The Okanagan Valley is home to a thriving wine industry and winter is a beautiful time to experience it. This Kelowna winter wine touring guide will walk you through what to expect and how to plan a cozy, memorable trip at these Wine Spots.

The Benefits of Winter Wine Touring in the Okanagan

^{Winter walk through the vines at Quails' Gate. Photo: Shawn Talbot Photography}

Kelowna wine tours in winter offer a more intimate way to experience the Okanagan Valley. With fewer crowds, you can connect with winery hosts and enjoy a more personal tasting at each stop. 

The season also brings cozy touches, like snowy vistas, twinking vines, and warmly-lit tasting rooms. And in the colder months, wineries across Kelowna, West Kelowna, and Lake Country offer unique tasting formats and enjoy seasonal events you won’t find in the summer. 

Keep reading to learn where you can experience these benefits for yourself.

Cozy Tasting Room Experiences to Look For

Fireside and seasonal tastings

Some wineries lean fully into the season by offering fireside or holiday-themed tastings that highlight the warmth and beauty of winter in the Okanagan. 

At CedarCreek Estate Winery, the Après experience lets you settle in by the fire with a glass in hand, wrapped in blankets and surrounded by vineyard and lake views. Meadow Vista Honey Wines offers a fireside winter warm-up that includes a guided tasting, s’mores and mulled mead. 

At Mission Hill Family Estate, the Festival of Trees Experience comes with a tour of the wine cellar decorated with holiday trees and a seated tasting with seasonal small bites. The experience also supports BC Children’s Hospital, making it a festive way to enjoy wine country while giving back.

Icewine Tastings

BC is one of the few places in the world with the right natural conditions to legally produce icewine, and many visitors enjoy trying it. Many wineries highlight icewine as a signature winter tradition, offering tastings that help you understand how it’s made and what makes it so special.

Head to Grizzli Winery or Summerhill Pyramid Winery for a tasting so you can try some richly flavoured icewine for yourself.

Library or vertical tastings

For a true winter treat, explore library or vertical tastings, which let’s you try older or limited-release vintages pulled from a winery’s private collection. These special seated tastings offer a rare chance to see how a wine evolves over time and to learn directly from knowledgeable hosts in a more relaxed setting.

Ex Nihilo Vineyards has Aging Gracefully Vertical Series Exclusive Tasting Experiences throughout the winter, which you can find on their events page. And available by appointment only, Gray Monk Estate Winery offers a Winemaker’s Library Experience that comes with a curated cheese and charcuterie plate.

Barrel room or wine cave tastings

Barrel room tastings are another cozy winter favourite, taking place in cellar spaces filled with aging wine. They offer a behind-the-scenes look at how wine develops and a chance to taste directly from the source. While a tasting in a wine cave adds a touch of drama, these experiences share a sense of intimacy that feels perfectly suited to winter.

Options include the Barrel Room Tasting Experience at Sandhill Wines and the Proprietor’s Tour at Volcanic Hills Estate Winery. You can also elevate your winter wine touring with the Granite Tour at 50th Parallel Estate Winery or explore the Bees & Barrels Tour at Tantalus Vineyards.

Unique Winter Wine Perks

Holiday gifting

If you’re visiting before the new year, you have an opportunity to get some grape-filled holiday gifts while you’re here. While you’re touring, pop into a winery shop to browse special collections, gift baskets, and mulled wine kits.

SpearHead Winery offers gift packages featuring curated wine selections that make it easy to bring home a taste of Kelowna or share something special with the wine lover on your list.

Special Events

Winter is a festive time in wine country, with many wineries offering special events, like live concerts, holiday markets, and New Year’s Eve celebrations. For current listings and details, explore our Kelowna winery events calendar.

The Vibrant Vine also hosts a variety of events throughout the winter season, including themed holiday events and other unique experiences that add colour and creativity to a winter wine tour.

Cozy and comforting food pairings

Some wineries also offer seasonal food pairings that bring extra warmth and flavour to a winter tasting. These experiences can be a fun way to explore new combinations and enjoy the comfort of wine country in the colder months.

Visitors can try cookie pairings at Priest Creek Family Estate Winery or settle in for The View Winery's cozy Sip & Dip Fondue Experience.

How to Plan Your Winter Wine Tour

Self-Guided

In the winter months, many Okanagan wineries reduce their hours or close for parts of the winter, so be sure to check ahead to confirm who’s open and offering tastings. Booking your reservations in advance can help you avoid surprises.

If you’re planning a self-guided tour, read up on how to get around Kelowna, and always designate a driver if you’ll be driving between wineries. 

Totally new to wine touring? Read our first-timer guide, or get help planning from locals. The Kelowna Visitor Centre has knowledgeable staff who can provide recommendations, assist with confirming winter hours and help you book your winter wine tastings.

Guided Tours

Booking a guided wine tour is one of the simplest ways to explore Kelowna wine country in the winter, since operators take care of timing, reservations and navigation.

With an expert guide, you can navigate the Okanagan Valley while learning more about its rich wine culture. Booking a guided tour typically includes all tasting fees, ensuring a seamless experience with no waiting. 

Make it a Winter Getaway

^{Dining at BLOCK ONE Restaurant. Photo: Darren Hull Studios}

Round out your wine touring with some of these things to do in Kelowna in winter.

While you’re in Canada’s first and only UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, why not dine around? There are plenty of winter dishes and treats to fuel your visit.

Take advantage of Taste Around Kelowna, which happens every year in early winter (January to February), and allows you to try special menus at local restaurants for a fixed price. It’s a great way to try new spots and save your way around Kelowna and the Central Okanagan. 

If unwinding is on the agenda, consider adding a spa visit between tastings. Kelowna is home to many wellness experiences, including many types of saunas and unique treatment rooms, that offer a peaceful winter reset.

For those who want to balance sipping with time outdoors, Kelowna offers plenty of winter activities so you can enjoy the season. Mild winter temperatures make snowshoeing, winter hiking, skating, and Nordic skiing great options close to the city. And with ski resorts just over an hour away, downhill skiing and snowboarding are also within easy reach.

Plan Your Winter Wine Tour in Kelowna

Winter is a beautiful time to explore Kelowna’s wineries, with quieter tasting rooms and seasonal experiences that make each stop feel special. A bit of planning helps you enjoy the region at a relaxed pace and create a memorable winter getaway in Kelowna.

Find a place to stay in Kelowna and turn your winter wine touring plans into a weekend getaway.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Winter Wine Touring in Kelowna

_{Cover Image: 50th Parallel Estate Winery. Photo: Darren Hull Studios}