This Canadian Wine Region Grows More Than 50 Grape Varieties

If you like your wine country laid back and a little bit quirky, with something delicious to savor around each bend of a winding country road, the Naramata Bench in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley is the place for you. This is not your fancy-château-with-a-bell-tower sort of wine region. It is a terrific place to settle into an Adirondack chair under a cherry tree while sampling an exceptional Pinot Noir and maybe a gourmet hot dog to go with it.

The Naramata Bench is on the quieter eastern side of Okanagan Lake, a steep, narrow and undulating strip of land that roughly follows Naramata Road about 10 miles north from the city of Penticton to the village of Naramata. Within this small region are some 40 wineries growing more than 50 varieties of grapes, though it is best known for Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay. Most are small, family-run operations, and many serve food, either humble or haute, inspired by the bounty of the surrounding land.

Your journey will likely begin in Penticton, which has a small airport, plenty of accommodations, and a lively culinary scene (try Kin & Folk for Asian fusion fare or Elma for upscale Turkish). The BC Wine Information Centre is a good place to get travel advice from the knowledgeable staff, or pick up one of the more than 900 British Columbia wines carried here.

From Penticton, head uphill on Vancouver Avenue, which soon becomes Lower Bench Road. (Should you be in need of a workout, nearby you will find the beginning of the abandoned Kettle Valley Railway, now a popular hiking and biking trail.) Your first stop on the bench should be at Evolve Sparkling House , a chic and cheeky winery that was named Canada's Top Sparkling Producer at the 2025 All Canadian Wine Championships. Enjoy a flight of bubbles and, if you feel adventurous, try your hand at sabering a bottle or two.

Just up the road, the bright, modern Poplar Grove Winery sits high on a rocky outcrop that offers some of the best views in the valley. Founded in 1993, it was one of the original five wineries on the Naramata Bench, and since 2007 has been owned by the Holler family, who grow and produce everything from rich, stone-fruit-forward Pinot Gris to bold, juicy red blends like the award-winning CSM (Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot). Be sure to visit the elegant winery restaurant where chefs Stacy Johnston and Minette Lotz create a true taste of place using locally farmed and foraged fare. The gourmet burger served at lunch pairs beautifully with that CSM.

From here, the road branches off in two directions. To the right and south, along Upper and Middle Bench Roads, you will find several wineries, including Da Silva Vineyards and Upper Bench Winery and Creamery , each well worth a visit. 

For a taste of Naramata's wilder side, turn left and north on Naramata Road. Today this winding road travels 200 to 650 feet above Okanagan Lake and some 13,000 years ago it was the shoreline of a massive glacial lake. When it melted, it left behind glacial and sedimentary deposits that combined with the remains of ancient volcanoes to create a rare mix of soils. This — along with the steep slopes, long daylight hours, sunny westward aspect, and moderating effect of the lake — is why so many different grapes can grow here so successfully.

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For instance, at Hillside Winery & Bistro , you will find both delicately floral Muscat Ottonel, the very first variety planted here in 1983, and dark, velvety Merlot. Each finds its perfect partner in the micro-seasonal dishes prepared by the bistro's executive chef Brandon Frederick. Across the road, Tightrope Winery produces elegantly peppery Syrah, earthy Barbera, and classic Naramata-style Pinot Noir, all black cherry, violet, cedar, and mushroom. Nearby Terravista Vineyards features some of Canada's first plantings of Albariño, Mencía, and Cinsault. 

A bit further up the road, it's worth taking a detour to the four small wineries of the Aikins Loop, each with its own unique personality. Deep Roots Winery is all about family (and won Canada's 2023 Best Performing Small Winery Award); Van Westen Vineyards serves up complex, powerhouse wines in an unpretentious setting; and the whimsical Elephant Island Winery offers well-crafted fruit wines on a shady terrace. Last, JoieFarm Winery is renowned for its bright, mineral-driven Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as well as the umami-rich, kimchi-topped "Han Seouleo" at The Hot Dog Lounge tucked amid the property's fruit trees.

From here, it's just a few minutes to the picture-postcard-pretty village of Naramata. This community follows the principles of the Slow Food movement (good, clean, and fair food for all) with a weekly market, free seed libraries, guerilla gardeners, and frequent community culinary events. At the heart of the village, right on the lakeshore, you will find the charming Naramata Inn , a 12-room Mission-style boutique hotel built in 1908, which features a French/Quebecois restaurant called Bistro Lapin Perdu . Sitting on the well-shaded patio, sipping a glass of wine and snacking on poutine (the classic Quebec dish of fries with gravy and cheese curds) is a lovely way to spend a relaxed afternoon.

Anywhere along the Naramata Bench is a good place to slow down and savor the beauty of this dramatic landscape and all its fine food and drink, no fancy château required.

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