Chapter 04 · Wine country
The Lake Country wine route, a stone’s throw from home
Eight wineries inside the district and two more just over the line, most of them within ten minutes of any Lake Country address. Who they are, where they are, and what living next to vineyards means for buyers.
Grapes have grown in Lake Country since Gray Monk’s founders planted their first vines in 1972, and today the district’s benches above Okanagan Lake hold some of the Okanagan’s longest-running estates (Tourism Kelowna). Most cluster in two places: along Camp Road between Okanagan Centre and Carr’s Landing, and on the hills around Goldie Road and the Commonage south and east of Winfield.
The wineries
| Winery | Address | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Gray Monk Estate Winery | 1055 Camp Rd | Founded by George and Trudy Heiss, who planted in 1972; Pinot Gris pioneers; the Lookout Restaurant |
| Ex Nihilo Vineyards | 1525 Camp Rd | Steep lake-view vineyard and an art gallery space |
| Arrowleaf Cellars | 1574 Camp Rd | Family-owned hillside winery, popular for picnics |
| 50th Parallel Estate | 17101 Terrace View Rd | A 61-acre destination winery known for Pinot Noir |
| Intrigue Wines | 2291 Goldie Rd | Boutique winery since 2009 |
| O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars | 2290 Goldie Rd | Round tasting room and a garden bistro |
| Blind Tiger Vineyards | 11014 Bond Rd | Organic vineyard with a Prohibition theme |
| O’Rourke Family Estate | 15595 Commonage Rd | A large estate with wine caves, Row 188 restaurant and suites; book ahead |
Sources: Lake Country wine touring guide (updated June 2026), Scenic Sip trail map, Tourism Kelowna and each winery’s website. This site isn’t affiliated with any winery.
Just over the line: Ancient Hill Estate Winery (4918 Anderson Rd) has a Kelowna address but is usually toured with the Lake Country wineries, and Britannia Brewing’s Lake Country location (8999 Jim Bailey Rd) sits on the Kelowna side of the border beside the Rail Trail.
“From most Lake Country addresses, a tasting room is closer than the grocery store. That’s a big part of why people move here.”
Sean Phillips, REALTOR®
Buying near vineyards: what to know
- It’s farmland. Nearly half of Lake Country is in the Agricultural Land Reserve (District). Neighbouring farms can run sprayers, wind machines, bird cannons and harvest crews; BC’s right-to-farm protections favour normal farm practices. Visit at different times of year.
- Buying a vineyard or orchard? ALR rules limit house size, extra dwellings and subdivision, and farm tax status depends on meeting production thresholds. Talk to the Agricultural Land Commission and BC Assessment before you write an offer. See the ALR section.
- Traffic on summer weekends. Camp Road and Goldie Road get busy with tasting-room visitors from May to October.
- Short-term rentals. Wine country draws visitors, but Lake Country is under BC’s principal residence requirement for short-term rentals. Read the rental rules before you buy for income.
Which areas are closest?
- Camp Road wineries: Okanagan Centre and Carr’s Landing.
- Goldie Road and Commonage wineries: Winfield, The Lakes and the hills east of Highway 97.
- Everywhere else: almost every Lake Country address is within about a fifteen-minute drive of a tasting room.
Questions? Call or text
Ask about a street, a water system, or what your place is worth
Sean Phillips lives full time in the Okanagan and works the whole valley, from Vernon down through Lake Country to Kelowna. Ask him which areas are on lake water and which are on Beaver Lake or Oyama Lake water, whether a house is on sewer or septic, how much of a property is in the Agricultural Land Reserve, or what a realistic list price looks like this month. Straight answers, no pressure.
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