Oliver, B.C.... The Wine Capital of Canada

View of Oliver, British Columbia

Oliver, British Columbia is a small town in the South Okanagan Valley. Located just 26Km(16 miles) north of Osoyoos, this area is home to many world class wineries.

The famous "Golden Mile" is a cluster of wineries concentrated in a short stretch along the highway. In all, there are close to 30 wineries in this grape growing region.

Many of the internationly trained vintners, or winemakers, share national awards for their fine wines. You will be amazed as you travel through this scenic city and see the rolling hills, and rows upon rows of vineyards.

The town celebrates its superb wines and grapes every year at its April Wine Festival and The Festival of the Grape in October. These events attract upwards of 100,000 people to the region. They are so much fun as there is food, games, live entertainment and even a Grape Stomp...what a mess but what a blast!

Places of Interest

McIntyre Bluff in Oliver, B.C. There are many heritage places to visit in this small town. I will list some of the must see stops on your tour.

  • The Visitor Info Centre This site is the location of the old CPR Station, built in 1923. The station was restored and the last train came through Oliver in 1977. Come here and get tons of information on the area!

  • The Heritage Museum Sits on the former provincial police station that was built in 1924. There are many historical photographs. There is even a jail (built in 1896) that was moved from the old site town of Fairview. This is a ghost town now, but used to be a bustling place with a former gold mine. Very cool place to visit!

  • The Federal Migratory Bird Sanctuary One of many resting spots in British Columbia in spring and fall for most species of migratory birds.

  • McIntyre Bluff You can't miss this landmark as you drive along the highway. This 250 metre(828ft) high cliff has the shape of an Indian head. There is legend that rival Indian tribes were driven off the edge of the cliffs!

  • Mt. Kobau One of the tallest mountain peaks in the Okanagan. You can get a spectacular view of both the Similkameen Valley and Okanagan Valley. Don't miss this!

  • Oliver Heritage Walk For a 25 minute self-guided tour you can start at the Visitor Info Centre and end at the museum. In between you will visit the 1946 Theatre, the 1937 Chronicle Building, and the 1912 Oliver Hotel. If you are into any heritage at all, this is an excellent tour to learn a lot about this small town!



    Beautiful Big Horn Sheep in Oliver There are other attractions to see...

    For the ski buffs there is the Mt. Baldy Ski Area. Located just 35km(21mi) or 40 minutes away from the town, this is a popular ski destination for anyone living in or visiting the South Okanagan valley.

    There are a couple of outdoor recreation areas close by. The Inkameep Provincial Park and Vaseux Lake Provincial Park are great family spots to camp, picnic, or just enjoy the fresh outdoors.

    For the golfing fan there are a couple of world class golf courses in the area. The Inkameep Canyon Desert Golf Course and the Fairview Mountain Golf Club are much talked about in the golfing community. The Fairview has been in a couple of popular ranking magazines and has been a top 20 in the Province of British Columbia several times!

    If you have a look around you may catch a glimpse of a California Big Horn Sheep or a Burrowing Owl. These are just a few of the wildlife inhabitating the area.

    I hope you have enjoyed this tour. Please come again!

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