Wine / Cider / Spirits

Wine, Cider, Fruit Soda & Spirits

From spring to fall and, in winter, by appointment, visit artisan wine, cider, fruit soda, and distillery tasting rooms. Sniff, swirl, and sip your way through the areas just to the east and south of Keremeos and Cawston, choosing from over 14 wineries, 3 cideries (one with fruit soda and one with spirits). Learn about the signature characteristics of Similkameen Valley Terroir.

Cycle along vineyards, join a guided tour, or take in a bird’s-eye view of the valley by helicopter. Most locations offer outdoor patios, tasting rooms, some with accommodations, live entertainment, and food service, and many also welcome picnic-style visits.

The self-guided Sip the Similkameen Trail connects the valley’s tasting room stops with its farms and farm-to-table eateries, offering a curated taste of the region’s craft beverage scene. It pairs perfectly with the Similkameen Valley Farm Trail, which explores orchards, farm stands, and seasonal harvests at a slower, roadside pace. Together, they offer a complete Similkameen experience—from crafted beverages shaped by the landscape to fresh seasonal produce grown in it.

Tasting Rooms HOURS – FALL UPDATE

Opening hours change by season; check with the venue directly.

Cider, Fruit Soda & Spirits

• Klippers Untangled Cider – Open Thurs-Mon 12-8 pm, closed Tues/Wed
• Lass Chance Beverage Co. – Open daily 10-7 pm
• Sharpe Distillery – Call for whisky: 250-506-2222
• Twisted Hills Craft Cider – October – Open Daily 10-6 pm

Wineries

• 3Benches Estate Winery – Wine sales by appointment
• Bottega Wine Studio –  If the open sign is up, we are open generally 1-5pm otherwise visit us by appointment. Call (250)-502-4308 or email the winery
• Clos Du Soleil Winery – Open daily 10am -5pm. After October 31, open by appointment throughout the winter months. Book online, call (250) 499-2831, or email
• Corcelettes Estate Winery – Wine sales by appointment
• Crowsnest Vineyards – Wine Shop and Restaurant: Open Thursday – Sunday
• Eau Vivre Winery – Contact directly 250-499-2655
• Forbidden Fruit Winery – October: Open daily 10 am- 5 pm.
• Hugging Tree Winery  – October: Open Thursday – Monday 11- 5pm. Starting in November by appointment.
• Little Farm Winery – Closed for the season; wine sales online
• Orofino Vineyards – October: Open daily 10:30am-5:30pm
• Robin Ridge Winery – Wine sales by appointment
• S’milka Vista Vineyards – Tasting Room Closed – Purchase online
• Seven Stones Winery – By Appointment
• Vanessa Vineyard– Open daily 10:00am – 5:30pm.

Savour Award-Winning Similkameen WINES

Come and taste our award-winning wines. The Similkameen Valley is a remarkable experience. The wineries are down-to-earth, set in an incredible place, and they make great wine. What more can you ask for?

The Similkameen has a storied agricultural past, so it was only a matter of time before the people here figured out how to make world-class wine. Similkameen winemakers use traditional grapes and tree-ripened fruit to create their delicious wines and ciders. They are passionate about the land and their communities. Most of all, their passion comes through in what they produce, which is award-winning grape and fruit wines. The Stunning Valley is one of 9 recognized appellations (Geographical Indications) in BC.

Discover our Vineyards

Come and swirl, sniff, and sip your way across the valley at Similkameen wineries. First of all, take your time, because there’s nothing rushed about wine tasting. There are so many special experiences here. It’s not just a one-day event. Plan for at least a few if you can! So come and discover why our wines have received regional, national, and international awards. As a result of these awards, the Similkameen is recognized as one of BC’s best wine-growing regions. Many wineries in other parts of the province actually get their grapes from us, so you could say we’re well-known.

Taste Our Terroir

Hot, sun-soaked summers and windy days help create the perfect conditions for growing delicious grapes and fruit. Our unique terroir was created long ago when glaciers melted, creating a huge river bed. As the water receded, it left behind .5 to 1.5 m (2 to 5 ft) of loamy topsoil with calcium-covered river rocks underneath. Combine those elements with sustainable and organic farming practices, and you’ve got the ingredients for something special. Read more about the Similkameen terroir.

Tours and Special Events

Similkameen wineries are open between April/May and October. In the winter, they are open for one special weekend in December. Our tasting rooms and special events provide intimate winery experiences in any season. The winemakers here love to answer your questions. Come on your own or with an organized tour. You’ll discover liquid assets with a whole lot of flavour here!

Be sure to take in the Seven Stones Experience tour when you visit their winery. Your tour starts in the vineyard, then takes you inside to learn how they make the wine. Then it’s off for the unique experience of barrel tasting in the caves. Another great thing about this tour is that it also has chocolate tasting and a unique underground audio experience.

Cycle along farms and vineyards, take a guided tour by guided tour, or take a helicopter for a bird’s-eye view of the spectacular valley. Check out our guided tour operators.

For more information about the wineries and special events of the Similkameen Valley Independent Winegrowers Association, check out their website.

While there is plenty to do here on any given day, there are many events at Similkameen wineries that celebrate our vintages. The Grist Mill and Gardens plays host to summer concerts. There are also Seven Stones’ Vertical Tastings held in their underground cave. In the winter, you can enjoy the Christmas Open Houses at the wineries. Celebrate Similkameen wines with us.

By Season

Making great wine is a year-round job. Winemakers are busy in the winter. They must plan next year’s vintages and harvest grapes for ice wine. Visit in the spring, and you’ll see our viticulturists working the rows. They tuck and tie the vines to create optimal conditions to concentrate flavours. Summer is the height of sipping season. Our tasting rooms are full of visitors experiencing the unique wines of the Similkameen. Our busiest time of year is in the fall, with the grape and tree fruit harvest. It’s also when the annual crush begins.

Wine Tasting and Local Pairings

Our hot summers and valley winds create the perfect conditions for growing great grapes. Add well-drained soil and organic farming processes. Now you know our recipe for mighty fine wines, fruit wines, and ciders.

You can find the flavours of our valley in tasting rooms that double as winemakers’ living rooms. You’ll also find them on sun-drenched patios while cowboys wrangle horses in paddocks below. Come and relax under the shade of a 100-year-old apple tree. Pack a picnic and sit on the shore of the river while you watch eagles circle above you. Our tasting experiences are like the Similkameen Valley itself: rugged, rustic, and real.

Great wine is better when paired with great food! Spend your morning collecting your picnic ingredients from our fruit stands and farmers’ markets. Once you’re done, take a winery tour of the Similkameen. Most wineries have a license for picnicking. For something more substantial, try a traditional European-inspired, family-style lunch served at the Crowsnest Vineyard.

CIDER, FRUIT WINES & SODA

Beat the summer heat with a quenching cider from one of the local cideries. Visit Twisted Hills, Untangled Cider at Klippers Acres, or Lass Chance Beverage Co. to sample a variety of dry to semi-sweet styles made from a range of apples, fruit blends and fusions, all organically grown. Explore organic fruit wines in a variety of styles, including a signature Similkameen offering.

DISTILLERY

Sharpe Distillery – Cawston

Rooted in three generations of family history in Cawston, Sharpe Distillery is the Similkameen Valley’s only dedicated craft distillery, blending traditional distilling methods with a spirit of innovation. Using water from the Similkameen River and drawing inspiration from the region, the distillery produces a distinctive range of handcrafted spirits.

The collection includes rye whisky, botanical gin and an inventive range of vodkas, from wheat and old-world styles to vanilla and Espelette pepper. Standouts include the unaged rye whisky and the three-year, single-barrel Cask Strength Whisky, with bold spice, rich caramel, toasted almond and a warm, peppery finish. The range also features pisqu, adding another distinctive expression to its lineup.

Celebrating local roots, family heritage, and a passion for experimentation, Sharpe Distillery offers a taste of the Similkameen Valley through spirits that are anything but ordinary.

The tasting room is permanently closed. For whisky sales, call 250-506-2222.