Ahhh, Wine Country – two words that offer up such fantastic romance. Mouth-watering visions suddenly appear of dining al fresco on a warm summer night. Or sipping wine in a sunny vineyard with a picnic basket in tow, inhaling the aromas of orchard blossoms mingled with notes of grape fermentation – tractor sounds humming in the distance. This is wine country life, the good life. And we have it all here and more – in Penticton & Wine Country.
Embarking on a wine tasting adventure through these distinctive growing areas found in Penticton & Wine Country, visitors will experience a thrilling kaleidoscope of scenery and wine characteristics expressed through the variation of terroir. Discover the tastes of Summerland one day, Okanagan Falls the next and then settle into the Penticton/Naramata Bench area for a day or two, tripping around visiting wineries, galleries and eateries.
Touring Penticton Wine Country
Dream up your perfect food and wine experience day by mapping out a plan. For those who would rather sit back and enjoy the ride, log onto one of our amazing wine touring sites where you can customize or book into a favorite route already planned. Enjoy a guided tour of the area by foot, bus, bike or kayak! Hoodoo Adventures offers incredible paddle tours that include your choice of a wine focused tour featuring Naramata winery stops or how about their Wine & Cheese tour that includes a picnic with local fruit and cheese. They offer a delicious array of tours to choose from, including one created for the artist in your group – Pinot, Paddle & Paint. Sip wines and then and set up your canvas to capture the views of the vineyard-topped beaches. Doesn’t get much better than that for a wine country experience. Local touring companies are also now thrilled to be able to integrate the new distilleries and breweries into their tours or customize one to suit your perfect palate as well as include a taste of our regional cuisine offered via picnic or restaurant stop.
Because of its central location in Okanagan wine country, starting your wine country tour in Penticton is ideal. Did you know that there are 60 plus wineries within a 20-minute drive from Penticton? Maybe you should plan to extend your visit?
Penticton itself offers a gorgeous selection of wineries to pop into to and, as you continue on that main winery-laden Upper Bench road, you will head right into Naramata proper and on down to the Naramata Village if you choose. Chock-a-block with wineries, set upon the cliffs over Okanagan Lake, the Naramata Bench will please every palate with vineyard after vineyard of gorgeous grapes and wineries to choose from – including a fabulous fruit winery!
Events & Festivals
The Penticton & Wine Country communities know how to celebrate the wine life with festivals and events being offered all year long. Celebrate 20 years of good cheer and great beer at the 2015 Okanagan Fest-of-Ale in Penticton April 10th and 11th. Wine aficionados come from far and wide to take part in the events surrounding the annual Spring and Fall Wine Festivals as well as the fabulous Tailgate Party on the Naramata Bench where the celebrations of local food and wine take place outdoors on the beautiful Naramata Bench. Foodies will get excited for the brand new, finger-lickin’ Ribfest coming to Okanagan Lake Park in Penticton July 2- 4. Speaking of barbecue, the annual Similkameen BBQ King planned for July 11th on the glorious grounds
of The Grist Mill in the Similkameen has become legendary over the past few years. The ambiance in wine country remains celebratory throughout the seasons with Vertical & Vintages being celebrated on the ski hill at Apex Mountain each year – go play in the snow and then join the wine tasting fun inside. Or, behold the beauty of Light Up the Vines as part of Summerland’s Festival of Lights.
~ Jennifer Schell