Warm air and fertile land make the Okanagan a prime spot for growing almost anything, be it grapes, cherries, peaches, apples or another type of fruit. The Okanagan is a land of lazy summer vacations, sunny afternoons spent on the water, juicy bites of fruit picked freshly from the orchard and warm evenings spent on the deck with a glass of wine. Wine is abundant here—with about 80 wineries, the Okanagan is in direct competition with the Niagara region of Ontario for Canada's premier wine region.

Wineries are located throughout the Okanagan, but the most visited ones are those located in and around the region's largest city, Kelowna. Summerhill Winery is situated just a short drive south of Kelowna and offers free tastings, making it a popular tourist destination. Other wineries within the city's limits include CedarCreek Winery and St. Hubertus Estate. Across the bridge from Kelowna, the hilly slopes of Westbank are considered another vineyard hotspot, with ever-popular Mission Hill, Quail's Gate and Mount Boucherie Estate Wineries enticing those in search of a quality vintage. In addition, Kelowna also offers wine festivals each season.

Other spots in the Okanagan are also worth visiting when on the hunt for wine. Gray Monk, a winery that has earned a solid reputation throughout the years, is located between Vernon and Kelowna in Okanagan Centre. South of Kelowna, Summerland offers the quirky Dirty Laundry Vineyard, which got its start as a cherry orchard. Across the lake from Summerland in Naramata, Black Widow Winery produces full-bodied wines that have earned accolades from the Okanagan wine community. Nearby Peachland offers Hainle Winery, an established vineyard that specializes in organic vintages.

Even farther south, the town of Oliver is another popular wine destination. Vineyards like Oliver Twist Estate Winery, Hester Creek Estate Winery and Golden Beaver Winery call this area home, taking advantage of the temperate climate and ideal growing conditions the south Okanagan has to offer. Jackson-Triggs, one of Canada's largest wine-producing companies, also has a vineyard located near Oliver.

Author Martha Edwards