North Okanagan

While the South Okanagan sizzles with summer heat, the North Okanagan offers a slightly more temperate climate—perfect for relaxing, exploring, and sipping your way through charming wineries, cideries, and meaderies.

This scenic and peaceful corner of British Columbia’s wine country is rich in lakes, mountains, grasslands, and woodlands, and boasts a growing collection of artisanal producers located around Vernon, Armstrong, Enderby, and Grindrod.

Boutique Wineries, Cideries & Meaderies

Though smaller in scale than its southern counterparts, the North Okanagan wine scene is full of character. You’ll find:

• Family-run wineries crafting small-batch wines for every palate

• Cideries using crisp, local apples

• Meaderies blending honey and botanicals for something truly unique

• Award winning World-Class Distillery. Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery is BC’s Original Farm-to-Flask distillery

Many of these tasting rooms are easy to access and offer a welcoming, down-to-earth vibe that perfectly matches the region’s relaxed pace.

Vernon: Wine, Culture & Lakeside Living

The City of Vernon, surrounded by pastoral farmland and rolling hills, is a hub for arts, dining, and local culture. Located where Kalamalka Lake meets the northern tip of Okanagan Lake, Vernon is home to:

• Eclectic shops, restaurants, and nightlife

• Local farmers’ markets and craft events

• Silver Star Mountain Resort, a short drive away for year-round mountain adventure

Vernon’s landscape reflects its strong ranching and food production roots, which blend beautifully with the region’s emerging wine and beverage culture.

Kalamalka Lake: The “Lake of a Thousand Colours”

One of the region’s most iconic natural features is Kalamalka Lake, often voted one of BC’s most beautiful lakes. Nicknamed the “lake of a thousand colours,” its ever-changing shades—from emerald green to deep indigo—are caused by mineral-rich glacial water and calcium carbonate reflections. It’s a must-see destination for swimming, kayaking, and photography.

Cheese, Wine & Culinary Delights

The North Okanagan is also a hub for artisan cheese production. In Armstrong, Cherryville, and Enderby, you’ll find:

• Local cheesemakers producing everything from aged cheddars to soft brie and goat cheese

• Shops and delis celebrating locally made cheeses

• The annual Armstrong Cheese Festival, a quaint and beloved community event

Pairing wine and cheese is a natural part of any tour here. Many visitors opt for guided wine and cheese tastings that combine stops at wineries and cheesemakers, ending the day with a scenic cheese board and wine flight on a lakeside patio.