Kelowna Agri-Tours: Wineries, Orchards and Hobby Farms
Wineries
Wine Grape Stomp
A Kelowna, BC, Canada winery lets wine lovers stomp a barrel of grapes that have been picked in the vineyard before sitting down for a wine tasting. Grape stomping is the art of gently squeezing juices from grapes using bare feet without tearing-up the grape skins. Wine can’t be made from foot-stomped grapes for health reasons, but the stomping process itself can feel like an organic pedicure. The annual Festival of the Grape has a grape stomping event, and there are often grape stomping activities during the Okanagan Fall Wine Festival. Summerhill Pyramid Winery is one Kelowna, BC, Canada winery that can arrange for larger groups to take-off their shoes and crush grapes while on tour.
Great Estates of the Okanagan Wine Tours
Wine lovers may follow a wine tour trail unmarked on any wine route map: a trip that begins at a winery on Bottleneck Drive near Summerland, BC, Canada and forms part of the ‘wine crawl’ near Osoyoos. An experienced wine tour guide leads this wine pilgrimage that passes-by one hundred miles of water: Okanagan, Skaha, Vaseaux and Osoyoos lakes. Along the way, trained and friendly winery staff provides helpful hints about wine tasting, wine making and choosing an appropriate wine for the right meal. Vouchers redeemable at each winery, private tastings and a winemaker’s dinner are just three goodies that await grape enthusiasts on their journey. Wines discovered on the Great Estates of the Okanagan Wine Tour may also be experienced at one of four Okanagan wine festivals.
Orchards
Kelowna Land and Orchard (KLO)
Kelowna Land and Orchard (KLO) is a 150-acre working farm and apple orchard located in the South East Kelowna real estate neighbourhood on Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) land. After touring the farm that produces approximately four million pounds of fruit annually, visitors may enjoy a meal at the restaurant or sip a glass of apple wine at the winery. Local crafts, teas and other products can be purchased at the farm’s store; the petting zoo’s goats, rabbits and other animals are popular with visitors of all ages.
Hobby Farms
Okanagan Lavender Herb Farm
It takes an accurate eye to read the manicured greens at a Kelowna golf course; but the nose leads one through fragrant, purple fields at the Okanagan Lavender Herb Farm. The farm grows over 60 kinds of lavender on 2-acres and offers wonderful Lake Okanagan views while visitors’ noses remains distracted. Shoppers can find ice cream, bath oil and other products made from lavender for sale, although there is no lavender wine. Like wineries, Okanagan Lavender Farm offers tours to visitors on which they can learn about how to make lavender lemonade. Budding chefs may also learn how to make several lavender recipes that can likely not be found in local restaurants. Okanagan Lavender Farm is located within a short drive of many Kelowna hotels, motels and resorts in the Upper Mission real estate neighborhood.
Falcon Ridge Farms
Plains Indians may have prescribed a drink of Echinacea tea from Falcon Ridge Farms had it existed earlier on in Kelowna’s history. Visitors today may visit Falcon Ridge Farms near Kelowna for a taste of the plant used for medicinal purposes by First Nations. The Echinacea plant looks like a Black-eyed Susan in colour and shape, and it is well-suited to growing in Kelowna’s drier climate. Falcon Ridge offers tours of its farm and sells Echinacea tea, health & beauty goods and other organic products at its general store. There is no such thing as an Echinacea wine, and golfers will find no cure at Falcon Ridge Farms for their awkward golf swing. The farm also acts as a hotel of sorts for llamas, goats and other animals who welcome new visitors.
Elysium Gardens
Vine Land blooms brightly thanks in part to Elysium Gardens: about 2000 varieties of perennials, bulbs and other plants grow on 4-acres of land in the Black Mountain real estate neighborhood. The gardens carve through a former apple orchard like the fairways do on the 9-hole golf course that is located in the Southeast Kelowna real estate neighborhood. Elysium’s perennial display and Japanese inspired gardens provide another interesting attraction to visit in addition to Kelowna’s wineries, golf courses, historical sites, and cultural attractions. The gardens are a short drive from many Kelowna hotels and motels where visitors may take a self-guided tour or attend a walking seminar.
Gatzke’s Farm Market
BC Orchard Industry Museum exhibits teach people about the history of Okanagan orchards, but Gatzke’s Farm Market lets one live the experience of working on one. The 20-acre farm is located half-way between Kelowna and Vernon on Highway 97, and it produces 50 varieties of tree fruit each year. Cabins overlooking Wood Lake provide accommodations for those who wish to live for a while amongst the apple trees. It doesn’t sell wine, however, homemade apple pie, jams and other products may be purchased at the farm’s café and bakery. Visitors can take orchard tours, admire the collection of antique farm equipment and pick some fruit fresh off the vine at Gatzke’s Farm Market.
Carmelis Goat Cheese Artisan
Cheese made from 100% goat’s milk is a perfect compliment to a glass of Okanagan wine: Misty Cheese with white wine or Carmel Cheese with red wine. The farm’s blue cheese also mixes divinely with an ice-wine or port after a home-cooked or restaurant meal. Carmelis Goat Cheese is a family owned boutique dairy farm that is located about 12-kilometres South of Kelowna; it is a short drive from most Kelowna hotels, close to several wineries in the Kettle Valley real estate neighborhood. Carmelis offers tours of its dairy plant, aging cellar and the milking facility as well as an opportunity to visit with the goats.
Arlo’s Honey Farm
If there is anything sweeter than an Okanagan wine or a perfect golf shot, it can be found at Arlo’s Honey Farm in Kelowna. The life of a bee is a busy one, and tours by experienced beekeepers teach visitors the craft of harvesting the fruits of its labour. The farm’s gift shop sells these fruits in the form of honey and other products that are made thanks to the bee’s hard work. Whether it is on breakfast toast or in dinner tea, honey is an important part of many restaurant menus. Arlo’s Honey Farm in Kelowna is just one Okanagan honey farm that helps make every meal in Kelowna a sweeter one. The farm is located near the Southeast Kelowna real estate neighbourhood and Upper Mission real estate neighborhood, not far from many hotels, motels and resorts.
Gellatly Nut Farm
Gellatly Nut Farm fresh walnuts, goat cheese and an Okanagan Pinot Noir wine might serve as an ideal appetizer before a restaurant meal. Visitors may pick their own nuts on a self-guided tour of the almost 10-acre Gellatly Nut Farm. As one of Canada’s first commercial nut orchards, the farm has a log cabin and several heritage sites that can be visited. Gellatly Nut Farm is located in West Kelowna, only a short drive over the new Lake Okanagan Bridge from several hotels, motels and resorts. It is a great rest stop for those driving to or from wineries, golf courses, parks, and other Central and South Okanagan attractions. Guided tours of the farm, nut orchard and its grounds are possible on select days in the Summer.
Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR)
The BC Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) protects 9,140 hectares of Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) land in Kelowna according to a City of Kelowna Agriculture in Brief. This ALC was created in 1973 in response to increasing pressure to use BC’s agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes. In January 1, 2001 it reported that Kelowna’s ALR land represented about 43% of land area in the City of Kelowna, and a sizable portion of this land is in the South East Kelowna real estate neighbourhood. The Kelowna climate allows about 569 farms to produce food such as the following according to the most recent Statistics Canada Census of Agriculture: livestock, with hens and chickens the most commonly raised; and apples, which represent about 75% of fruits, nuts, and berries grown. Development of Kelowna ALR land for non-agricultural purposes remains an issue as the City of Kelowna continues to grow.
Croc-Talk
Crocodiles and alligators lurk beneath the shallow waters of Vine Land at Croc-Talk: wildcats, turtles and tortoises also reside there. Canada’s ‘only educational Crocodilian talk show’ lets visitors get up-close, maybe pet and learn the habits of these two reptile species. Croc-Talk’s passionate guides also teach the importance of conserving and respecting animal species and the ecosystems in which they live. While on tour, visitors may encounter the largest crocodile ever found, over 40 feet long, as it munches on a tasty restaurant-like meal. In tropical climates, crocs and alligators often sit in golf course ponds or swamps awaiting golfers and their golf balls. Unsuspecting visitors will appreciate an experienced Croc-Talk guide intercepting a croc or gator if it decides to leap from the water.
