Dirty Laundry Vineyard
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    Planning a tour of South Okanagan Wineries

    Sep 01, 2022

    Summer is a great time to hit the road and go on an adventure, especially a wine tasting adventure, and with 5 wine producing regions in BC - Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, Fraser Valley, Okanagan Valley, and Similkameen Valley - you don’t need to leave the beautiful province of BC to sample award-winning, world-renowned wines.

    The Okanagan wine country of BC is incredibly diverse, featuring valleys, mountains, rivers, lakes and desert, stretching about 250 kilometres North to South, even slightly overlapping the US border at the Southern end. The entire Okanagan valley is full of phenomenal wineries, with so many to choose from that it can be hard to know where to start. If you’re looking for particularly unique wineries that have something extra special about them (apart from the wine!) check out this post on 7 of the best wineries in BC to visit for reasons other than the wine! 


    Located on Highway 97 on the western shore of Okanagan Lake, 20 km north of Penticton and 46 km south of Kelowna, Summerland is a slice of wine-lovers heaven with 19 excellent wineries to choose from, many with sweeping landscapes and breathtaking views. Summerland is a popular wine touring destination as it avoids the hype and crowds of larger locales, favouring more intimate experiences at small family run wineries. In recent years a couple of cideries have also opened up bringing Summerland’s total to four: 


    Planning your Summerland wine tour

    1. Chose 4-6 wineries for a full day of tastings

    Summerland is easily accessible from Kelowna or Penticton on a day trip, but there are also many hotels and Airbnbs located in Summerland if you would prefer to have a base for a few days. In addition you can find cabins, motels and bed and breakfast options. The stunning Naramata Bench wineries are only 30 minutes away so you can easily fill several days visiting 40+ award winning wineries with some of them offering winery restaurants where you can sit down and enjoy lunch! 


    Summerland itself has too many         wineries to visit in one day, so if you’re only planning on spending one day here, you will need to narrow this list down to your favourites. Many of the vineyards are organic and produce niche or specialty wines you won’t find anywhere else. Some of the wineries have a unique story or theme. Find a few that appeal to you and add them to your list!


    Some of the most popular Summerland Wineries according to         Trip Advisor are:

    Sumac Ridge Estate Winery

    The very first operating estate winery in British Columbia, Sumac Ridge produces smooth and medium bodied reds, and crisp, fruit forward white wines with no oak.

    Dirty Laundry Vineyard

    Along with award-winning wines, our very own Dirty Laundry Vineyard is based on the theme of a real-life 1890 era Chinese Laundry in Summerland that was a front for a some illegal activities including gambling and a brothel!


    8th Generation Vineyard

    This hands-on family winery grows and produces fruit driven balanced wines that are vegan friendly, made without the use of any animal by-products.


    Thornhaven Estates

    Thornhaven sits on Little Giant’s Head Mountain, with a spectacular view of both Okanagan Lake and the magnificent surrounding mountains, an area many people have likened to Tuscany. 


    Heaven’s Gate Estate Winery

    Once a thriving peach orchard, Heaven’s Gate Estate Winery is now a boutique winery, home to handmade, small-batch wines made from 100% BC VQA grapes.


    Lunessence Winery

    Lunessence Winery sees wine making as a holistic process, taking into account the soil, climate, and lunar cycles, as well as the health of the vines, hence their name “lunessence”, from “lunar”. The view from Lunessence winery terrace is spectacular. You can purchase cheese plates and other snacks to enjoy while you admire the view, or bring your own.


    Summergate Winery

    Summergate Winery is a small estate winery focusing on sweeter white wines, one of a few in Summerland that do not use chemical pesticides, herbicides or fertilisers.

     

    2. Determine the best route to visit your chosen wineries

    All of Summerland’s wineries are in close proximity to each other, however it’s a good idea to view a map of Summerland wineries to avoid unnecessary driving. The wineries listed above can easily be visited in one day, with the best route mapped below. 

    For a complete map of Summerland’s wineries, check out BottleneckDrive.com. 


    3. Pack appropriately for a full day out

    South Okanagan wineries are not formal, You can dress in whatever you are comfortable wearing! If you are visiting during the spring and fall, pack a light sweater as the evenings can get a little breezy. Okanagan summers can get very hot, so be sure to pack lots of water, sunscreen, and maybe a snack or two to keep your hunger at bay before lunch. Don’t forget your wallet as you will be tasting wines (most charge a $5 or $10 tasting fee, sometimes waived with the purchase of a bottle or wine or two) and you’ll almost certainly be taking several of your favourite bottles home with you!


    4. Chose a stop for lunch in advance

    Summerland wineries have arguably some of the best patios and terraces to visit for lunch or even dinner on your wine tour. However, we believe that our own Dirty Laundry Vineyard outdoor patio is one of the best for both stunning views and delicious food, and provides welcome shade from the hot afternoon sun. Order Artisan forno pizza from Red Iron Grille, or choose in-house crafted smoked meats that use locally sourced Canadian Maple and Cherry Wood to add deep flavour to brisket, pork and chicken.

     

    When to go on a wine tour in Summerland

    Most wineries and cideries are open daily for tasting from April or May until September. Some are open year round with limited hours so it’s always best to check on each winery's website when planning your wine tour, especially for the first and last wineries of the day to ensure they are open.


    Whatever time of year you chose to visit         Summerland’s wineries, expect to be fascinated by stories from knowledgeable proprietors, dedicated hosts, and award winning winemakers!


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