Our Story

Okanagan Wine Festival Logo

The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is one of the largest not-for-profit wine industry festival and marketing organizations in Canada. OWFS is committed to providing authentic wine experiences to Valley locals and visitors alike. We strive to connect consumers through uniquely designed wine festivals and tasting events with over 100 wineries across the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys. 

OWFS began in 1980 during the infancy of the Okanagan Valley wine industry. Since then, we have grown alongside the industry itself and now produce four seasonal festivals with over 100 events annually. Additionally, we produce the largest, most prestigious wine judging competition in the province-- the BC Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards.

OWFS is a membership-based society that exists to directly connect consumers with our members, tourism partners, and Okanagan Valley communities via festivals, events, trade tastings, wine competitions, and the WINETHUSIAST Club. In 2019, we connected over 11,000 19+ consumers to our 120 member businesses, our sponsors, and our Okanagan Valley communities!

Over the past few decades, the Okanagan Valley has become well known for its wineries. We are now recognized globally as one of the most successful premium wine producing regions in the world! In 2017, the Okanagan wine industry added an estimated $2.4 billion dollars to the BC economy. The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society supports the important work of placing the Okanagan Valley and our fabulous wineries on the provincial, national and international stages--- most especially through our wine festivals/events and our wine judging competitions.

The Results are in for the 2023 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards
April 18 2023
The Results are in for the 2023 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards

(KELOWNA, BC) – April 17, 2023: On April 3 through 5, 2023, fifteen esteemed professional wine judges from Western Canada gathered in...


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The Winter Winefest is coming to Canada's first
January 10 2023
The Winter Winefest is coming to Canada's first "Wine Village!"

Attention wine lovers! The Winter Winefest is coming to Canada's first wine village, District Wine Village, and it's sure to be an...


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The Okanagan Winter Wine Festival: Creating memorable January experiences in Wine Country
December 3 2022
The Okanagan Winter Wine Festival: Creating memorable January experiences in Wine Country

(KELOWNA, BC) – After a short pause in Summer and Fall this year, the Okanagan Wine Festivals is ready to launch the The Okanagan Winter...


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Okanagan Wine Festivals Society appoints new General Manager
November 1 2022
Okanagan Wine Festivals Society appoints new General Manager

The Board of Directors of the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is pleased to share with the BC Wine & Growers community the new appointment of...


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BC Lieutenant Governor's Wine Awards

British Columbia's oldest and most prestigious wine judging competition that recognizes excellence in winemaking for all British Columbia wineries.


Meet our Members

The Okanagan Wine Festival Society is made up of a number of Okanagan wineries and tourism related businesses. Every member is recognized as an outstanding service or product supplier in their related industry.


Events

We’re proud to produce 3 seasonal festivals with over 100 events annually and an annual wine competition in the Okanagan Valley – one of the world’s most renowned wine regions.


Our great sponsors

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