5 reasons Dirty Laundry Winery must be part of your Okanagan Wine Tour

Laid-back Summerland is sometimes overlooked when visitors to the area plan their Okanagan wine tours. However, the quaint Okanagan town is steeped in a rich history and is only a short distance from Penticton, and 40 minutes South of Kelowna making it easy to access for a full-day wine tour. What makes Summerland so appealing as a wine tour destination is the short distance between each of the tasting rooms. You will spend less time driving and more time tasting, enjoying the stunning views of Okanagan lake, and creating an un-rushed, memorable wine touring experience! 

Bottleneck drive, as the wine route is referred to, boasts a total of 14 wineries and cideries to charm you—more than enough to fill a day of sipping and sampling, with options for lovers of reds, whites, rose and sparkling! Nestled among the rolling hills of scenic Summerland are several uniquely themed wineries, some with breathtaking lake views and impressive outdoor patios where an array of interesting eats can be found. With so many wineries to choose from, the difficult task will be narrowing down your choices! Most of the wineries are small, innovative, yet award-winning, often run by families, so if you’re looking for that boutique feel Summerland’s wineries won’t disappoint. 

We may be a little biased, but we believe an Okanagan Wine Tour isn’t complete without a visit to Dirty Laundry, and here’s why!

Dirty Laundry exploits a unique part of Summerland’s history dating back to the late 1800s when the town’s Chinese Laundromat was a front for a gambling den and brothel. During your visit to the winery you will discover all of the tantalizing secrets behind our name, and learn some of sleepy Summerland’s racy history.

The Okanagan Valley wine region accounts for more than 80% of all wine produced in British Columbia, and some 185+ licensed wineries exist in the valley, spanning over 8,800 acres! However, the varied terrain throughout the valley provides the ability to grow a wide range of grape varieties, and produce them in a variety of styles. Wine styles in the Okanagan can range from dry, off-dry, medium, sweet to fortified. It is also an area well known for its sweet ice wine—a type of dessert wine produced from grapes that have been harvested after freezing on the vine. The fertile ice age clay and volcanic soils add unique characteristics to the wine grown in Summerland. 

Whether you’re a fan of full-bodied reds or summer sipper whites, a light rosé, bubbles, and even port, we’ve got you covered at Dirty Laundry! 

That’s right, for a unique Dirty Laundry Vineyard experience, try our interactive Elevated Tasting Experience (yes, you can ask as many questions as you want!) which starts with a sparkling wine toast and includes a short tour of the vineyard and crush pad. In a private tasting room you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the different wines produced at Dirty Laundry and be able to impress your friends with your new-found knowledge of the differing characteristics of each grape varietal! Each tempting wine tasting is perfectly paired with a mouth-watering amuse-bouche. Salut!

A jewel in our crown is undoubtedly our beautiful patio. Leave the city behind and bask in the sun and warm Okanagan breeze while sitting beneath the flowers and vines, an oasis under the pergolas.

We all know how important it is to ensure you are eating while indulging in wine-tasting, but did you know there are actually health benefits to consuming food with wine? Food is believed to make wine consumption healthier by lightening the load on the liver. If the liver is working hard to process the alcohol, the metabolism of other food is put on hold which can lead to increased fat storage.There are even studies that suggest drinking wine with food aids in digestion.

So, armed with this knowledge, it’s important to plan a lunch stop into your Okanagan wine tour. Not all wineries offer food, so it’s important when planning your tour to include one that does. At Dirty Laundry you can order our delicious pizza or smoked meat from our self-serve Red Iron Grille, the perfect pit-stop to refuel your body!