Vancouver might get all the attention in British Columbia, being the capital city and having hosted the 2012 Winter Olympics. But for lovers of year-round sports like swimming and skiing, take a look inward and you'll also find some of the province’s finest wines and vineyards.
There is so much new growth here and so many new vineyards that the region is referred to as the “Napa Valley of the North.” Some vineyards in this region of British Columbia actually border Washington state, which is one of America’s fastest-growing wine regions.
Due in part to the location of the Okanagan Valley and its very large lake, the weather offers an incomparable zone for growing grapes.
Part desert and part alpine, the area is fast developing into a first-class destination for lovers of sports and wine. In the summer, dozens of incredible golf courses, miles of hiking trails, and lake activities, along with 100 wineries located in this valley, make this a desirable destination for multiple activities.
Microclimates dot the valley and range from hot, sandy, desert soils found in the southern valley to richer topsoil and clay found in the north end.
In recent years, the wineries here have stepped up their production of vinifera, focusing on grapes native to the Mediterranean and central Europe, and raising the bar on the region’s award-winning estate wines.
Fruits, especially grapes, grow very well in Okanagan Valley, making it British Columbia’s oldest and main grape-growing region.
