History

As a forerunner to the fully integrated Wine Tourism business, a group of wineries and tourism operators saw the opportunity 20 years ago to develop a tourism event around the young wineries in existence at the time.

The Annual event was originally focused on developing awareness of the wine industry among local Okanagan residents and to celebrate the harvest of grapes and pair fine Okanagan wines with food at a variety of culinary events. The Fall Okanagan Wine Festival's success paralleled the growth of the wine industry and became a major event to celebrate the fall harvest amongst Okanagan Valley residents. Over time, it developed a following from B.C. residents, and then residents of the Pacific Northwest, and most recently wine lovers from around the world.

In 1994, its status as leading event was confirmed by ranking among the Top 100 Events in North America as ranked by the premier American Tourism Association. This ranking continues into 2013 having been named to the Top 100 Events List for 20 consecutive years by the prestigious American Bus Association.

In 1994, the first Spring Okanagan Wine Festival was developed as the best way to kick-start the new wine season. The introduction of the Spring Okanagan Wine Festival also allowed the Wine Tourism industry to have two flagship events at the start and the end of the growing season, which allows for better packaging of wine tourism.

The success of both Festivals over the period 1994-2014 has been to expand the traditional shoulder season for tourism away from the peak summer months into the Spring and Fall seasons and it has done this with great success.