5 B.C. wine tours to welcome winter

The grapes are harvested and the tourists have gone home—now wineries in the Okanagan and Similkameen are opening their doors for a taste before Christmas

Credit: Tourism Summerland

Okanagan Crush Pad during Light Up the Vines

Wineries in the Okanagan and Similkameen open their doors for a taste before Christmas

Okanagan Falls Holiday Cheer 

Thirteen wineries offer wine tastings, food pairings and holiday gift ideas. The wineries will also be collecting unperishable goods to donate to a local charity, Helping Hand’s Christmas Food Hampers.

When: November 19 and 20, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Light Up the Vines 

The wineries and cideries of Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive decorate with lights and open their doors, offering wine and food pairings, mulled wine, holiday promotions and a chance to win a prize worth more than $500. Sleeping over? The Summerland Waterfront Resort has a Light Up the Vines weekend special.

When: November 19, 26 and 27; vines lit from 3 p.m.  to 8 p.m. See individual wineries for opening times.

Winter in Wine Country Festival

More than 30 wineries in Oliver and Osoyoos offer a range of treats from food and (of course) wine to music, wine games, prizes and special offers. There’s also a community light-up and fireworks in Oliver the first weekend and a festival of trees at Nk’Mip Cellars Winery, Watermark Beach Resort, Frank Venables Theatre Lobby and Baldy Mountain Resort throughout the festival.

When: November 25 to December 4; open house times vary by winery 

Sip into the Season

Along the Westside Wine Trail, the wineries of West Kelowna open for an afternoon of wine tasting and food nibbling while also displaying the work of local artisans and crafters. 

When: December 4, noon to 5 p.m. 

Catch the Spirit

During the local light-up celebrations, the Similkameen Wineries Association offers a self-guided tour of 10 boutique wineries featuring wine tastings, holiday treats and gift options. 

When: December 3 and 4, noon to 5 p.m.