Business in Oliver, BC
Business Websites in Oliver
British Columbia Canada
OLIVER..WINE CAPITAL OF CANADA
At the northern most point of the Sonora Desert tucked into the southern
end of B.C’s beautiful Okanagan Valley, Oliver, “Wine Capital of Canada”,
is renowned for the quality of wine grapes being produced here. Those grown
in the favoured “Golden Mile” and on “Black Sage Bench” are sought after by vintners province-wide.
Oliver’s climate and topography offer the optimum conditions necessary
to grow the preferred Vinifera wine grapes. Our area holds 10% of the
country’s wineries and just over 4500 acres of the fine grape growing acreage
- 68% of B.C.’s 6600 acres.
It takes four things to be a Wine Capital:
…vineyards of wine grapes;
…wineries to craft the wines;
…winemakers to do the crafting
…world recognition of the wines.
Oliver is known as the Wine Capital of Canada with the largest concentration
of both vineyards and commercial wineries in British Columbia. The majority of
these are located along what is known as the Golden Mile of Highway 97, and on Black Sage Road just south of Oliver. New wineries and additional lands are being put into production
in what is expected to be a growth industry for the next five to 10 years. The
rolling terraces, exceptionally mild climate with lots of sun, gravelly soil and
availability of irrigation produce the right elements for growing high-quality grapes.
Many of the vineyards are under contract with larger B.C. wineries to
provide an annual supply of grapes. The varietal styles include both
red and white wine producing grapes with significant concentrations of
German and French vines. The sales and production of high-quality VQA
(Vinters Quality Alliance) wines has significantly increased Oliver’s tourism
industry. The two annual grape and wine festivals attract upward of
100,000 visitors to the Okanagan and Oliver can boast of its own Wine
Festival event – the Festival of the Grape.
Your day of wine touring is not complete without a fine dining experience.
Oliver offers an excellent variety of restaurants including lunch/dinner
on the patio at Burrowing Owl overlooking the vineyards. Enjoy the views from
Fairview Mtn and Nk’Mip Canyon Golf Course Restaurants or the wine list at the Toasted Oak Wine Bar & Grill, awarded Best BC Wine List in the Pacific Northwest by Wine Press Northwest, Seattle, Washington.
For those seeking an active vacation there is plenty of hiking, skiing,
biking, fruit-picking, kayaking, golfing at a choice of two championship
courses …. or simply just relax, read a book and listen to the birds!
