WEEKEND GUIDE: OLIVER, BC
Oliver, BC is known as “Canada’s Wine Capital” due to more than 40 wineries in the area. We are not big drinkers and don’t know a whole lot about wine, but we were looking for a relaxing summer getaway in the Interior and we love how picturesque vineyards can be. We also picked Oliver for its close proximity to Osoyoos Lake.
Oliver is about a 4.5 hour drive from Vancouver along the Trans-Canada Highway BC-1 E and BC-3 E. We left at noon on the Friday which brought us to Oliver in the late afternoon, with plenty of time to check in, have dinner and unwind.
We stayed at the Coast Hotel for 3 nights. Our room was large and very clean and comfortable. The staff was friendly and the location was convenient for us -- right beside the Visitor's Centre, near many wineries, and just a quick drive down to Osoyoos. The breakfast was standard (eggs, sausage, toast, waffles, cereal, etc) and refilled often. One thing to note: the breakfast area is extremely small for how large the hotel is and can get really crowded in the morning.
The wineries in Oliver are pretty close to each other but some are up on hills and they do span a distance of about 30 km. Depending on how many wineries you want to see and where they are located, you could get around by bike or you could drive to them. You will also need a car to get to Osoyoos.
On our first day, we chose to rent bikes and go to a select handful of wineries. We just rented regular bikes but you could also rent e-bikes if you want some extra help getting up the hills (I walked my bike up some of them while Slade barely broke a sweat biking the entire time). There is a nice bike trail on either side of the river as well that you can incorporate into part of your route.
We were surprised to find that there weren’t many bike rental companies in Oliver, and only a couple in Osoyoos. Do your research and make sure you can pick your bikes up at a time that is convenient for you. We rented our bikes from Biking with Brenda which we found by going to the Visitor’s Centre right beside our hotel. Brenda was extremely helpful and made our renting experience seamless.
The main reason we went to Oliver was to have a chance to explore the many wineries and vineyards in the area. Below is a list of the ones we visited.
This was our first stop and one of our favorites overall. We had lunch first (more details below) and then headed over to the tasting room. The property is so beautiful and it makes you feel transported to a Tuscan villa. The tasting was complimentary and we were able to try the majority of the wines they had to offer. We particularly liked the rosé and The Judge.
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery
We didn’t spend too much time here, but it is located directly across the street from Hester Creek so we decided to check it out as well. The tasting room is small but the tasting was complimentary and the service was friendly. They have recently released two sparkling wines, Sparkle and Tickled Pink, which we quite liked.
We were looking forward to seeing this castle-style winery as soon as we saw photos. It’s truly a gorgeous building and location, with amazing views from the tasting room. We skipped the tasting here as we’ve had plenty of Road 13 wine before, but it’s worth a visit regardless. There is a tasting fee, but it is waived with purchase of a bottle.
The tasting here was quite limited and cost $8, but we were able to share one which we didn’t do anywhere else. We didn’t love the wine here but the space itself is beautiful, with an impressive modern design and inviting grounds.
This tasting was by far our favorite. The lady who helped us ran us through two pages worth of delicious and unique wine within 10 min. We must have had at least a full glass! She was talking a mile a minute, it was so entertaining but we also learned a lot. They also have snacks on hand (pretzels and cheese). They were completely unpretentious and didn’t expect us to purchase anything. Suffice it to say, we bought two bottles and would have bought more if we had the space.
We didn’t do a tasting here, but we did go for dinner (more details below) and we loved the observation tower as well as the grounds. We actually came back here the next day to wander the grounds some more and take photos just before sunset.
We didn’t do a tasting here either but we did have dinner here on our last night. It was packed! We tried one of their Merlots, which was okay (we might have also been a little sick of wine by this point though).
The tasting here was pretty short but we enjoyed all of their wines. We ended up getting a bottle of Moscato and discovered our tasting was complimentary as a result. There is a lovely viewing platform upstairs where we took one of our favorite photos of the entire trip.
Even if wine is not for you, it’s nice to check out the vineyards and walk around. There are a number of other things you can do in the area too.
This little distillery, located just a few kilometres outside of Oliver, opened in 2015 and offers a handful of gins and whiskies. Although they operate in small batches, the owner has huge ambitions to produce the world’s best single malt whiskey. We went in for a tasting on our second day and received a “unique” tasting experience including a complimentary gin & tonic and the owner’s signature on our newly purchased bottle of award-winning gin.
This one is a little bit out of the way, as it is just outside of Keremeos, so we recommend visiting on your way to or on your way out of the Oliver area. The free tasting included 6 different ciders to try (all delicious) ranging from apple and pear-based ciders to more interesting combinations including cherries and peaches.
During our trip, we decided to take a more laid-back itinerary and spend a day out on the lake in Osoyoos. The town itself is nothing to write home about but the lake and surrounding area are beautiful. We took out our inflatable boat and launched it from Haynes Point Provincial Park which was fairly quiet and very well-maintained. Afterwards, we headed in to town for lunch and spent the afternoon at Gyro Beach.
Rattlesnake Lounge at Nk'Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course
We walked here on our first night. They serve standard pub fare but the food was really tasty and well-made. The patio offers a nice view of Oliver and the nearby lake. The restaurant itself is a little rundown and certainly has seen better days, but the food and service more than makes up for it.
Terrafina Restaurant at Hester Creek
This was by far our favorite restaurant in terms of food. Incredibly fresh, creative and delicious! They incorporated fresh fruit and flowers into both of our meals and the flavors were just outstanding. Their outdoor patio was extremely pretty and the service was excellent.
Sonora Room Restaurant at Burrowing Owl
As much as we absolutely loved the location and style of Burrowing Owl, and were very much looking forward to eating at their renowned fine dining restaurant, we weren’t very impressed with the food. Boasting a farm-to-table menu with the freshest ingredients, it didn’t disappoint in that regard but the portions were small and both of our meals weren’t that flavorful. The service was great, however, and we would still recommend a visit nonetheless.
Miradoro at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards
Offering a modern, fine dining experience with good views of the valley and an intimate atmosphere, Miradoro has a Mediterranean and Italian inspired menu and a good selection of wine and cocktails. We happened to go on a night that was quite busy so the service wasn’t great but we ended up getting part of our meal comped which was a nice surprise!
We went here for lunch while in Osoyoos and were both pleased with our meals. Fresh and tasty pub food with healthy portions.
We had so much fun on this trip and highly recommend it for anyone looking to enjoy the sunshine in the Okanagan Valley. Have you been to Oliver or Osoyoos before? Let us know about your own trip in the comments below!
Happy travels,
Maria