As the birthplace of wine in British Columbia, Kelowna has no shortage of wineries, vineyards, and tasting rooms. In fact, there are over 40 vineyards here, many of them within a short drive of one another! The tricky thing is deciding which ones to visit, especially if you're only in town for a short stay.
Whether you want to take your time at one or two spots, go on a guided tour with your girlfriends to hit several in a short time, or thoroughly explore an entire wine trail, we have you covered with this detailed guide on wineries in Kelowna.
10 Best Kelowna Wineries
Quick note: the pricing information we included is current as of June 2024.
1. Sandhill Wines
The closest winery to The Royal Kelowna resort, this popular, award-winning winery is in the heart of downtown. Sandhill was the first winery in the Okanagan Valley to test the innovative concept of single vineyard winemaking, and still offers these special wines through its Small Lots Program.
Pricing: Tastings start at $16, and you can also order wines by the glass in the tasting room
Distance from The Royal: Two-minute drive/15-minute walk
2. Calona Vineyards
Adjacent to Sandhill, Calona is another of the best Kelowna wineries downtown. It's also one of the oldest wineries in British Columbia, focused heavily on wine education. The winery offers popular wine courses in addition to tours and tastings. One especially unique thing about Calona is the beautiful wine labels. Paintings grace each bottle, chosen because they touch on specific aspects of the wine's flavour.
Pricing: Wines available by the glass, bottle, or flight and priced accordingly
Distance from The Royal: Two-minute drive/16-minute walk
3. Sperling
When you ask around about wineries in Kelowna, you'll almost certainly hear Sperling recommended. The certified organic vineyard is one of the oldest in BC, and it's been family-run for four generations. With that in mind, it's family-friendly, encouraging visitors to bring a picnic and with a playground onsite.
Pricing: $10–25 per person with a choice of five flights
Distance from The Royal: 13-minute drive/25-minute bike ride
4. Tantalus Vineyards
Many people, local and visitors alike, count Tantalus among the very best Kelowna wineries. Its Riesling garners international attention, but the Chardonnay, bubbly, and Pinot Noirs are all divine, too. Aside from the wine itself, Tantalus' physical space is a work of art. The LEED-certified tasting room and dog-friendly patio have outstanding views over the lake, and the interior is set up almost like a gallery, complete with works from local artists on display.
Pricing: $15–25 for a tasting of five wines, or $45 per person with the Bees & Barrels tour
Distance from The Royal: 15-minute drive/38-minute bike ride
Courtesy of tourismkelowna.com
5. The View
As its name implies, The View offers some of the most impressive scenery of any Kelowna winery—and that's really saying something! Sip your wine as you look out over the vineyards, taking in sweeping views of the mountains and lake. In homage to the winery's setting in a 1922 apple packing house, it offers a popular cider in addition to several wine varietals.
Pricing: $10 for a flight of wine or cider
Distance from The Royal: 16-minute drive/37-minute bike ride
6. The Vibrant Vine
Looking for the best of the best Kelowna wineries? Head to this aptly-named, bright yellow winery! It holds the honor of making the 2013 "Best White Wine in the World" and has repeatedly been named the top winery in BC. Visiting The Vibrant Vine is a true experience, with everything onsite in 3-D (you'll even get a pair of 3-D glasses when you arrive!), three stages for live performances, and multiple places to eat.
Pricing: Tastings start at $13.05
Distance from The Royal: 17-minute drive/45-minute bike ride
7. Priest Creek Family Estate Winery
Unlike many other wineries in Kelowna, which are known primarily for their whites, family-owned Priest Creek is renowned for its red wines. And believe it or not, many people flock here for the onsite food truck, affectionately known as The Spot, just as much as the vino.
Pricing: $10 for a tasting of five wines
Distance from The Royal: 19-minute drive
West Kelowna Wineries
With so many fantastic wineries and Kelowna attractions right downtown, you don't have to venture far. However, don't overlook West Kelowna, just a short hop across Okanagan Lake.
8. Rollingdale
Another certified organic winery, Rollingdale is known mostly for its sweet icewine and other white wines. The land where the vineyards sit today was once a rolling orchard, with apple, cherry, and peach trees. Guests are encouraged to bring a picnic and enjoy the tasting room, wine cellar, or outside on the hill overlooking the beautiful surroundings.
Pricing: $10 per person, per tasting
Distance from The Royal: 10-minute drive/33-minute bike ride
9. Grizzli Winery
The state-of-the-art tasting room at Grizzli is one of the largest in all of Canada, so everyone is sure to find a wine they love. There's also truly "always something happening." Come for a 'regular' tasting, happy hour, live music, Yoga and Wine, or even family-friendly 'Sip n Slide' events with bouncy castles and games. Throughout the tasting room, be sure to check out the artwork, all by Canadian artists and all available for purchase.
Pricing: Tastings are $20 per person, tours are $45
Distance from The Royal: 10-minute drive/40-minute bike ride
10. Black Swift
One of five Jason Parkes Customs brands, all of them a bit edgy and innovative, Black Swift has one of the best outdoor spaces of any Kelowna winery. Of course, it overlooks the lake, but it also has a wonderful picnic area with plenty of seating and shade. The pièce de résistance, however, is that the entire building is a work of art, with black swift birds adorning several surfaces. The wines also have clever names, adding to the overall experience. Unicorn of the Sea or Fistful of Mothballs, anyone?
Pricing: $15–30 per person
Distance from The Royal: 12-minute drive/40-minute bike ride
Stay at The Royal to Visit Multiple Wineries in Kelowna
If you want to check out several wineries while you're in town, book an unforgettable stay at The Royal Kelowna. In addition to being nestled in the heart of downtown, convenient to everything you could possibly want to see and do here, we offer a couple of strategies for putting together your perfect winery-focused itinerary.
All guests receive complimentary adult bicycle rentals, just one of our Stay® | Well amenities (you can also take advantage of beach gear, yoga mats, umbrellas for the very occasional rainy day, and more!). Check out a bike, then head for some of the many wineries within a 30-minute ride. With the beautiful scenery along the way, you'll quickly see why this is one of the most popular Kelowna activities most of the year.
Alternatively, book a guided wine tour to leave the planning (and driving!) to someone else. We've partnered with Kelowna Concierge to offer guests of The Royal a 20% discount on all half- and full-day tours.
