News

Welcome Back to the Okanagan during the Okanagan Fall Wine Festival

(KELOWNA, BC) – September 22, 2023: As we say goodbye to summer and usher in the fall in the Okanagan Valley, we  welcome back the Okanagan Fall Wine Festival. Traditionally held at the beginning of October, the reimagined  Okanagan Fall Wine Festival will shift its focus to a post crush series of elevated experiences throughout the Okanagan  Valley during October 27th through November 5th.

After hitting pause on the fall festival in 2019, the Okanagan Wine Festivals is excited to be able to welcome back  festival enthusiasts to a harvest celebration. Our winemakers and growers will be preparing to barrel down the fruits of  the vintage and look forward to sharing in festivities.

“Our local wineries and producers serve as a pillar for the Okanagan tourism industry, and given the challenges they’ve  experienced this year, we need to come together as a community to support them,” says Simon Mills, President of Valley  First. “Okanagan Wine Festivals Society continues to do a wonderful job in finding creative ways to shine a light on our  world-renowned wineries and we are a proud partner with them, which reflects our strong roots in agriculture as well.” 

This fall guests will experience, the Valley First presents the Après Crush series as a celebration of the vintage during  two evenings of wine, culinary and live entertainment.  

Fall is a spectacular time to visit the Thompson Okanagan, and the Okanagan Wine Festival is the perfect  opportunity to meet our winemakers and taste this year's outstanding releases", notes Ellen Walker-Matthews,  CEO for the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA). "Wine, food, travel and connection - it's what  makes life worth living. BC and beyond, we'd love to see you at this immersive culinary experience to celebrate  our region's incredible beauty and bounty." 

On Friday, October 27th, Valley First presents Après Crush- South Okanagan; held at the Penticton Trade and  Convention Centre, will showcase harvest inspired culinary bites curated with extraordinary BC wines from Summerland  to Osoyoos. 

Manteo at Eldorado will host the Valley First presents Après Crush; North; on Friday November 3rd. The evening will  highlight wines from Lake Country, Kelowna, and West Kelowna. 

For those wanting to travel the wine routes, the TASTE Passport returns for October 28th and 29th. The TASTE Passport provides wine enthusiasts with elevated experiences at wineries throughout the South Okanagan. Two versions of the  TASTE Passport are available; one featuring a line up of experiences in Summerland, Penticton and Naramata Bench and the second with a focus on Okanagan Falls, Oliver and Osoyoos.

The TASTE Passport allows you to select six experiences from participating wineries. Passport holders are encouraged to  create their own unique itinerary from the list of participating wineries. TASTE Passports are $65.00 and include  elevated experiences carefully curated by each partner. Wineries will be highlighting their sense of place with special  flights of wine or wine and food pairings.  

The TASTE Passport will run from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm Saturday and Sunday. The TASTE Passport is a great way to  explore BC Wine Country. 

As well as our Signature Events, there will be a number of special events and hotel packages featured by individual  partners throughout the Okanagan Valley. Check the Festivals website for a full listing of upcoming events.  

Join us October 27th to November 5th and help us celebrate the harvest in wine country and experience the unique  communities and people of the Okanagan.  

All tickets are available through thewinefestivals.com

Follow us on our new Instagram account @okanaganwinefestival or on Facebook @okwinefests

ABOUT VALLEY FIRST 

Valley First offers members the financial strength, comprehensive product selection and extended branch network of a  large financial institution while maintaining local brand identities and a unique grassroots approach to service. As a  division of First West Credit Union British Columbia’s third-largest credit union with nearly $17.4 billion in total assets  and assets under administration, more than 250,000 members and approximately 1,250 employees. It operates 45  branches throughout the province under the Envision Financial, Valley First, Island Savings and Enderby & District  Financial brands. Visit www.valleyfirst.com for more information on Valley First 

ABOUT THE OKANAGAN WINE FESTIVALS SOCIETY  

The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is responsible for the development of the wine tourism sector in the interior of  British Columbia. It is well known for producing three seasonally inspired Okanagan Wine Festivals in Winter, Spring, and  Fall. It is also responsible for Signature Wine Events including the Valley First Grand Tastings, and it produces and runs  the province’s most prestigious and oldest wine competition, the British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards. 

‘We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.’ 

For more information visit, www.thewinefestivals.com.

Media Contact

Kimberly Hundertmark  
General Manager, Okanagan Wine Festivals  
[email protected] 
250.864.4139