In the heart of British Columbia, the Penticton Lake area offers some of the most spectacular wine tourism around. This part of Canada offers you as much sun as Hawaii or southern California, which is why it is home to acres of fruit orchards—especially vinyards. The Penticton Lake area is part of the “Napa Valley of Canada,” so spending some of your summer sunshine time here sampling hand-crafted wines is a sure bet.
Planning Your Trip
To start out and plan your trip, visit the Penticton and Wine Country Visitor Centre. There you’ll find listings for more than 40 wineries in the immediate area—none more than a 20 minute drive from central Penticton. You can also take advantage of the Vintners Quality Alliance boutique which offers wine-tasting tutorials.
Another great tool for planning is the British Columbia tourism board, which calls the Penticton area “the heart” of the Canadian wine scene. The board lists almost 50 different wine tours in the area.
What To Do
South of the Okanagan Valley you’ll find the “Golden Mile,” which is home to about 20 wineries spread over 20 kilometers. Because this part of British Columbia is home to so many wineries and the wine industry is growing steadily, there are a wealth of local wine-centered events in Penticton. The annual Bacchanalia wine tasting event takes place in early May at Penticton Lakeside Resort. Or visit the resort in September and enjoy a five course meal and local wines at the Taste Of Valley View Farm event.
The British Columbia Wine Institute features the annual Party in the Park in Okanagan Falls, minutes from Penticton. Enjoy the products from 13 different wineries there as well as the beautiful weather and delectable treats from local chefs. Also in July experience the Okanagan Trestles Tour. This way you can enjoy the amazing scenery of the Kettle Valley Trail while you cycle and taste top shelf local wines. And if you don’t feel like driving anything while tasting, enjoy a chauffeured experience through Grape Escapes, Uncorked, Penticton Wine Tours, or any number of other options.
Finally, if you’ve lasted all through summer without a wine tour in the Penticton area, remedy the problem in September at the Great Grape Lake Stomp. You’ll love the barbeque buffet that accents your amazing wine choices, not to mention the DJ-ed party and stomping activities.
The Bottom Line
Don’t let another summer pass without checking out wine tourism in the Penticton Lake area. This summertime mecca for lovers of the grape offers you the entire wine-centered experience, not to mention so many other opportunities for fun, excitement, and relaxation.
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