OKANAGAN VALLEY - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 381

WINERIES
Viticulture has been a mainstay of the Okanagan's economy for almost a century, but it
has really taken off in the last two decades, with local wines exported and winning awards
worldwide. Most of the local wineries welcome visitors with tours and free tastings year-
round (but call ahead outside of summer to check hours). Because of the popularity of visit-
ing the wineries, most now charge a small fee for tasting. Okanagan Wine Country Tours
(250/868-9463 or 866/689-9463, www.okwinetours.com ) has a variety of tours, including a
full day of touring and tasting for $165 per person.
One of the province's oldest wineries, in operation since 1932, is Calona Vineyards
(downtown at 1125 Richter St., 250/762-9144, 9am-6pm daily). There's no actual vineyard,
just a large winery that uses grapes grown throughout the valley. Tastings and sales are in a
room set up as a cellar.
Across Okanagan Lake from Kelowna is Mission Hill Family Estate (1730 Mission
Hill Rd., Westbank, 250/768-6448), high atop a ridge and surrounded by vineyards with
stunning lake views. Mission Hill, British Columbia's most successful winery, includes
a 45-meter-high (148-foot-high) bell tower, open for the public to climb. Tours depart
three times daily through summer, each ending with an informal tasting session. At nearby
Quail's Gate Estate Winery (3303 Boucherie Rd., 250/769-4451), the reserve pinot noir is
a signature wine—enjoy a glass or two alfresco at the winery bistro (11:30am-2:30pm and
5pm-9pm). Winery tours are conducted May-October up to six times daily.
Back on the main highway and farther south is Hainle Vineyards Estate Winery (5355
Trepanier Bench Rd., Peachland, 250/767-2525, 11am-5pm daily in summer, 11am-5pm
Mon.-Fri. the rest of the year, $28-40). Walter Hainle was a pioneer in the development of
ice wines, and while this is the style that the vineyard is best known for, limited quantities
of red and white wines are also produced.
Across the lake from these wineries is the much-heralded Cedar Creek Estate Winery
(5445 Lakeshore Dr., 250/764-8866, 10am-7pm daily May-mid-Oct., 11am-5pm daily mid-
Oct.-April), where the vineyards and extensive gardens overlook Lake Okanagan. Tours are
offered May-mid-October daily at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm ($8 per person).
RECREATION
Water Sports
During the warm and sunny months of summer, Okanagan Lake comes alive with a colorful
array of watercraft, anglers, and swimmers out on the water, and sunbathers dot the sur-