Napa of the North, B.C.’s Okanagan Valley

Barrel tasting great wine, hanging out with friends in a lavender field, and picnicking al fresco in a vineyard surrounded by beautiful mountains. What a perfect day in Napa. Except for one thing. I’m not in Napa, California. I’m separated from that hallowed wine region by two states and an international border.

The Okanagan Valley of southern British Columbia, one of the warmest regions in Canada, has a microclimate ideal for grape growing. With 4000 hectares of vineyards, it’s the second largest wine region in the country.

A field of lavender in the heart of the Okanagan Valley.

While the first vineyard was planted in the Okanagan at the Oblate Mission in Kelowna in 1859 by French Catholic priest Charles Pandosy for the production of sacramental wine, it would be more than a century until commercial production would begin to seriously take root.

An antique truck takes visitors to the fields of Covert Farms in the Okanagan Valley.

More than 60 grape varieties now grow in the Okanagan ranging from the classic Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot noir and Chardonnay to the way off-the-beaten-path varietals of Bacchus and Kerner.

In addition to year round tastings at a number of vineyards, several wine festivals dot the calendar.

Barrel tasting at Stag’s Hollow in the Okanagan Valley

The Kelowna International Airport located in the heart of the Okanagan Valley connects to major North American and Canadian cities.

The old adage applies to the Okanagan, nicknamed the Napa of the North, when it comes to its success in the world of wine. Translated into viniculture speak, it’s the terroir, terroir, terroir.

Websites for the Okanagan:

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Okanagan Wine
Official Tourism Kelowna Website

Photo and Text Credits

Mark Edward Harris Photographer Bio

Mark Edward Harris’ editorial work has appeared in publications such as Life, GEO, Conde Nast Traveler, The Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine, The London Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Playboy as well as all the major photography and in-flight magazines. His commercial clients range from The Gap to Coca-Cola to Mexicana Airlines. He is the recipient of numerous awards including a CLIO, ACE, Aurora Gold, and Photographer of the Year at the Black & White Spider Awards. His books include Faces of the Twentieth Century: Master Photographers and Their Work, The Way of the Japanese Bath, Wanderlust, North Korea, South Korea, and Inside Iran. North Korea was named Photography Book of the Year at the 2013 International Photography Awards.