Penticton and Naramata wine country guide: benches, orchards and where to eat

Penticton sits on a narrow strip of land between Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake in the South Okanagan, south of Kelowna. It is a beach town in summer and the gateway to a great deal of wine country. Around it, hillsides called benches hold vineyards and orchards.

What are the benches?

A bench is a flat shelf of land above a lake, left by glaciers. The Okanagan Valley has several, and some are now official sub-regions of the valley's wine appellation, including:

• Naramata Bench, on the east side of Okanagan Lake, running north from Penticton towards Okanagan Mountain Park. It is known for its many wineries packed along a short road.
• Skaha Bench, along the east side of Skaha Lake south of Penticton.
• Okanagan Falls and the Golden Mile Bench, further south, with their own wineries.

You do not need to understand the labels to visit. The practical point is that each area has a cluster of wineries close together, so you can taste several without long drives.

Why is Naramata so popular?

Naramata is a small village that was once mainly orchards, with fruit growing a century ago. Today its road is lined with wineries, many small and family-run, and a village with a general store, a bakery and a few restaurants. Many visitors stay for a night or two. A winery with a patio serving seasonal food makes a pleasant lunch, and harvest weekends bring events.

How do you plan a tasting day?

1. Pick one area, such as the Naramata Bench, rather than trying to cover everything.
2. Choose three or four wineries, no more. Tasting fees add up and so does the wine.
3. Book a restaurant lunch in the middle of the day.
4. Take a driver, a shuttle or a tour. Alcohol-related driving penalties are severe in British Columbia.
5. Buy a bottle or two where you enjoyed the wine.

Some small wineries want advance bookings, especially at weekends, and winter hours are limited.

What food goes with Penticton?

The valley grows fruit, so look for peaches, cherries, apricots, apples and pears from roadside stands in season. Farm stands often sell fruit, jam and honey. Craft breweries and cideries add another set of stops. In town, Penticton has restaurants on Main Street and along the lakes, plus a farmers market in warmer months.

Winery restaurants tend to cook with what is local and in season, so menus change. If you eat at one, ask what is from the winery garden.

When is the best time to go?

Late spring to early autumn is the main season. September is harvest, with the best produce and the most events, and also crowds. Summer is hot and the lakes are busy. Winter is quiet, and many wineries run a reduced schedule.

How much does it cost?

Tasting fees vary, and are often waived when you buy a bottle. A winery lunch is similar in price to a city restaurant with a view. Tax is added at the till: GST on food and PST on alcohol. Tip 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax bill at a sit-down lunch.

What should you ask a winery before you go?

Ask whether there is a tasting fee and whether it is credited toward a purchase, whether bookings are needed, what the hours are on the day you plan to visit, whether children and dogs are welcome and whether the winery has a food menu. Small family operations may close for lunch or for a private event, and a quick call or message saves a wasted drive. If you are travelling with a group, ask about a group rate or a private tasting.

Is it suitable for children?

Yes for the lakes, beaches and farm stands, less so for the wine tastings. Many winery restaurants welcome children at lunch, but rooms can be quiet and formal, so ask when booking.

How do you get there?

Penticton is a few hours' drive from Vancouver, along the Coquihalla Highway, and an hour from Kelowna. There is a small airport. Public transit within the wine areas is limited, so a car or tour is typical.

A day on the Naramata Bench

Start in Penticton with coffee, drive north along the lake, taste at two wineries before lunch, eat at a winery restaurant and finish at a third. Return before dark, since the road is winding.

How do you keep track of a day on the benches?

Three wineries and a long lunch make a day that is easy to enjoy and hard to remember. In the Mosey app you rate the dish at lunch separately from everything in the glass, so the roadside peaches and the patio pizza each have a score. Tag what stood out, save the farm stands and tasting rooms for a return trip in a list, and share it with the friends you came with. Rate the best thing you ate on the Naramata Bench before you head home.

More guides to read next:

• Whistler food guide: Village, Creekside and Function Junction, plus après ski
• Gatineau and Old Hull food guide: crossing the river from Ottawa to eat in Quebec
• Hamilton food guide: James Street North, Locke Street, the farmers market and Ottawa Street

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.