There are several wine hotspots around the globe besides the countryside of France and Spain. Naramata Bench in Canada is one of these prime wine-producing regions. The area sits in the heart of the Okanagan province on the southeastern edge of Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Canada. It is home to over 30 wineries that produce some of the popular wine varieties in white and red portfolios. Besides, most of the wineries are quaint and deep inside beautiful vineyards.
Wine Tasting in Naramata: 8 Glorious Options
Discover the natural beauty of the region as you sample world-class wines. We’ll bring you on a journey traversing nine of the best Naramata wineries and the unique experience each offers.
1. CHRONOS Tasting Room
CHRONOS Tasting Room serves its visitors in downtown Penticton. It took over and refurbished the former PenMar movie theater. Here, there is lots of space for standing and sit-down tasting.
The tasting house offers visitors the finest wines from the Time Family portfolio. Its Chronos wines are known for their complexity, depth, and attention to detail. Sample the Chronos 2022 Rosé, which won the 2023 Cascadia International Wine Competition; Chronos 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, Chronos 2020 Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Chronos 2020 Cabernet Franc, among others.
The location is welcoming, relaxed, and warm. If you are not in a hurry, you may sit in the green high-back booths that offer a comfortable experience as you sample the wines. There are also opportunities for barrel tastings in the tasting room. If you’re adventurous, attend the Time’s Sabre School to learn how to open wine bottles in style. The school gives you a preview of what it takes and sells a large selection of wines that you can take home after your visit.
The CHRONOS tasting room in Penticton is one of the several wine-tasting rooms owned by the Times. Each of them offers an elevated tasting experience and takes you through an amazing tapestry of award-winning winemaking expertise.
2. Bench 1775 Winery
Bench 1775 Winery sits at the mouth of Okanagan Lake. It has a spacious patio that is adorned with greenery and barrel props. As you sample the tasty wines, you will have panoramic views of the lake and the lush green countryside. The exquisite tasting location is a perfect romantic destination for wine lovers.
This winery produces quality wines like Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Late Harvest Chardonnay, boasting an extensive collection of white, rosé, ice, and red wines. Its Sauvignon Blanc is one of the finest in the region due to its distinctively expressive terroir. You can buy these wines at the tasting shop, along with gift sets, merchandise, and gift cards.
There are also several fun events hosted here, apart from wine tastings. These include barrel tastings, silent discos, and live music. If you wish to hold a wedding in the countryside, you can rent a private vineyard in the backyard. The winery also has a restaurant and picnic grounds where you can relax. It is also one of the few wine-tasting stops where you can come with your dog!
3. Therapy Vineyards
Let the therapeutic power of some good wine elevate your senses at Therapy Vineyards. This wine-tasting shop is located in the heart of the region, about 15 minutes from Penticton. The location gives you great views of Giant’s Head Mountain and the surrounding lush vineyards. You also get to see the expansive lake from your sit-down tasting location. Therefore, consider this a vacation packaged in a wine-tasting event.
Therapy Vineyards is open daily from 11 a.m. to about 6 p.m. Visit to sample the aromatic, crisp white wines and well-aged, balanced red wines. The most popular brands here are the sparkling, tingling Fizzio Rosé and Fizzio Therapy Blanc, as well as the strawberry-flavored Boyd Brut Rosé. Those who prefer red wines will love the blueberry-flavored Freudified, the well-aged Reserve Merlot, or the dark ruby-red Super Ego, among others. Its rosé wines are also praiseworthy, with Pink Feud 2022 giving a sugary, sweet aftertaste.
Therapy Vineyards has a simplistic yet elegant and welcoming tasting room. Take a walk and soak in the large outdoor patio and upbeat corrugated metal building with a U-shaped tasting bar. There’s nothing better than sampling your wines while overlooking the lovely vineyards below.
4. Serendipity Winery
Serendipity Winery is the perfect getaway for wine lovers who also enjoy the outdoors. Its tasting shop is located right in the middle of a vineyard and is modeled in perfect harmony with nature. The semi-open space lets you enjoy your wines while overlooking the lush rolling hills on the horizon and neat rows of vineyards. The bistro opens from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Thursdays to Mondays, so plan your itinerary to avoid disappointment.
The winery usually has attractive offers throughout the year. The most popular are the regular and VIP tasting packages. Regular wine-tasting guests get a refund of $15 for each person who buys a bottle. VIP tasting guests get a sit-down tasting where they sit in a barrel hall for a free lesson on food and wine pairings. This costs $25 per person, and you need to reserve your seat in advance.
Serendipity has a broad range of white, red, and rosé wines that you can sample and buy at the tasting shop. Popular ones include the 2017 Pinot Noir, the 2013 Merlot, the sparkling 2022 White Lie, the Sauvignon Blanc, and the 2022 Rosé. There is also a restaurant in the location where you can have a meal with fantastic wine pairings.
5. Da Silva Vineyards and Winery
Da Silva is a winemaking family that originates from Portugal. Their history dates back as early as the 18th century when the Borba family started making quality wines. The descendants of the winemaking family came to the Okanagan region in 1959 and brought with them centuries of winemaking knowledge that you can witness at Da Silva Winery. This winery has 11 vineyards where it grows various varieties for its complete set of wines.
The tasting room is open every day except Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It has space for a seated tasting. Guests sample wines in varietal-specific glassware. The winemaker also selects specific wines for the season.
You can also participate in the tasting lesson, where the winery guides you through five of its most sought-after wines. You will discover why each is unique and the vineyard it comes from. There is also a kitchen on location where you can learn the perfect food pairings.
Da Silva has three types of wine series. The Tradicional Series includes wines made with traditional recipes such as Vinho Tinto, Cor de Rosa, and Vinho Branco. Its Vinhedo Series includes citrus and floral-note wines such as Chennin and Fume Blanc, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Finally, the Lefado series includes barrel-aged vintage wines like the Legado Merlot and Nobreza.
6. Elephant Island Winery
Elephant Island Winery opened its doors in 1999, and Naramata Cider Co in 2017. The company produces quality wines and ciders with low intervention and a set of living fermentation techniques. These efforts make it a perfect hotspot for sampling rich-flavored wines and ciders made from sun-ripened fruits. Besides, the winery sits amid rolling hills and lush vineyards that will connect you to Mother Nature.
The wine-tasting shop offers a flight-tasting barn to give you a chance to connect with the surroundings. You can also sit on a shaded patio and enjoy the cool afternoon breeze as you give your tastebuds a treat.
Elephant Island Winery’s portfolio consists of three categories: regular wines, micro-scaled reserve brands, and alternative processes of popular fruit wines. Of the three, the reserve wines are the most limited in terms of stock due to the long-term rearing process. You will also notice that the fruit wines use other fruits, such as blackcurrants and pears, for fermentation. This results in deep and unique flavors.
You need a reservation when visiting the winery for the best experience. The location is dog-friendly, so enjoy as you explore one of the best Naramata wine tours on offer.
7. JoieFarm Winery
JoieFarm sits on a parcel of land that overlooks Okanagan Lake. The area is hot and humid, the perfect conditions for growing grapes. For this reason, the farm is considered one of the few premium winery options around. This tag also allows it to charge higher tasting fees than the rest of the wineries listed here. However, the price tag is well worth the experience that awaits.
The winery makes vintages that combine the techniques of the West Coast and traditional European winemaking. With premium-quality fruits, JoieFarm produces wines that stand out, including titillating rosés, sparkling, fragrant whites, and deep-flavored reds. Get ready for a plethora of specials suited to your preferences. You can take home any of these wines in cans, bottles, or specially-made mixed packs.
There is dog-friendly accommodation within the vast winery. You can make your own meals and enjoy an extended stay at the beautiful location. Be sure to tell the staff what dishes you are preparing so that they can suggest the perfect wine pairings for you. Book your visit for the best experience.
8. Hillside Winery
If you are looking for an authentic rural-style wine-tasting experience, Hillside Wineries is here for you. It takes you to a rural setting with its amazing farmhouse-style tasting shop and well-manicured courtyard, all sitting beautifully on a hillside.
The charming looks blend well with the elegant, simplistic, and casual tasting room décor. You can come with a big group, too, as the adjacent bistro restaurant offers enough room for 65 pax, both indoors and on an outdoor patio. The bistro provides farm-fresh gourmet meals and will recommend the best wine pairings with your dishes. Feel free to come with your canine companion.
Hillside Winery tasting shop opens daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. You get a 45-minute seated tasting experience as you learn the history of many winemaking techniques. There are two wine-tasting experiences: portfolio tasting, which showcases the legacy wines and vineyards, and terroir tasting, where you get to enjoy wines from the Single Vineyard Series.
This winery produces many quality wines in red, white, and rosé, as well as single-vineyard and specialty series. It has a comprehensive collection of Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Rosé. There are also box sets and gifts that you can take home with you.
9. Lake Breeze Winery
Just as its name suggests, Lake Breeze is a winery at the edge of Okanagan Lake. It has run a 40-acre vineyard since 1985, occupying one of the most scenic spots in the area. Here, you enjoy a natural lake breeze and a view of sprawling, neat rows of vineyards.
This winery offers both seated and flight-tasting experiences. Most visitors love the flight experience. So, grab a glass of wine and take a stroll across the winery vineyard with your companion, whether canine or human. The winery also has its own dog, called George!
There is no need for reservations. You just walk into the winery and enjoy. The patio restaurant is open for seating between 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. As one of the best Naramata wine tours, Lake Breeze takes you to the adjacent farmyard to interact with livestock such as cattle and chickens, as well as explore orchards, vegetable gardens, greenhouses, and herb gardens.
Wines at Lake Breeze range from white to red to rosé. Some popular ones include the Un-Oaked Chardonnay, floral rosé, and deep Syrah. You can also enjoy the unique, mystical-inspired Cellar Series wines such as Berg Pinotage, Mistral Syrah, and Aura Pinot Noir.
The Takeaway
Are you ready for the ultimate wine-tasting experience? You cannot go wrong with Naramata Bench Wineries! You experience the very best wines from Canada blended with nature’s finest attractions, such as green, lush landscapes, views of Okanagan Lake, and a rural experience.
Each tasting shop also has some unique offerings that will blow your mind. Plan your next wine-tasting adventure today.
