Sip Happens: A Wine Tour in Osoyoos, British Columbia
By Susan Reid, Travel & Cruise ConsultantTravelled September 2025 · 7 min read
Quick takeaways
- Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country, at the southern tip of B.C.’s Okanagan Valley, is a semi-arid desert region that’s fantastic for wine.
- Susan took the Sip Happens “Osoyoos Full Day Lunch Wine Tour”, with 6 wineries and lunch at Miradoro.
- Favourites included Burrowing Owl, Bartier Bros., Nostalgia, Gehringer Brothers, Maverick and Kismet.
- Many wineries will ship cases home, even to Ontario.
Did you know British Columbia has a semi-arid desert region, the Okanagan Valley that is fantastic for wineries? The region referred to is Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country, located at the southern tip of the Okanagan Valley, and its wineries have won more accolades than any other wine region in Canada, and is where our tour begins!
We signed up for a tour with Sip Happens Wine Tours though one of our trusted suppliers. We opted for the “Osoyoos Full Day Lunch Wine Tour”. Which would take us to 6 wineries and a hillside restaurant with views for days! The tour bus driver, Herb, picked us up from our resort to take us touring for the day. There was no obligation to buy wine, but they had plenty of space in the bus if you did want to purchase some.
Before I go any further, Herb was an incredible host, and entertainer. We learned during the tour that Herb was also a stand-up comedian. He kept us laughing and engaged throughout the tour. He even had us moved to a different restaurant as the one on the tour schedule we had visited the day prior, and he changed out a winery for us as well. We could not have asked for a better tour guide! He made the tour so memorable and fun.
If you are in the area, and looking for a fun night out, look up Herb Dixon “The Harley Guy” to see if he is performing!
The wineries
In no particular order:
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery
- Location: 500 Burrowing Owl Pl, Oliver, BC V0H 1T1
- Phone: 250-498-0620
- Website: https://www.burrowingowlwine.ca/
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery produces premium VQA wines and has an 11-room guest house, a wine shop and a fine-dining restaurant on site. The wine tasting included a sample of 5 wines. If you go for a tasting on your own, 100% of the tasting fee is donated to the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC which makes it worth a stop based on that alone!
Burrowing Owl is an outstanding example of what is produced in B.C.’s Okanagan valley, and of the mindful actions some of its wineries are associated with. Their wines are on many good wine lists and in fine eateries. We even had a case shipped back to Ontario!
Bartier Bros. Vineyard and Winery
- Location: 4821 Ryegrass Rd, Oliver, BC V0H 1T1
- Phone: 250-487-9667
- Website: https://bartierbros.com/
This quaint winery was our next stop on the tour. Their back patio offered a stunning spot to relax with a glass of wine and take in the South Okanagan sunshine and scenery or even enjoy a game of bocce between sips.
Our tasting included a mix of whites, roses and reds. Torn between the Illegal Curve 2022 and a Rose, a friend and I opted for one of each with the promise to share them in the backyard at home! A lovely winery with wines at a very reasonable price point.
Nostalgia Wines
- Location: 4900 Black Sage Rd, Oliver, BC V0H 1T1
- Phone: 250-485-0227
- Website: https://nostalgiawines.ca/
Although this wasn’t part of our itinerary, we were running a little ahead of schedule with some extra time before lunch, so Herb made an extra stop, and we were so glad he did!
Nostalgia Wines is a female-owned and run winery, established by owner and winemaker Gina Fernandes Harfman. The winery’s unique branding, including the retro-inspired Pin-Up Series, reflects the owner’s passion for winemaking, farming, and a career in airbrushing and pinstriping classic cars! The winery itself had a fantastic outdoor seating area perfect for relaxing with wine and friends, and the views were incredible! The wine tasting offered a nice selection, and the staff were friendly and knowledgeable.
We enjoyed our time there and would definitely return.
Lunch at Miradoro
Three wineries in, it was time for lunch at Miradoro Restaurant. Reservations were made by the tour company.
Set up on a hillside, the patio dining offered panoramic view of the valley below. Food was Italian style with lots of pastas and brick oven pizzas on the menu. Food was hot, delicious and the portions were generous.
If you’re in Oliver, Miradoro is well worth a visit, great atmosphere, good food, and an unbeatable setting.
More wineries
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery
- Location: 876 Rd 8, Oliver, BC V0H 1T1
- Phone: 250-498-3537
- Website: https://www.gehringerwines.ca/
Our next stop on the tour was Gehringer Brothers, one of the earliest and still family-owned estate wineries in the Okanagan Valley. Gehringer, nestled in the heart of Golden Mile with fantastic vineyard views, had a great selection of wines at an incredible price point. The staff was incredibly friendly, and we walked away with a few bottles of wine.
Pro tipBe sure to pay the extra $4 to try Gehringer Brothers’ ice wine!
Maverick Estate Winery
- Location: 3974 Highway 97, Oliver, BC V0H 1T1
- Phone: 778-437-3133
- Website: https://www.maverickwine.ca/
Maverick Estate Winery is nestled against the western slope of the South Okanagan Valley. We took in a tasting of their red wines. Noted for their Pinot Noir variety, many of their wines are on the lighter side, and sweeter side as well. So if you are looking for a softer red, this winery is for you!
Kismet Estate Winery
- Location: 316 Rd 20, Oliver, BC V0H 1T1
- Phone: 250-495-4462
- Website: https://www.kismetestatewinery.com/
Kismet was the final stop on our tour and talk about saving the best for last! Kismet Winery received a Platinum award for its 2022 Cabernet Franc Reserve at the 2025 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada. And that was only one of several other gold and bronze awards. And even more impressive is their winemaker, Mandpreet Dhaliwal, is only 28 years old!
This winery is absolutely a place to watch with her at the helm! The wines were absolutely phenomenal, and their Cabernet Franc was outstanding. Treat yourself, you won’t be disappointed. My only regret is not shipping a case home. Though other tours may assure a good time, Sip Happens delivered a great time! From our funny and knowledgeable guide to their winery access, they raised the bar to redefine what it is to sip, savor, and celebrate in style!
Planning your own Okanagan wine getaway
Inspired to raise a glass in Oliver Osoyoos wine country? Here’s what we tell clients who are planning a trip.
- Getting there: fly into Penticton (about an hour’s drive from Osoyoos) or Kelowna (about two hours). From Vancouver, it’s a scenic drive of roughly four and a half hours.
- When to go: late spring through fall is wine-touring season. Summer is hot and busy, while September and October bring harvest and cooler days. Some tasting rooms keep shorter hours in the off-season, so check before you go.
- Take a tour: a guided tour like Sip Happens means no one has to be the designated driver, and your guide handles the route and the timing.
- Tasting fees: most wineries charge a small tasting fee, and many will waive it if you buy a bottle.
- Bringing wine home: ask each winery about shipping. Susan had a case sent all the way home to Ontario!
Advisor tipBook your wine tour and your resort early for summer and harvest weekends, as the best spots fill up fast. We can put together the whole getaway for you, from flights to the tour.
Want to explore an Osoyoos winery? Check out this full-day package!
Want to explore Osoyoos wine country? Susan would love to help you plan your own Okanagan getaway.
FAQs
Where is Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country?
At the southern tip of British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, in a semi-arid desert region.
Which wine tour did Susan take in Osoyoos?
The Sip Happens Wine Tours “Osoyoos Full Day Lunch Wine Tour”, which visits 6 wineries and includes lunch.
Can wineries ship wine to Ontario?
Many can. Susan had a case shipped home to Ontario from Burrowing Owl.
Where does the Burrowing Owl tasting fee go?
If you do a tasting on your own, 100% of the tasting fee is donated to the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC.
When is the best time to visit Okanagan wine country?
Late spring through fall. Summer is hot and busy, while September and October bring harvest season and cooler days.
How do you get to Osoyoos?
Fly into Penticton, about an hour’s drive away, or Kelowna, about two hours away. From Vancouver, it’s roughly a four-and-a-half-hour drive.
