Nestled amidst the serene, rolling hills of Southeast Kelowna lies a tranquil, picturesque wine community waiting to be explored. Here's your guide to touring Southeast Kelowna's wineries.
In the heart of the Okanagan Valley, Kelowna stands as the birthplace of BC’s wine industry. The region’s rich viticulture heritage dates back over a century, when the first vines were planted. The area’s first commercial winery, Calona Wines, was founded in the early 1930s, marking the beginning of the Okanagan’s flourishing wine industry.
Today, the region is celebrated for its diverse array of award-winning wineries. There are close to 40 wineries in Kelowna and its surrounding communities, including West Kelowna and Lake Country, many of which have continued to evolve their farming and viticulture practices to be more sustainable.
This year, to celebrate the region and encourage visitors and locals to visit its exceptional wineries, Tourism Kelowna launched the #exploreKelowna Wineries Pass. Through this Guide to Wine Touring Series, we’ll introduce you to the wineries featured through the pass and give you tips to make your wine touring experience memorable, informative, and fun!
Wine Touring in Southeast Kelowna
Vibrant Vine Winery. Image credit: Ken Hagen
As you wind through Southeast Kelowna, you’ll be surrounded by peaceful, charming, rural landscapes with stunning views, thanks to the many rolling hills.
Along the way, you’ll encounter many orchards and vineyards, including those belonging to the five wineries featured in the #exploreKelowna Wineries Pass.
Situated close to the wineries of the Lakeshore Route, the five wineries in Southeast Kelowna are all within a short distance, so visiting them all is a breeze (just be sure to enlist a designated driver or book a guided tour).
You can start your tour off at the most northern winery, The Vibrant Vine. The funky, brightly coloured tasting room, where you can sip on their award-winning wines, showcases the 3D art on the winery’s bottles.
Along with its daily tasting offerings, The Vibrant Vine regularly hosts concerts. These take place in Jacko’s Underground Lounge during the winter and in the beautiful main lawn area in front of the tasting room during the warmer months of the year. Admission to the summer concert series, Vibes at the Vine, is free, and small bites are available for purchase.
Meadow Vista Honey Wines. Image credit: Ken Hagen
Travelling south from The Vibrant Vine, you’ll make your way to Meadow Vista Honey Wines, a unique stop among the traditional wineries. Meadow Vista specializes in mead, or honey wines, crafted with locally sourced ingredients, including honey collected on site and from local farms and wineries.
Along with tasting the refreshing mead, visitors can take a Bee Tour of the farm (with guided or self-guided options available) or grab a bite to eat from the onsite bistro. This fall, you can book tickets for Meadow Vista’s Smokies & S’mores event, which includes a scavenger hunt for the chance to win prizes.
Priest Creek Family Estate Winery. Image credit: Ken Hagen
Next up on the tour is Priest Creek Family Estate Winery, a family-owned and operated boutique winery nestled in the beautiful Kelowna countryside. The winery’s back patio will transport you to another world as you take in the views from underneath a vine-covered pergola.
In addition to offering daily tastings of its exceptional wines, Priest Creek also hosts seasonal events onsite, including Food Truck Friday, Yoga in the Vineyard, Rockin’ in the Vines, and more. You’ll be sure to feel relaxed and rejuvenated after spending some time at Priest Creek.
SpearHead Winery. Image credit: Kylie Mae
Named Winery of the Year and Best Performing Small Winery of the Year at the 2024 National Wine Awards of Canada, there is no doubt that SpearHead Winery is committed to producing the highest quality of wines it can, with a focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Outside the quaint wine shop, you’ll find an inviting patio perfect for soaking in the views and the rays on a sunny day. During the summer, you can take in live music, theatre, and local art, join weekly bocce ball tournaments, or show off your skills at SpearHead’s wine trivia night.
The View Winery. Image credit: Ken Hagen
Last but certainly not least is The View Winery, whose tasting room is set in a vintage apple packing house, built in 1922 by current owner Jennifer Turton-Molgat’s great-grandfather. The land on which the winery sits has been home to 5 generations of the Turton/Ward family, who initially farmed the land for market apples before transitioning to cider apples and vineyards.
In addition to its various tasting experiences, The View hosts events year-round, including its summer Winemakers Vineyard Dinner and its Sip & Slip winter events, where you can snowshoe through the property before savouring fondue alongside your wine tastings.
Recommended Route for Wine Touring in Southeast Kelowna
Southeast Kelowna wine community in the fall. Image credit: Shawn Talbot Photography
To start your route, go to Gordon Drive, then head south until you reach K.L.O Road. You’ll head east on K.L.O. for a while before taking a right-hand turn on McCulloch Road. After a sharp right turn onto Pooley Road, you’ll wind around a corner and, within minutes, find yourself at The Vibrant Vine.
From there, head south on Rose Road, which eventually connects back up with McCulloch Road. Continue south, and after following a turn in the road, you’ll head south on June Springs Road to Meadow Vista Honey Wines.
Just south of Meadow Vista, June Springs Road interests with Spiers Road, which will take you towards Priest Creek and SpearHead. Continuing west from Spiers Road onto Saucier Road will take you to Priest Creek, while a right-hand turn, heading north on Spiers Road, will guide you to SpearHead. Continue northwest on the winding Spiers Road, and you’ll end up at The View.
Book a Guided Wine Tour to Explore Southeast Kelowna
SpearHead Winery. Image credit: Shawn Talbot Photography
To make exploring even easier, why not join a guided wine tour? With expert guides, comfortable transportation, and various pricing options, you can’t go wrong!
Here are a handful of options you can select from to explore the Southeast Kelowna wineries mentioned above:
- Just Grapes Wine Tours offers half- and full-day tours of East Kelowna, with The Vibrant Vine and The View on the list of stops that may be included. The full-day itinerary includes a lunch stop.
- Lakeside Eco-Sports showcases Kelowna’s wineries with its E-Bike Wine Tours, a great option for the rolling hills of Southeast Kelowna and the Lakeshore Route. The tours are customizable, so you can select the wineries you want to visit.
- Metropolis Wine Tours will take you on a full-day tour of Kelowna’s South Slopes, with tasting experiences at 5 wineries, which may include all the wineries featured above.
- Vines and Views offers a daily Kelowna Wine Tour, where you’ll stop at some of the top wineries along the Lakeshore and East Kelowna routes.
- Wicked Wine Tours will transport you on a 5-hour tour of East Kelowna, which includes stops at Meadow Vista, Priest Creek, and The View. Short on time? They also offer an express version of the tour that is only 3 hours long.
Get the Free #exploreKelowna Wineries Pass
Meadow Vista Honey Wines. Image credit: Ken Hagen
Before you set out to visit the wineries in Kelowna, West Kelowna, and Lake Country, be sure to sign up for the #exploreKelowna Wineries Pass. Collect points at each of the participating wineries, including those highlighted in this post, and then redeem them for great prizes. All participants are also entered into a quarterly draw for a wine-themed prize pack valued at more than $350.
Header image: SpearHead Winery. Photo: Kylie Mae
