News

Wine Tourism Season Ends with a Bang

Those loud cracks you hear in the vineyards may scare the birds away but they also sound the end of the 34th Fall Okanagan Wine Festival. It seems like just yesterday that wine tourists were flooding the vineyards of the Okanagan enjoying the broad spectrum of events that mark the last Okanagan Wine Festival of the year. In reality, this year’s festival wrapped up 2 weeks ago but the...

2014 British Columbia Wine Awards Kicks Off Fall Okanagan Wine Festival

2014 British Columbia Wine Awards Kicks Off Fall Okanagan Wine Festival Record Entries in Prestigious Province-wide Contest KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – October 1, 2014: The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is delighted to announce the results from their annual autumn British Columbia Wine Awards competition. The awards ceremony is the official celebratory start to this year’s...

Meet Tomorrow's Top Culinary Talent Today with The Young Chefs Event

Watch the wrap up video of this year's Young Chefs' Competition presented by Alexis de Portneuf   With an abundance of delicious local wines, produce, and top-tier restaurants, it’s no surprise that the Okanagan is home to some of the best chefs in British Columbia. Of course, every great chef had to start somewhere, and we are lucky that so many young up-and-coming culinary...

The New Must-Do Event of the Fall Okanagan Wine Festival

If you’ve ever been to an Okanagan Wine Festivals event, then you already know how to have a good time. If you have yet to take part in one of our wine-centric soiree’s, then we have just thing to help you get your feet wet. The Quick Facts for the Grand Finale Tastings presented by Valley First Largest public tasting of British Columbia wines in...

2014 Okanagan Fall Wine Festival Annual Celebration of Harvest To Begin with Record Harvest Expected

KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – SEPTEMBER 10, 2014: The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is delighted to announce the 34th annual Fall Okanagan Wine Festival next month.  This coming October 3-13, the festival is again expected to attract over 10,000 visitors who enjoy more than 125 events throughout the Valley during the busiest time of year for British Columbia’s wineries, the grape harvest....

2014 British Columbia Wine Awards Expands Adding New Top Tier Categories

SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 - KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA - The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is delighted to announce an expanded British Columbia Wine Awards.  New this year are two additional top tier categories – the Platinum medals and the Premier’s Wine Award. The B.C. Wine Awards honour wineries across the province for their excellence. The competition is held in conjunction with the...

See Why USA Today Named the Okanagan Valley One Of The Best Wine Regions In The World

At Okanagan Wine Festivals, we are more than intimate with the lush landscapes that produce the delicious wines of the Okanagan Valley. Now, readers of the most widely circulated publication in the United States, USA Today, know what we knew all along. The Okanagan Valley is among the best wine regions in the world. USA Today recently held their “10 Best” awards, and the Okanagan Valley...

CELEBRATE OKANAGAN PRIDE & OKANAGAN WINE WITH VIVA LAS PRIDE

The Okanagan Pride Festival has become a recognized summer festival attracting pride tourists from across British Columbia and Alberta. What started small has organically grown, attracting tourists to the area while celebrating the local LGBT community. And last year, for the first time in Canada, the wine industry joined forces with pride tourism in a bold move that attracted very positive...

Mile High Wine & Music Take You To The (Mountain) Top

At Okanagan Wine Festivals, we know how lucky we are to live in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, surrounded by glittering lakes, fertile vineyards, and majestic mountains. This breathtaking landscape gives us an incredible opportunity to offer up a uniquely British Columbian wine experience in partnership with Valley First and Silver Star Mountain Resort. Mile High Wine & Music brings...

Canada's First Pride Wine Festival Returns to Kelowna

Proudly supporting B.C. Wine at Okanagan Pride Festival “Viva Las Pride” Canada’s First Pride Wine Festival Returns to Kelowna   KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – JUNE 25, 2014: The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society and the Okanagan Pride Society are delighted to announce the return of “Viva Las Pride” to the Okanagan Pride Festival this summer.  Following its inaugural successful...

Let Us Take Your Breath Away At Mile High Weekend

  Fine Okanagan wines & cuisine at 5,280 feet above sea level   KELOWNA & VERNON – MAY 27, 2014 – The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society and Silver Star Mountain Resort are thrilled to announce the second annual Mile High Wine & Music event proudly presented by Valley First. A uniquely Canadian getaway for thrill seekers and foodies alike, featuring scenic outdoor hikes and...

Celebrate the 20th Spring Okanagan Wine Festival

Spring Okanagan Wine Festival Commemorates Two Decades Ten Day “Bud break” Celebration Kicks Off This Week KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – APRIL 29, 2014: The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is thrilled to kick off the 20th year of spring wine festivities this week from May 1-11, 2014. Anannual rite of the passage of winter and the official welcome to spring, the aptly nicknamed...

20th Spring Okanagan Wine Festival

Spring Okanagan Wine Festival Blossoms Into It’s 20th Year Ten Day Festival Popular Annual Rite of Spring KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – MARCH 19, 2014: The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is thrilled to announce its 20th year of spring wine festivities from May 1-11, 2014. What started in 1994 as a kick start to the wine season in a fledging one day festival with just 16...

Organizers Celebrate the Most Successful Sun Peaks Winter Okanagan Wine Festival to Date

  Significant growth in ticket sales and resort occupancy   Sun Peaks, BC (January 21, 2014) - The 16th Annual Winter Okanagan Wine Festival wrapped up on Sunday, with 95 per cent of available tickets sold - a significant growth over last year. Organizers are celebrating this year’s festival as the most successful to date with the vast majority of events sold out and thousands...

16th Annual Sun Peaks Winter Okanagan Wine Festival

    The 16th Annual Sun Peaks Winter Okanagan Wine Festival Adds 7 New Events Earliest sellout to date of popular events   KELOWNA & SUN PEAKS, BRITISH COLUMBIA – NOVEMBER 18, 2013: Cool white wines, full bodied reds, and harmonious pairings in a crisp wintery setting -- the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society and Sun Peaks are delighted to announce seven new unique events...

British Columbia Wine Awards - Judges Comments

The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society has gotten it's hands on some of the personal quotes and comments made by our judges of the 2013 British Columbia Wine Awards, during their judging sessions! With the Christmas season approaching and many in the mood to buy their holiday wine, here are some words of wisdom from those with experienced palettes. Brad Royale 8th Generation...

Congrats to our Passport Contest Winners!

The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is pleased to congratulate our 2013 Passport Contest Winners Bev and Tom Neifer of Calgary. Bev and Tom joined us during the 2013 Fall Okanagan Wine Festival and submitted a ballot with 12 stamps; that's 12 separate winery visits! Bev and Tom have won a trip out to Kelowna (including airfare and accomodations) during the 2014 Spring Okanagan Wine...

Local Talent Rises to the Challenge at Alexis de Portneuf's "The Young Chefs"

Okanagan Wine Festivals Society celebrates local culinary talent during Fall Okanagan Wine Festival On the evening of Thursday October 10th, Okanagan Wine Festivals Society and Alexis de Portneuf showcased 7 local young chefs and 3 apprentice teams from Okanagan College in a culinary showdown bursting with innovation and enhanced by the presence of 7 fantastic local wineries. Alexis de...

New British Columbia Wine Awards & Wine Label Competition Kick Off Celebrated 33rd Annual Fall Okanagan Wine Festival

New British Columbia Wine Awards & Wine Label Competition Kick Off Celebrated 33rd Annual Fall Okanagan Wine Festival   KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – OCTOBER 3, 2013: The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society and the Kelowna Museums Society are delighted to announce the results from their annual awards competition. The reception is the official celebratory start to the Fall Okanagan Wine...

Wine Tourism Significant Contributor to the Economy With $140 Million In Economic Impact in BC

Wine Tourism Significant Contributor to the Economy With $140 Million In Economic Impact in BC Upcoming 33rd Fall Wine Festival Celebrates Local with Iconic BC Chefs & Winemakers   KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – SEPTEMBER 23, 2013:  Wine festivals and wine tourism contribute $140 million in economic impact annually to the Okanagan as more consumers are purchasing British Columbia...