Uncork the Sun! Colourful characters, award-winning wineries and stunning scenery all give Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country its unique glow. Situated at the very southern tip of British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, in one of the warmest areas of Western Canada, we bring together more than 40 of the region’s wineries who have won more accolades than any other wine region in Canada.
The sunny slopes of Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country are also the perfect place to enjoy fine dining with winery views and to experience inventive events such as the Half Corked Marathon (2017 Canada’s Event of the Year), Pig Out Festival Weekend and extensive food and wine centric events and festivities throughout the wineries.
View our wineries or explore our Member Wineries Map.
About Our Land
To the north, basalt-faced nʕaylintn (McIntyre Bluff) acts as a buffer and aids in creating a microclimate unique to the South Okanagan. It denotes the end of one geographic zone and beginning of another – nʕaylintn is the northernmost point of the Great Basin Desert.
As you pass the area, a subtle shift in landscape is noticeable: darker antelope brush found in the south is slowly replaced by more grey/green sagebrush, and barren grasslands experience an increase of vegetation and shrubs.
To the south, Osoyoos Lake moderates temperatures and provides a water source for wildlife. Fed by the Okanagan River, Osoyoos Lake extends into Washington State and connects, eventually, to the Columbia River.
Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir are original to the area and cling to the sides of Anarchist Mountain, bordering the east. In the west, a slow climb up the Okanagan Range keeps the area in a rain shadow and helps maintain the region’s desert-like climate.
About Our Grapes
As a region, and in comparison to neighbours in the United States and over in Europe, the Okanagan is young. Growers are experimenting, and varietal plantings can boom or bust. Fortunately, we’re seeing more of the former with a number of strong contenders; we’re establishing what can grow – and what grows well and can best reflect the region.
Principal varietals, planted according to acreage, are:
Osoyoos – Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah
Oliver – Merlot, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon
With the diversity of growers in the region, there is as much diversity in plantings. From Pinot Noir to Tempranillo, Riesling to Viognier, the expression of terroir is in a period of exploration and discovery.
Looking for a specific wine, check out our wine matrix with varietals by member winery. 2021 Oliver Osoyoos Wine Matrix
For more information about what grows in Oliver and Osoyoos you can see the current information from Wines of British Columbia.
