Making the Most of Your Time

Three days from Vancouver is barely enough time to enjoy the Okanagan; five days to a week would be optimal.

The best place to start a wine-tasting tour is at the area wine info center in Penticton. You can get an overview of the area's wines, get help in organizing your time, and usually taste a wine or two.

We've included a selection of the best wineries, but our list is only a fraction of the Okanagan's more than 170 wineries. Because new wineries open every year, ask for recommendations at your hotel, or simply stop in when you see an appealing sign.

Food and Wine Festivals

Festivals are a great way to explore the region’s food and wine scene. In addition to wine festivals in spring, fall, and winter), many of the smaller communities put on harvest fairs. Penticton's PeachFest (www.peachfest.com) has run for over 70 years, celebrating peaches every August with beach fun, square dancing, sand sculpting competitions, and concerts. In September, Kelowna hosts the Hopscotch Festival (www.hopscotchfestival.com/kelowna), where Scotch whiskies from around the world vie for tasting attention alongside other spirits and craft beers. Even Osoyoos gets into the foodie-act with its Oyster Festival (www.oooysterfestival.com) in April.