Five Unique Winery visits




Sumac Ridge Estate Winery   view website
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery, founded by Harry McWatters, is one of Canada’s most awarded wineries. In July 2006, the winery celebrated its 25th Anniversary. No one can argue with the Sumac Ridge track record. Since its inception, Sumac Ridge has pioneered many innovative winemaking practices in the Okanagan Valley. They were the first British Columbia winery to cultivate the now highly acclaimed Black Sage Vineyard bench, the first to plant extensive vineyards of premium red vinifera grapes, the first to produce traditional method sparkling wines, and the first Canadian winery to make Meritage wine.

Today, signature wines, made by winemaker Mark Wendenburg, include Gewürztraminer, Steller’s Jay Brut, red and white Meritage and red and white Pinnacle, two ultra-premium blended wines. The winery features an impressive winemaking facility and a visitor centre, which houses the tasting bar and wine shop, the famed Cellar Door Bistro, banquet facilities and a premium tasting lounge named the Founder’s Tasting Room.


See Ya Later Ranch   view website
Located just 15 minutes south of Penticton and only five kilometres from the town of Okanagan Falls, the drive to See Ya Later Ranch offers spectacular Okanagan Valley scenery. Nestled high above the valley floor outside the town of Okanagan Falls, See Ya Later Ranch inhabits a dramatic perch overlooking vineyards and lakes.

The winery’s historic site occupies a romantic place in the valley’s history. In 1919 Major Hugh Fraser, hailing from Montreal, settled in the Okanagan Valley after World War I. The “Major” was famous for his love of parties and dogs, and would host grand gatherings at the ranch. He kept in frequent touch with everyone by post, ending each letter with “see ya later,” which eventually became the name of his property: See Ya Later Ranch. The Major was so fond of his pack of dogs that he built a cemetery inside the gates for the ones that had gone on to the “big ranch in the sky.” Two of his favourites were Jimmy My Pal and Ping, who today are memorialized with wines bearing their names. Also today, the tasting room and wine shop remain in the old settlers’ home, made of hand-split stone dating back to 1902.


Nk'Mip Cellars   view website
Located in Osoyoos, British Columbia, Nk’Mip (pronounced “inkameep”) Cellars has the distinction of being North America’s first aboriginal owned and operated winery. To celebrate the Osoyoos Indian Band’s history and traditions with those visiting the winery, the architecture has been designed and constructed to display native art and artifacts, while enhancing the beauty and unique nature of the surrounding wild sage desert.

The wines are created exclusively from grapes grown at the 243-acre Inkameep Vineyard, planted more than 25 years ago by the Osoyoos Indian Band, and from a newer planting that surrounds the winery. Winemaker Randy Picton produces quality wines in two tiers: Nk’Mip Cellars and the reserve Qwam Qwmt (pronounced kw-em kw-empt), which translates to “achieving excellence” in the Okanagan Nation language. Wines receiving constant acclaim include a Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Meritage, Syrah and Riesling Icewine.


Jackson-Triggs   view website
One of Canada’s most celebrated wineries both at home and in the international arena, Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate produces some of the country’s leading premium and super-premium VQA wines including the “Best Shiraz/Syrah Worldwide”, recognized at the 2006 International Wine and Spirit Competition in London, England.

The winery sources its grapes from vineyards that are located along the striking mountain slopes that stretch above Okanagan Lake and enjoy plentiful sunlight thanks to its southwesterly exposure. High heat during the day is balanced by the night time cooling effect of the lake, providing optimum conditions for vine growth and grape ripening. The viticultural program is managed by a team of experts led by Mark Sheridan and blends the world’s finest winegrowing traditions with the most sophisticated technologies of the 21st century.


Inniskillin   view website
One of the early pioneers and best-known success stories in Canada’s wine industry, Inniskillin Wines was founded in Ontario in 1975 by Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser. A few years later, Donald and Karl recognized the extraordinary terroir of the southern Okanagan Valley, developed a winemaking partnership with the Inkameep Indian Band in 1994, and then purchased the band’s extraordinary 23-acre Dark Horse Vineyard on the western slope of the valley in 1996.

The key to Inniskillin’s success is the exceptional talent of Hungarian-born winemaker, winery manager and viticulturist, Sandor Mayer. Sandor’s history with the winery goes back to 1990 when he first worked with the Inkameep Band. It was Sandor who developed the Dark Horse Vineyard, and has since gone on to craft the winery’s exclusive portfolio of premium and
super premium VQA wines.