Sip, stroll, and explore East Kelowna’s iconic wineries!
What Are the Top Wineries to Visit in East Kelowna?
Go on a wine tour in some of Okanagan Valley’s oldest vineyards. Let yourself be festive with the more historical touches this region has to offer at the East Kelowna Wine Region. Just a few minutes from downtown Kelowna, the East Kelowna and Lakeshore Wine Trails will introduce you to many of the most popular family-owned boutiques and iconic wineries. Some of our top picks for places to visit on these wine trails include those listed below, where you will surely have a great time and sample some very special, award-winning wines.
Sperling Vineyards
Situated on the historical Father Pandosy property, Sperling Vineyards has been around since the 1920’s, when the vineyards were first planted, achieving commercial success selling grapes to other wineries around the Okanagan.
In 2008, the Sperling sisters, Anne and Susan, along with their husbands, opened a small boutique winery next to their mother Velma’s popular Pioneer Country Market, becoming a certified organic winery in 2017, and expanding the following year to take over the market next door.
Sperling’s wines are known for their elegance, texture and authenticity, taking home numerous awards, most recently 2021 Riedel Winemaker of the Year. With an outdoor tasting area that captures amazing views of the mountains and a stroll through their vineyard’s labyrinth, Sperling is a must-stop in this region!
The View Winery
Housed in a 1920’s apple packing plant, situated on land that has been a part of the Turton/Ward family for over five generations, The View Winery and Cidery began planting vineyards and cider apples in the mid-90’s, and now produces over 10,000 cases of wine and cider each year, including their most popular ‘Bling’ Sparkling Wine, and Ward’s Apple Cider.
Owner Jennifer Turton and her team were one of the original producers of Pinotage in BC, and the first in North America to produce a Pinotage rosé. It is in their various portfolios under the Red Shoe and Silver Lining brands, which keep moving upwards with innovations.
Pay them a visit and sample their acclaimed Riesling, Pinot Gris, Ehrenfelser, to match their signature red wines comprised of their Pinot Noir, of course, and their Pinotage.
The Vibrant Vine
Where wine, art and music meet, The Vibrant Vine has become one of the most popular wineries on the East Kelowna Trail.
Opened in 2010 by Wyn and Marion Lewis, this wineshop sports some amazing 3D art on their labels, clothing and walls, designed by their eldest son, Philip.
Music is played in the barrel room to help enhance the wine with sound vibrations, which can improve the exchange of oxygen in the casks as they rest, hence their name.
They have an amazing courtyard, where live music is featured on their outdoor stage throughout the summer season on weekends, and small charcuterie boards available to be paired with wine that you can purchase by the glass, to sit and enjoy the surroundings.
Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Established in 1986 by the Cipes Family, the iconic Summerhill Pyramid Winery is the most visited winery in BC, being the first to be certified as organic by the Pacific Agricultural Certification Society of Vernon and has also been certified as bio-dynamic by Demeter Canada, along with being a top producer of Canadian Sparkling Wine.
The winery features the Sunset Organic Bistro, which serves organic selections and boasts a panoramic view of Okanagan Lake, and is home to the famous Summerhill Pyramid, and is used in the final step of their wine production.
Nagging Doubt Winery
A quaint artisanal estate winery, owned by winemaker Rob Westbury, Nagging Doubt began as an online virtual winery in 2010, producing wine out of the Vancouver region.
In 2016, Rob and his wife bought a 5-acre estate in East Kelowna and turned it into a small tasting room and production facility.
His team makes their wines by hand, using a combination of modern and traditional techniques – including natural fermentation and foot-stomping, using grapes from 3 different regions: Naramata, Osoyoos, and his East Kelowna estate, which grows Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Siegerrebe, and Ortega varietals, which ensures top-quality wine, such as their ‘The Pull’, and their ever-popular ‘The Leap’ – and rivals some of the most popular wineries in the Okanagan.
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