There’s a different kind of tasting experience waiting in the Similkameen Valley, one that feels more personal, more hands-on, and a little more off the beaten path. Just four hours from Vancouver and set along Highway 3, this rugged stretch of southern British Columbia pairs dramatic mountain backdrops with orchards, vineyards, and small communities where you’ll still get a wave from passing locals.
More than a wine route, Sip the Similkameen is best experienced as a slow-paced road trip, beginning in Keremeos (the Fruit Stand Capital of Canada) and winding toward Cawston (known as the Organic Farming Capital of Canada), wineries, cideries, and a craft distillery turn local fruit and the valley’s distinctive growing conditions into bottles worth lingering over.
This isn’t a rushed tasting tour. Winemakers are often the ones pouring; the patios offer orchard-and-vineyard views, and every stop has its own personality: rustic, welcoming, and real.
It’s a journey through bold terroir, family farms, and a beverage culture that’s proudly off the beaten path.
If you want to round out your visit with orchards, farm stands, and fresh seasonal produce, the Similkameen Valley Farm Trail is the perfect companion to the Sip the Similkameen experience. Together, they connect the valley’s wineries, cideries, and distillery stops with its roadside stands, organic farms, and farm-to-table eateries for a full taste of the Similkameen. To learn more about agriculture in the Similkameen Valley, check out our blog.
Wine Experiences in the Similkameen Valley
The valley’s wineries are defined by elevation, heat, and cool evening shifts that shape wines with real character and tension. Expect small-lot, site-driven wines where growers lean into minimal intervention and let the landscape lead. From crisp whites grown in mineral-rich soils to expressive, fruit-forward reds, tasting rooms here are intimate and often hosted by the people behind the wines themselves.
Keremeos, Cawston Cider & Distillery Experiences
Keremeos and Cawston’s agricultural roots run deeper than vineyards alone. Long before grapes gained attention here, orchards defined the landscape, and today that heritage shows up in cider glasses and spirit bottles across the valley. Start in Keremeos at Lass Chance Beverage Co. for cider and small bites, in Cawston at Untangled Craft Cider, enjoy an orchard experience, and along the Highway, Twisted Hills Cidery also offers some distilled options. Sharpe Distillery offers craft spirits with an indoor/outdoor tasting room.
Start OR END in Keremeos: Wineries, Orchards & Cider Tastings
Roll into Keremeos, and you’ll understand why it’s known as the Fruit Stand Capital of Canada. Roadside markets spill over with cherries, peaches, and apples in season, and that agricultural heartbeat carries straight into the tasting rooms.
This is the perfect place to begin your Sip the Similkameen journey. The pace is relaxed. The views stretch across orchards and benchlands. And the producers here set the tone for what the valley does best — small-scale, hands-on, and rooted in the land.
The Keremeos Route takes you from Highway 3 to the Middle Bench Road and then onward to the Upper Bench Road, a scenic country drive. Start or end this tour with small bites at Lass Chance Beverage Co. & Eatery, and check out the farm store for coffee and light fare, all just near Hugging Tree Winery, which has patios.
Lass Chance Beverage Co.
If you’re ready to switch gears, Lass Chance Beverage Co. offers a fresh counterpoint to wine. Focused on cider and fruit-forward beverages made with salvaged fruit from their farm, it’s a reminder that Keremeos is orchard country first. Light, bright, and easy-drinking, this stop adds variety to your itinerary, especially on a warm Similkameen afternoon. Enjoy the patio and orchard view right from the highway.
Robin Ridge Winery
Robin Ridge Winery produces 100% estate-grown, organically farmed wines, crafting small-lot bottles from its hillside vineyards. It is best known for Gamay and aromatic whites like Gewürztraminer, with a relaxed, welcoming setting overlooking sweeping views toward K Mountain. The atmosphere is laid-back and scenic, making it an easy stop to slow down and take in the valley. Pets are welcome outside on the grounds.
3Benches Estate Winery
Set on the historic Similkameen benchlands, 3Benches Estate Winery is a family-run operation farming organically grown vines that thrive in the valley’s dry climate and mineral-rich soils. The vineyard overlooks orchards and sweeping valley views, making it easy to settle in with a tasting flight and take your time. It’s picnic-friendly and pet-friendly outdoors.
Corcelettes Estate Winery
Set on a 170-acre estate, Corcelettes Estate Winery reflects a deep connection between land, vineyard, and craft. Led by Charlie and Jesce Baessler, the winery focuses on small-lot wines grown primarily from its own estate vineyards and nearby Similkameen growers. Bordeaux varietals, Syrah, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay thrive here, shaped by the valley’s intense sun, steady winds, and mineral-rich soils. Visitors can experience wines that express the rugged character of the Similkameen while learning more about the agricultural roots behind each vintage. Enjoy the panoramic view from the covered patio.
Clos du Soleil Winery
Perched on the Upper Bench Clos du Soleil is a small estate winery known for thoughtful, small-lot wines that reflect the character of the valley’s rocky soils and dry climate. The vineyards are farmed organically and biodynamically, and the wines are crafted with a minimal-intervention approach that allows the fruit and land to lead. Inspired by Bordeaux traditions but distinctly Similkameen in expression, Clos du Soleil offers visitors a quiet, focused tasting experience where elegance and balance take centre stage.
Hugging Tree Winery
Tucked into the hillside above the Similkameen Valley, Hugging Tree Winery is a small, family-run operation focused on hands-on farming and small-lot wines. The vineyard and surrounding gardens reflect the owners’ commitment to working closely with the land and the rhythms of the growing season. Visitors can enjoy relaxed tastings in a quiet rural setting, where the valley’s sunshine, mountain views, and agricultural landscape are as much a part of the experience as the wine itself. Enjoy the view from the covered patio.
Continue to Cawston: The Heart of Organic Wine Country
As you continue west, the valley narrows, and the vineyards feel closer to the land. Welcome to Cawston, known as the Organic Farming Capital of Canada, a place where farming practices are as much a point of pride as the wines themselves.
Here, small family-run wineries favour quality over quantity, and tastings often feel more like conversations than curated flights. The valley’s hot days, cool nights, and mineral-rich soils shape wines with structure and intensity, while orchard roots influence everything from grape-growing to cider-making.
The Cawston Mountainside route takes you from the Cawston Bench to Highway 3; choose from either direction. Start or end this tour with lunch or dinner at either Crowsnest Vineyards or Untangled Cider at Row Fourteen Restaurant, both of which have patios.
Untangled Craft Cider at Klippers Organics & Row Fourteen Restaurant
Located at Klippers Organics, Untangled Craft Cider is rooted in one of the valley’s most established organic farms. Estate-grown fruit is at the heart of these orchard-inspired ciders, offering crisp, fruit-forward pours that reflect the land they come from. This stop is more than a tasting bar. With the Marketplace & Cafe and Row Fourteen Restaurant on site, visitors can pair cider with seasonal, farm-driven cuisine, making it an ideal place to start or end the route. The patio and farm setting offer a full orchard-to-glass experience that captures the agricultural spirit of Cawston.
Orofino Vineyards
Orofino highlights the valley’s diverse soils and climatic influence across its portfolio. Beyond the tasting room, agritourism experiences, including vineyard guest suites and courtyard gatherings with pizza and lawn games, set among the picturesque nut and fruit trees, make this a place to linger longer. They hold a strong reputation for sustainability, notably as Canada’s first strawbale winery.
Crowsnest Vineyards
One of the early wineries to help shape the Similkameen wine region, Crowsnest Vineyards has been family-owned by the Heinecke family since the mid-1980s. Named after nearby Crowsnest Highway #3, the winery reflects the valley’s agricultural roots through both wine and food. Today, siblings Sascha and Anna Heinecke continue the family legacy, pairing estate wines with a full culinary experience that highlights regional ingredients. Visitors can enjoy tastings, relaxed meals at the on-site restaurant, or a wine flight on the patio overlooking the surrounding vineyards.
Eau Vivre Winery & Vineyards reflects a dream turned reality for owners Sukh and Neetu Bajwa, who purchased the winery in 2017 after years of admiration for the region’s wines. The estate focuses on small-lot wines grown in the valley’s distinctive dry climate and mineral-rich soils. Visitors can enjoy relaxed tastings while taking in views of the surrounding vineyards and river landscape that first inspired the family to put down roots here.
Twisted Hills Craft Cider
Established in 2012 in Cawston, Twisted Hills Craft Cider was the first stand-alone cidery in the Similkameen Valley. Family-owned and organically farmed, the orchard grows apple varieties specifically suited for cider production, including traditional cider apples known for their tannin and acidity. The result is a diverse range of balanced, small-batch organic ciders that reflect the valley’s agricultural roots. The tasting room, known locally as the CiderDome, offers a unique space to sip cider and chat with staff, often recommended as a refreshing break between wine stops.
Bottega Wine Studio
A boutique producer crafting small-lot, terroir-driven wines with a strong focus on sustainability and precision. Expect thoughtful, expressive pours—from elegant Pinot-style reds to textured, mineral-driven whites—served in a relaxed, unpretentious setting where the wine takes centre stage. Crafted in limited quantities, their portfolio highlights rosé, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir, each reflecting the character of the site. Inside the tasting room, the wines displayed on the walls double as a visual expression of the terroir, showcasing the natural colour and personality of each vintage.
The Cawston Riverside route takes you from nearby Kobau Park along some country roads, then along the Highway to the south of Cawston with panoramic views throughout. Turn back to finish your tour at Vanessa Vineyards. We have you going in the right direction.
Little Farm Winery
Small in scale but big in personality, Little Farm Winery has built a loyal following for its expressive wines and welcoming, down-to-earth tasting experience. Known for standout Riesling and Chardonnay grown in mineral-rich, siliceous soils at the Mulberry Tree Vineyard, each pour reflects a strong sense of place. This intimate stop feels authentic and unpretentious—a true expression of Cawston’s independent spirit. With Master of Wine Rhys Pender behind the vineyard, you know you’re in for an exceptional tasting.
Sharpe Distillery
The valley’s dedicated craft distillery adds a different dimension to the tasting trail. Producing small-batch spirits that reflect local character, Sharpe offers a shorter but worthwhile stop for those curious to explore beyond wine and cider. Enjoy events on the lawn in summer.
Seven Stones Estate Winery
Seven Stones Estate Winery sits on land that was once part of a working ranch before vines were planted in 2000. Known for its dramatic rock formations and striking architecture, the winery produces small-lot wines that reflect the rugged Similkameen terroir. Beneath the winery, man-made caves built into the hillside provide a naturally cool environment for aging wines, harnessing the valley’s geology to maintain ideal cellar conditions. Visitors can relax on the outdoor patio overlooking the valley, enjoying a glass of wine paired with charcuterie while taking in sweeping 180-degree views of the Similkameen.
Forbidden Fruit Winery
Located on Ven’Amour Organic Farms along the Similkameen River, Forbidden Fruit Winery blends orchard heritage with winemaking. The farm has been organically cultivated by Kim and Steve since the late 1970s, producing a wide range of tree fruit and grapes on the sunny benchlands above the river. Today, visitors can sample both traditional grape wines and distinctive fruit wines made from cherries, apples, and other orchard harvests. With outdoor seating and riverside views across the valley, it’s a stop that reflects the Similkameen’s long-standing connection between orchards, farming, and wine.
Vanessa Vineyard Estate Winery
Perched on a rocky hillside overlooking the Similkameen Valley, Vanessa Vineyard Estate Winery farms 75 acres of sloping, stone-filled terrain along Highway 3. The vineyard’s rocky soils absorb the valley’s intense sunlight and release heat through the cool nights, helping develop grapes with distinctive minerality and depth. Known for producing expressive wines that reflect this rugged landscape, Vanessa Vineyard offers a peaceful setting to pause, sip, and take in sweeping views of the surrounding valley. The outdoor patio space provides a quiet place to unwind, making it a fitting final stop as you complete your circuit.
Where Sip the Similkameen Leads Next
As Highway 3 carries you toward Osoyoos, the landscape begins to open. Vineyards stretch out, hills widen, and desert light settles over the valley you’ve been exploring.
This is where Sip the Similkameen comes full circle.
From Keremeos orchards to Cawston’s organic vineyards, you’ve travelled through a region shaped by river, soil, and fiercely independent producers. The pace has been slower. The conversation is longer. The settings a little more rugged and real.
What makes Sip the Similkameen memorable isn’t just the wine, cider, or spirits; it’s the freedom to experience them on your own terms. Some visitors plan a full day. Others stretch their tastings across a weekend, pairing stops with farm stands, local dining, riverside walks, or mountain views.
With so many independently owned producers along Highway 3, no two itineraries unfold the same way. You can follow the route stop by stop or let curiosity guide you from one orchard-lined patio to the next.
And whether your journey continues into Osoyoos or loops back through the mountains, the Similkameen invites you to travel slowly, sip thoughtfully, and make the experience your own.
What to Know Before You Go
Patios & Outdoor Spaces
Most wineries and cideries offer licensed patios or picnic areas, most with orchard or vineyard views. It’s part of what makes tasting here feel relaxed and unhurried.
Pet-Friendly Stops
Many producers welcome well-behaved dogs in outdoor areas, making it easy to include four-legged travel companions in your day.
Food Options
Some tasting rooms serve light bites or offer on-site dining, in Keremeos Lass Chance Cidery & Eatery, or stop in at the farm store cafe (beside Hugging Tree Winery), in Cawston Crowsnest Vineyard’s restaurant, Klippers Organic Acres Marketplace & Cafe & Row Fourteen Restaurant, or seasonally, Orofino’s courtyard pizza events. Others welcome picnics as a perfect way to enjoy local produce alongside your tasting.
Many tasting rooms have seasonal hours, so checking ahead is always recommended.
Always check individual tasting room websites for current hours and offerings.
Sip Responsibly & Plan Ahead
Designate a driver, consider guided tour options, or build your tasting experience over multiple days.
Beyond the Tasting Room
Pair your sipping with visits to farm markets, riverside parks, scenic hiking trails, or heritage gems like the Grist Mill & Gardens. Travelling with family? Kobau Park offers plenty of space to roam, while bike rentals from Similkameen Sip & Cycle (by appointment) make it easy to explore the valley at your own pace. Along the way, nearby fruit stands and ice cream stops add a sweet balance to a day of wine tasting.
The valley’s agricultural roots mean there’s always something seasonal unfolding — blossoms in spring, harvest in fall, and wide-open skies year-round.
Stay a While
The Similkameen may look small on a map, but it reveals itself slowly. Spend a few days here, and you’ll begin to recognize familiar faces, favourite pours, and the kind of welcome that keeps people coming back. Vineyard, orchard, and riverside acreage accommodation options available.
This isn’t a region built for rushing through. It’s one that rewards those who linger.
Explore the Sip the Similkameen Stops
A wine, cider, and craft spirits journey shaped by land, river, and independent makers is waiting for you here.
Whether you’re visiting for a day or building a weekend around it, Sip the Similkameen invites you to travel Highway 3 with intention, drink responsibly, and discover the character that makes this valley Rugged. Rustic. Real.
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