About Our Land

To the north, basalt-faced McIntyre Bluff acts as a buffer and aids in creating a microclimate unique to the South Okanagan. It denotes the end of one geographic zone and beginning of another – McIntyre Bluff is the northernmost point of the Great Basin Desert.

As you pass the area, a subtle shift in landscape is noticeable: darker antelope brush found in the south is slowly replaced by more grey/green sagebrush, and barren grasslands experience an increase of vegetation and shrubs.

To the south, Osoyoos Lake moderates temperatures and provides a water source for wildlife. Fed by the Okanagan River, Osoyoos Lake extends into Washington State and connects, eventually, to the Columbia River.

Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir are original to the area and cling to the sides of Anarchist Mountain, bordering the east. In the west, a slow climb up the Okanagan Range keeps the area in a rain shadow and helps maintain the region’s desert-like climate.

About Our Grapes

As a region, and in comparison to neighbours in the United States and over in Europe, the Okanagan is young. Growers are experimenting, and varietal plantings can boom or bust. Fortunately, we’re seeing more of the former with a number of strong contenders; we’re establishing what can grow – and what grows well and can best reflect the region.

Principal varietals, planted according to acreage, are:

Osoyoos – Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah
Oliver – Merlot, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon

With the diversity of growers in the region, there is as much diversity in plantings. From Pinot Noir to Tempranillo, Riesling to Viognier, the expression of terroir is in a period of exploration and discovery.

For more information about what grows in Oliver and Osoyoos you can see the current information from Wines of British Columbia.