A short drive from the center of Kelowna along Lakeshore Road then Chute Lake Road brought us to the impressive Summerhill Estate Winery This Champagne house is one of those places that is a must-see for the whole family. From its paramount view the vineyard sweeps over the sloping hillside, Lake Okanagan providing the backdrop; to its elegant patio restaurant. We took time to walk around the grounds, seeing the lovely heritage village and a local artist working at his craft.

We were greeted warmly by the friendly staff as we entered the winery's tasting and gift shop area. After browsing through the gift shop and taking in the view from the patio we located the spacious tasting bar. Brenna was our guide for the tasting session. Summerhill's tasting room and gift shop reflects their desire to make your visit a memorable one. We were quite impressed with the quality and selection. We also found the bottling and labeling attractive. We decided to make a lunch reservation at Summerhill's Smokehaus Bristol.

A warm sunny day provided a relaxing opportunity to enjoy a glass of wine, the fine cuisine of Chef Graham Pierce and a beautiful view of the lake. The food was magnificent; the wine and hospitality superb.

In the hills overlooking Okanagan Lake, on Lakeshore Road we found St HubertuS Estate Winery owned by the Gerbert Family. The Winery is named after the Gerbert family lodge in Switzerland and the Swiss patron saint of huntsmen. As we pulled into the parking lot, by chance there to meet us were Andy his wife Susan and their young son. Their greeting was warm and friendly.

Andy immediately offered a tour of the vineyard and I was more than happy to accept. They have over 55 acres of vines, All of St Hubertus wines are slightly oaked in American or French barrels. After the tour it was time to taste the wines. The wines had their own distinctive character full of flavour. We were very impressed with the Point Meunier and the Gewürztraminer.

Situated on a hillside just south of Kelowna we found CedarCreek Estate one of the most recognized and established (1896) wineries specializing in premium VQA vinifera varieties. As expected, the winery was crowded and the young lady behind the tasting bar was too busy to answer questions. On site construction also limited our tour of the winery. We did manage to select their Pinot Blanc to take home with us.