Welcome to your guide to the Best Ever Naramata Wineries!

Usually, when people imagine wine country, their minds immediately turn to the continental settings of France or Spain – or perhaps even Australia and California. However, ask any dedicated wine enthusiast where the most interesting grapes are grown, and they’re likely to give a potentially surprising answer: the Naramata Bench.

That’s right, as well as being (in our opinion) one of the most beautiful places in the world, the Okanagan proudly wears the accolade of one of the most unique wine-growing regions on the planet. What makes it so special, you ask?

Well, we’re going to tell you all about it – along with providing the inside scoop on the best Naramata wineries to visit in the area, and all their essential details. That should go a small way to ensuring you aren’t overwhelmed by the sheer volume of viticulture that occurs in this section of the valley!

Welcome to the
Best Ever Naramata Wineries

Best Naramata Wineries

The grapes grown in this part of British Columbia are unlike any others in the world. This comes down to several interacting factors, which include:

  • The Soil: Before the Okanagan was one of Canada’s hottest tourist destinations, it was a land of wild geological unpredictability. When enormous stratovolcanoes weren’t violently erupting, glaciers were making their slow migrations through the valley. Both of these left behind a bewildering variety of minerals in the soil, which directly impact the taste of the finished wines – giving them a unique flavour quality we call the terroir.

  • The Terrain: If you’ve been to this part of the world before (or have spent much time on Google images), you will notice the terrain is wildly varied. Valleys, snow-capped mountains, rivers, waterfalls, deserts, lakes, and all sorts of geological features exist only short drives apart. This patchwork of biomes combines with fluctuating temperatures to create innumerable one-of-a-kind microclimates, which in turn impact the flavour of the grapes.

  • The Location: The Okanagan is such an excellent holiday destination because its latitudinal position provides some of the highest rates of sunlight exposure on Earth (more than 1900 hours annualy!). It’s not just us travellers who take advantage of this, the grapevines do too.

  • The Tradition: Agriculture has had its roots in the Okanagan as far back as western settlers have existed here. While it all began with soft-fruit orchards, some parts of the valley have had grapevines planted for almost a century. These traditional farming techniques, trial-and-error knowledge gains, and deep respect for the land are passed down through family trees and among passionate growers.

  • The Allure: When combined, all the above factors were enough to bring wine enthusiasts and expert viticulturists flocking from all over the globe. Many brought new grape varieties or undiscovered wisdom along with them.

Learn more about the Naramata Bench Terroir:

So, now that you know exactly why the Naramata Bench is one of the best places on earth to go strolling through the vineyards, all you need to do is come and taste the results for yourself. Don’t forget to stop by Poplar Grove Cheese to pick up some delicious small batch cheese to pair with your wine along the way!

Experience the Best Ever Naramata Wineries

Bench 1775 Winery

Naramata Winery Bench 1775

Rumour has it that Bench 1775 has the most beautiful patio in the whole of the Okanagan (as seen in our first image). We’ve seen our fair share of the local wineries, and while we don’t like to choose favourites, we can certainly see why folks would say that. The panoramic view of Okanagan Lake and the surrounding countryside here is so exquisite that we won’t even try to capture it in words – you’ll just have to see for yourself! You’ll score all sorts of brownie points if you bring a romantic interest here, that’s for sure.

The folks at Bench 1775 aren’t content to just coast by on nature’s merits though, as they prefer to work hand-in-hand with mother nature down at the grapevines. The result is some of the finest Sauvignon Blanc in the whole of the Okanagan Valley, with a distinctly expressive terroir that is absolutely the essence of this unique place.

Tasting Fees:

Learn more about tasting fees here.

Amenities:

Dog-Friendly:

Yes! They even have their own pair of pups, Bruno and Lulu!

Visit this Naramata Winery:

Address: 1775 Naramata Road, Penticton BC

Website | Instagram

Da Silva Vineyards and Winery

Da Silva Naramata Winery

The dream that is Da Silva started long, long ago in 18th century Portugal. Even this far back in time, the Borba family were busy getting their hands dirty and sewing viticultural passion directly into their DNA. In 1959, their descendants became one of the many wine aficionado immigrants to newly-discovered Okanagan wine country, bringing centuries of old world knowledge, wisdom, and techniques with them. Across 11 vineyards, countless varietals are nurtured in accordance with the unique needs of each square meter of snowflake-unique Okanagan ground.

Unsurprisingly, this has led to a bountiful haul of diverse rewards, with over 20 different vintages available to taste or take home with you. From Okanagan-classic Syrahs balancing blueberries and exotic spices, to Vinho Brancos that draw directly on the field blending techniques of the family’s Portuguese ancestors. The culinary alchemy at work in their restaurant, The Kitchen, makes it one of the standout places to dine in the local area too – especially if you want to sample some Iberian tastes you might not have tried before, complete with thoughtful wine pairings.

Tasting Fees:

Learn more about tasting fees here.

Amenities:

  • Incredible Mediterranean cuisine at The Kitchen restaurant.

Dog-Friendly:

No.

Visit this Naramata Winery:

Address: 375 Upper Bench Road North, Penticton BC

Website | Instagram

Elephant Island Winery

Elephant Island Winery on Naramata Bench

Elephant Island are understandably dedicated to preserving the agricultural wonderland that they inhabit. This respect for the flora, fauna, and terra has led them down a path of minimal intervention viticultural practices, living fermentation techniques, and mutually beneficial relationships with other ecologically-minded farmsteads. It has also led them to diversify their crop to include cider apples in 2017, so if your preferred tiples cross genre boundaries, you can tick multiple boxes here.

Their portfolio is comprised of three categories, ‘regular’ wines, micro-scaled reserve wines, and the punk alternative processes of their fruit wines. The reserve wines are of very limited stock and represent a dedicated long-term rearing process. The fruit wines eschew grapes entirely, opting for ingredients like pears and black currants for fermentation instead. We strongly advise you try at least one of each.

Tasting Fees:

Learn more about tasting fees here.

Amenities:

  • As well as the usual wines, their shop stocks numerous ciders grown and brewed on-site.

Dog-Friendly:

Yes!

Visit this Naramata Winery:

Address: 2730 Aikins Loop, Naramata