Oliver | bc winery route

# of wineries: 40+

Don't miss: Here's the Thing, Platinum Bench, Le Vieux Pin, Covert Farms

Common varietals: big reds + big whites

Wine region: Okanagan Valley

Sub-regions: Golden Mile Bench, Golden Mile Slopes

The wine capital of Canada! Offering nearly half of all of BC's grapevines, the sleepy little town of Oliver is a beast of it's own when it comes to wine. I have been to Oliver many times so I have a handful of fave wineries that I try to visit every year. But I always make room for a few new-to-me stops during every trip!

With over 3,500 acres of vineyards and over 40 wineries, you are bound to find some wines and wineries that you love! I have been visiting for years and there are still quite a few wineries that I need to check off my list.

P.S. if you don't know the bold italicized words, there are definitions at the bottom of the page to make it easier!

Being in the southern BC desert, Oliver sees high temperatures in the day (30+ degrees Celsius or 86 degrees Farenheight) and refreshing overnight temperatures (15 Celsius or 59 Farenhight). Thanks to this diurnal temperature range, grapes in Oliver are able to ripen with fruit forward flavours while maintaining the classic BC acidity. 

With no lakes in sight, Oliver sees more extreme temperatures in the summer and the winter than other areas close by like Naramata and Summerland. Lakes tend to moderate temperatures for the surrounding areas so not having a body of water nearby means less temperature regulation.. 

Oliver is still in the Okanagan Valley which means there are mountains on both sides. Due to this diverse geography, a lot of grapes grow really well here. Vineyards on the west side of the valley get the morning and afternoon sun, which is perfect for growing whites like Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. 

The eastern side of the valley bakes in the afternoon and evening sun which is exactly what the big reds love. Even though it's only a few kilometres away, the eastern side of the valley is always a few degrees hotter than the west!

Being very south means that the big, bold grapes thrive in Oliver. Think Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, you name it!

Here are some areas to note within the Oliver area:

Golden Mile Bench - on the western side of Oliver this sub-GI gets the morning and afternoon sun so it is just a touch cooler than the western side of the valley. 

Golden Mile Slopes - also on the western side of Oliver, the Golden Mile Slopes sub-GI sits directly below the Golden Mile Bench. While it is super close to the Golden Mile Bench,, this area was deemed different enough from the GM Bench to get its very own designation.

Black Sage Bench - while it isn't technically a sub-GI just yet, the area is still recognized for growing phenomenal big reds! Being on the eastern side of the valley, it gets the long, hot sunny days and combined with it's well-draining sandy soils, there is a reason why there are so many great wineries gathered in this little area of Oliver.

With so many incredible wineries, it is really tempting to pack the day as full as possible but I recommend 4-5 wineries per day, max! Wineries typically open around 11am and close around 5pm so this leaves you time for lunch or charcuterie somewhere along the way which I HIGHLY recommend. Food is a must when wine tasting!

I suggest spending two days wine tasting in Oliver because there are SO many amazing wineries in the area. Below I have suggested wine routes for both days as well as given a short description of other wineries that I love in Oliver.

MY FAVES: Day 1

Platinum Bench Estate Winery - Always start your day at Platinum Bench! They have a heavy focus on red wines and they pair all of their phenomenal wines with freshly made bread. Need I say more? Getting here first thing in the morning guarantees that you will be able to take some of their incredible bread home with you!

Here's the Thing Vineyards - The adorable yellow tasting room is a beacon from the road. Fantastic wines with sassy names and the greatest customer service awaits you inside this little gem. They have a focus on organic winemaking practices and operate nearly off grid. So cool! Only a 3 min drive from Platinum Bench.

Stoneboat Pinot House - If you can't tell by the name, they have a focus on Pinots! Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and even the rare Pinotage can be found here at Stoneboat! Don't pass on their bubbles—all are stunning! Only a 1 min drive from Here's the Thing.

Le Vieux Pin - If you enjoy wine, I can pretty much guarantee that you will like Le Vieux Pin's stunning wines. But if you like Syrah, this is the place for you because they have some of the best Syrah around. It doesn't come with a cheap price tag but it is so worth it. Only a 4 min drive from Stoneboat.

MY FAVES: Day 2

Red Barn Winery - tucked into the edge of the valley mountains, Red Barn is exquisite. From the wines to the tasting experience and friendly service, this winery is top notch. Fun fact: there is no oak here! Red Barn uses stainless and concrete to age their wines!

Bartier Bros Vineyard & Winery - from whites and rosés to reds, Bartier is producing stellar wines of all kinds. It was REALLY difficult to choose only a few wines to bring home. Their outdoor tasting area is super cute so you might just want to spend a few hours here. Bartier is definitely on the top of my list to revisit every year! Only a 6 min drive from Red Barn.

Hester Creek Estate Winery- I am a HC convert. Their wines are really tasty and priced very well. They offer FREE wine tastings but they also have elevated tastings available and they host plenty of events like live music and cooking classes. I am really loving what Hester Creek is doing. Don't miss their amazing restaurant Terrafina--the patio is incredible! Only a 6 min drive from Bartier.

Road 13 Vineyards - a must visit! From a stunning tasting room with an incredible valley view, to their insanely good reds, Road 13 is a place you don't want to miss. With vines planted in 1968, their vineyard is one of the oldest in the Okanagan! Only a 6 min drive from Hester Creek.

If you have time:

Maverick Estate Winery - Some really nice wines are coming out of this little winery right off the main highway. They are doing some very cool things with a new extremely high elevation vineyard. Only a 4 min drive from Road 13

Kismet Estate Winery - Lots of delicious wines to choose from during a casual tasting at their wine bar but they also have an Indian restaurant onsite which is a great stop for lunch or dinner! Only a 1 min drive from Maverick

Rust Wine Co. - You will always get a great experience at Rust! The car was barely parked and they were bringing welcome wine to us right in the parking lot! They also have a view of the Valley that you can stare at all day long. Only a 4 min drive from Maverick 

Intersection Wines - This winery left a big impression after only one visit. Their vineyard is split with different soil types and they have the same Merlot vines growing on the property just with different natural soil. In a tasting you can try the Merlots side by side and taste the actual difference that just soil can make. So cool! Only a 3 min drive from Bartier

Nostalgia Wines Inc. - they have rebranded since my last visit so I am excited to stop in again! Only a 6 min drive from Rust

vinAmité Winery and Wine Lounge - a tiny but adorable tasting room that is open late! This is a great spot for your last glass of the day! Only 4 min from Hester Creek

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards - while I haven't had a wine tasting here, I ate at their restaurant which is amazing! I have tried a handful of their wines before and I always love their Merlot, Pinot Gris and Rosé. Only a 5 min drive from Rust

Phantom Creek Estates - the facilities here are absolutely insane. I found the wines a touch pricey and not totally my style but I would absolutely go again for those views. Only a 3 min drive from Red Barn

Quinta Ferriera Estate Winery - the wines aren't necessarily my favourite but the old school Portuguese style winery will give you a totally different experience than other wineries in the area. We were able to purchase library Malbecs which I am really excited to taste back to back one day! Only a 4 min drive from Le Vieux Pin

To be honest... the not-so-great winery reviews

Burrowing Owl - as such a well known brand, I was hoping for an awesome tasting experience but to be honest it is nothing special. We waited in a long line to be shuffled through the small tasting room where they quickly ran us through a handful of wines with little to no explanation. It was rushed, loud, crowded and really not what I enjoy in a wine tasting. There are a lot of other wineries in the area with a much better tasting experience and equivalent, if not superior wines. I wouldn't waste your time here. 

Please note, there are a LOT of wineries in the Oliver area that I haven't yet had the chance to visit. But if you have never been, this is a good starting point!

When visiting Oliver you have a few different options for accomodations. You can stay right in Oliver—I have stayed at the Maple Leaf Motel and it was definitely a motel but was perfect for what we needed. 

Another fantastic accommodation option is Vaseux Lakeside Resort which is centrally located only 10 minutes away from Oliver. They offer four townhomes on a private beach which is perfect for relaxing before or after visiting the south Okanagan wineries!

Other options: Gallagher Lake which I hear is great, or you can stay in Okanagan Falls which is only 15 min north, or in Osoyoos, 20 min south!

GI: Geographical Indication; a specific wine region in BC which can be indicated on wine labels. BC has nine GIs as well as sub-GIs.  

Sub-GI: Sub-geographical Indication; a sub-region or a much smaller area within a larger GI where it is recognized that the terroir enables the area to produce distinct wines. You can also see this listed on a wine label.

Diurnal temperature range:  when there is a big difference between the day time and night time temperatures. For example, in the Okanagan Valley, daytime temperatures can reach 40 degrees Celsius and overnight it can drop to 10 degrees. This constant differing temperature helps grapes to ripen with lots of fruit flavours while maintaining a lot of acidity. Both are classic traits of BC wine.

Terroir: all of the environmental things that can affect the taste of grapes. These are things that make the vineyard or area unique such as the soil, climate, altitude, proximity to mountains or lakes etc. Basically, the unique parts of a vineyard can create distinct wines!