France, Italy, California … and Canada? Why the Canucks want you to drink their wine and visit their vineyards

When thinking of Canada, lush vineyards are often not the first image that springs to mind. Yet, the country's expansive geography – from the Pacific to Atlantic Ocean – is home to numerous viticulture regions, and they are attracting visitors with their award-winning wines and novel experiences. From fledgling regions in Newfoundland, to more established areas such as the Niagara Peninsula, wine culture is alive and well north of the 49th parallel.

Among these diverse wine regions, the Okanagan Valley in Canada's westernmost province of British Columbia is earning its place on the map as a destination for serious oenophiles and casual connoisseurs alike with offerings that go far beyond vineyard tours and tastings.

Carved out by retreating glaciers some 10,000 years ago, the Okanagan Valley stretches over 200km, from the province's southern interior region to the United States border. In its wake, ancient retreating ice left behind a chain of lakes and fertile deposits of silt and sediment lining the sides and bottom of the valley. To the west, the Coast Mountains which give Vancouver its rugged scenery, provide a rain shadow effect for the Okanagan Valley, limiting annual precipitation in much of the region to about 300mm.

The valley's climate and topography have made it one of the province's most productive agricultural areas and built the foundation for a prosperous wine industry. Often dubbed “Napa of the North”, the region boasts 8,830 planted acres of vineyards and 185 licensed grape wineries.

In West Kelowna, situated on a hilltop overlooking the scenic Okanagan Lake, Mission Hill Winery entices visitors with its internationally heralded wines as well as striking architecture. Passing through the massive stone archway into the courtyard of the property, one is struck by the image of the 12-story bell tower, topped by a lightning rod and pelican-inspired weathervane, a nod to the family crest of proprietor Anthony von Mandl. Designed by architect Tom Kundig to evoke a “primitive modernist aesthetic”, the property is home to many breathtaking spaces including a massive, climate-controlled barrel cellar blasted into volcanic rock, and a reception hall featuring a stunning Marc Chagall tapestry.

Sommelier-guided tours are an opportunity to sample selections from the award-winning Legacy and Terroir collections, while learning about the Okanagan Valley's five unique growing regions: West Kelowna, East Kelowna, Naramata Bench, Black Sage Bench and Osoyoos. Across these regions, nearly every style of wine is produced from Merlots, pinot noirs and Cabernets to Chardonnays and Rieslings. Twenty years ago, with no vineyard holdings of its own, Mission Hill produced its wine with grapes bought from other vineyards. Today, it has estate vineyards in each of the Okanagan Valley's five growing regions.

Across those regions, the selection of wines and experiences is an embarrassment of riches. At Elephant Island Orchard Wines on the Naramata Bench for example, the emphasis is on fruit wines and visitors can take home libations produced with cherries, pears, apples and blackcurrants to add to their personal collections.