Unique BC Wineries - Explore BC

British Columbia boasts a variety of exceptional wine experiences—from hidden vineyards and thrilling art installations to a unique pyramid designed for perfect vintage aging. With myriad options, in multiple wine regions, you may wish to start your tasting tour at these distinctive BC wineries, where the swirl and sip is anything but ordinary.

Blue Grouse Estate Winery and Vineyard | Ben Giesbrecht (Instagram: @bennnnnnnngie)

SPARKLE IN COWICHAN: BLUE GROUSE ESTATE WINERY AND VINEYARD

With its distinctively mild, Mediterranean-like climate, Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley is worthy of its moniker: “Canada’s Provence.” And at Blue Grouse Estate Winery and Vineyard, this dramatic display of terroir and pretty landscapes sets the scene for A Sparkling Day in Cowichan Experience, a leisurely pairing of light sparkling wines and seafood-forward bites. Should visitors wish to linger, they can order additional nibbles (a charcuterie board, vegan dips) from the menu as they sip another glass of wine, overlooking the vineyard.

Kettle Valley Railway cycling route between Penticton and Naramata | Kari Medig

MASTER THE SABRE: TOWNSHIP 7 VINEYARDS & WINERY

Sparkling wine tastings hit new levels at Township 7 Vineyards & Winery in the Fraser Valley, where a Seven Stars bubbly flight tasting follows instruction on how to properly (and theatrically) uncork bottles with a sabre—a tradition that traces its roots to the Napoleonic era. Tip: Be camera-ready during the Sabre & Sip: The Art of the Sabrage. Following a live demonstration, you’ll test your technique before learning more about the evolution of sparkling wine over select pours, each with a unique celestial name.

Orofino Winery in BC’s Similkameen Valley | Wine BC

Strawbale Construction: Orofino Winery

BC’s Similkameen Valley is home to Orofino, the country’s first strawbale winery. Powered by solar energy, the winery’s ecofriendly design ensures consistent insulation for barrel-room temperatures, and relief from the summer heat. Sip a dry Riesling or Cabernet Franc Rosé at an indoor or outdoor tasting. Another option? Stay for the night at Orofino’s one- and two-bedroom vineyard suites, atop the barrel room.

Monte Creek Winery | Andrew Strain

EMBRACE LOCAL: MONTE CREEK WINERY

Monte Creek, Kamloops’ largest winery, is all about celebrating local, from the fruits of their sustainable farming labours—including a greenhouse to grow their own vines—to the artisan jams, candles, charcuterie boards, and more that line the shelves in their shop. Here, summer’s al fresco dining further embraces its surroundings with a three-course Long Table Dinner Series on the Terrace that pairs Monte Creek wines with unreal Thompson Valley views.

Summerhill Pyramid Winery in Kelowna | Summerhill Pyramid Winery

Pyramid Power: Summerhill Pyramid Winery

The winemakers at Summerhill Pyramid Winery age their wines in a geometrically precise pyramid. Here, grapes for organic and biodynamic wines are grown in Kelowna’s semi-desert valley, a site chosen specifically for its location (both surveyors and astrologers were tapped for their input). Sample the winery’s lineup, including an impressive array of bubbles. While you do, ask your hosts to explain the pyramid’s structure, its invisible energy, and its all-important life force.

The tasting room at Tantalus Vineyards. | @corytography

The Bee’s Knees: Tantalus Vineyards

Tantalus Vineyards is the first Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED)-certified winery in BC. Translation: the winemakers here value both land stewardship and quality vintages. Check out the beehives (a partnership with Arlo’s Honey Farm) that pepper the landscape just outside the tasting room. Vital to the Kelowna-area vineyard’s natural ecosystem, the bees also ensure that nearby orchards and vegetable farms stay productive. Along with an old-vines Riesling or Pinot Noir, consider purchasing a pot of honey to take home.

Elephant Island Winery | Hubert Kang

FOLLOW THE LOOP: NARAMATA BENCH

The Naramata Bench, in BC’s sunny Okanagan Valley, is home to a diverse offering of wineries, all within close proximity to one another. It’s an ideal spot, then, to explore the Aikins Loop, a vineyard-adjacent stroll that connects four wineries within a 700-metre stretch. To start, sink into an Adirondack chair with a wine slushie at JoieFarm Winery to soak in the view before heading to The Shed at Van Westen Vineyards, a casual dog-friendly spot run by a family with deep community roots. Next, wander over to Elephant Island Winery to sample fruit and grape wines or cider (or both) next to a cherry orchard before making your final stop at Deep Roots Winery, a fourth-generation farm and winery overlooking Okanagan Lake. Don’t forget to purchase the Loop Experience pass for discounts on e-bikes, nibbles, and more.

Liquidity Winery showcases reds and whites alongside stunning art displays | Lionel Trudel Photography

Modern Art Gallery: Liquidity Winery

Set between Vaseux and Skaha lakes near Okanagan Falls, Liquidity Winery is a modernist gem with a seasonally inspired bistro and an impressive lineup of rotating artwork. Paintings, sculptures, and whimsical indoor and outdoor installations are all on display—a prized personal collection curated by the owner himself. While these visuals delight, it’s the winery’s reds and whites that shine. Savour Liquidity’s full-bodied Dividend, sample the fruity Chardonnay, and take home a bottle of their spectacular Pinot Noir for your cellar.

Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre | Indigenous Tourism BC/Brendin Kelly / Nk'Mip Cultural Centre

Indigenous Vintages: Nk’Mip Cellars

Nk’Mip Cellars, overlooking Osoyoos, is North America’s first Indigenous-owned and -operated winery. Sample a few wines from the Nk’Mip Winemakers Tier and the premium Qwam Qwmt collection. Qwam Qwmt, pronounced kw-em kw-empt, translates to “achieving excellence” in the Okanagan language spoken by the Osoyoos Indian Band. Enjoy lunch at the winery’s seasonal patio restaurant, and head to the nearby Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre for a glimpse into a traditional pit house and sweat lodge.

Northern Lights Estate Winery | 6ix Sigma Productions

Fruitful Tastings: Northern Lights Estate Winery

When people think about winemaking, they often envision sunny, southern climates. Situated at a latitude of 53 degrees north, Northern Lights Estate Winery shattered that stereotype when it opened in 2015, becoming the province’s northernmost winery. Here in Prince George, winemakers grow local fruits (think: apples, blackcurrants, gooseberries, rhubarb, and more) and turn them into fruit wine. You can sample the vintages with a view of the Nechako River and the city centre.