The Okanagan has over 200 wineries. These five are our personal favourites, the ones we bring visitors to, the ones we return to ourselves, and the ones we genuinely believe are worth your time after a round. Ranked honestly, #1 through #5.
We've played nearly every course in this valley and visited a lot of wineries along the way. The picks below aren't sponsored and they're not generic, they're the five we'd recommend if a friend asked us on the spot. All of them are within easy reach of Kelowna's main golf corridors.
Most Okanagan wineries run tasting rooms from May through October, with some open year round. Always check ahead. Frind especially gets busy in summer and the beach area can fill up fast on weekends.
The Ranked List
Frind Estate Winery
Our #1, and it's not hard to see why. Frind Estate is North America's first beachfront winery, literally on the shore of Okanagan Lake on the historic Bennett property in West Kelowna. Founded by Markus Frind (who sold Plenty of Fish and put the proceeds into making world class wine), the whole operation is built around cutting edge technology and a deep respect for the land's 500-year farming legacy.
The wines are fruit forward, smooth and genuinely distinctive. The beach café and patio are some of the best spots in the entire valley on a summer afternoon. If you're playing the Westside courses, this is the stop, nothing in the Okanagan quite matches the combination of setting, wine quality, and pure experience that Frind delivers.
Mission Hill Family Estate
Mission Hill is the Okanagan's most iconic winery and one of the most recognized wine estates in Canada. The bell tower rising above the hilltop is visible from the water and the surrounding courses. The wines, particularly the flagship Oculus, are among the most decorated BC has produced, and the overall estate experience is impeccably done.
The guided cellar tours, the outdoor amphitheatre concerts in summer, and the panoramic lake views from the terrace make this more than just a tasting stop, it's a full afternoon experience. A must for anyone visiting the Okanagan for the first time, and still worth the stop for anyone who's been before.
Quails' Gate Winery
Quails' Gate is a West Kelowna institution, a beautiful lakeshore property with some of the most consistently excellent Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in BC. The Old Vines Foch, made from vines planted in the 1950s, is one of those wines you can only get here, and that alone makes the visit worthwhile for anyone who cares about BC wine history.
The tasting room is well run and the Old Vines Restaurant on site is genuinely exceptional. It's one of the few spots in the valley where you can seamlessly move from a tasting to a full dinner without leaving the property, which is a huge win for a golf trip itinerary.
Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Summerhill is unlike anywhere else in the valley. A certified organic estate winery with an actual pyramid structure used for aging wine, it's been one of BC's most visited wineries for decades, and the wines more than justify the reputation. Their sparkling wines (the Cipes Brut especially) are nationally acclaimed and among the best you'll find in Canada.
The Sunset Organic Bistro has spectacular east Kelowna views, and the organic approach extends through everything they do on the property. It's in a class of its own for the experience and the wine quality. Pair with a round at Gallagher's Canyon or Black Mountain, both are close by.
Little Straw Vineyards
Little Straw is one of West Kelowna's oldest wineries, vineyard plantings go back to 1969, and the winery itself was founded by the three Slamka brothers in 1996. It's now owned by the Sidhu family (who also run Kalala Organic Estate Winery next door) and they've kept the legacy intact while adding organic certification to the mix.
The Barrel Top Grill lounge and the views over Okanagan Lake make it a genuinely lovely stop, and the small lot wines have a character you won't find at the bigger estates. This is the hidden gem on the Westside Wine Trail, the kind of family winery that rewards people who go looking for something a little different. The Indian inspired restaurant on site is worth a visit in its own right.
Four of our five picks. Frind, Mission Hill, Quails' Gate, and Little Straw, all sit along the Westside Wine Trail in West Kelowna, within a 10-minute drive of each other. Play a morning round at Shannon Lake or Two Eagles, then work your way down Boucherie Road for a half day wine tour. It's one of the best afternoons the Okanagan offers.
Pairing Golf & Wine
The Westside is the easiest pairing. Shannon Lake Golf Course, Two Eagles, and Black Mountain are all within easy reach of the Boucherie Road wine corridor. Play in the morning when it's cooler, then head to Frind for a beachside lunch and tasting, and finish the day at Quails' Gate for dinner at the Old Vines Restaurant.
On the east side of the lake, Summerhill pairs perfectly with Gallagher's Canyon or Black Mountain, both are in East Kelowna, and the drive up to Summerhill's bistro for a late afternoon glass with the vineyard view is a hard thing to beat after 18 holes.
