto LAKESHORE RD. Stay STRAIGHT to go onto CHUTE LAKE RD.

Summerhill Pyramid Winery is a certified organic winery of over 65 acres, of which approximately 45 are planted. Wines at Summerhill are aged in a scale replica of the Great Pyramid of Cheops, the largest and oldest of the pyramids at Giza in Egypt.

From Summerhill, it’s a short drive to St Hubertus. Start out going NORTH on CHUTE LAKE RD toward BARNABY RD. Turn LEFT onto LAKESHORE RD.

Named for a Swiss family lodge, St Hubertus produces a Chasselas-the most widely planted grape in Switzerland, but relatively rare in British Columbia. It is also home to Riesling vines of the same age as those at Tantalus. From St Hubertus, you’ll visit CedarCreek Estate Winery.

Start out going SOUTHWEST on LAKESHORE RD toward ASPEN RD.

Founded in 1986, CedarCreek is a two-time winner of Winery of the Year at the Canadian Wine Awards and produces over 30,000 cases of premium wine each year.

Both CedarCreek and Summerhill have winery restaurants, so take the opportunity to have lunch at one or the other and enjoy the view across Lake Okanagan to Mt. Boucherie--home to more Okanagan wineries to visit another day.

Note: If you’re visiting in off season (Nov – Mar), call ahead to ensure the winery restaurants are open.

TOTAL DRIVING TIME (ROUND TRIP): 75 MINUTES
RECOMMENDED TOUR TIME: HALF OR FULL DAY
DESIGNATED DRIVER
  Wines should be consumed responsibly. DO NOT taste and drive. Each winery will offer you several samples and over the course of a tour, and it is easy to consume far too much wine to be able to drive. Plan ahead and choose a designated driver before you begin your tour.
 
© 2006 British Columbia Wine Institute.  All rights reserved.