Golden Hour On the Bench
Discover the beauty of British Columbia's Naramata Bench
Located in British Columbia's beautiful Okanagan Valley, the Naramata Bench sub-region soaks up the day’s last light. Its west-facing vineyards give grapes long, lingering afternoons of light and gift visitors with evenings of unforgettable golden views.
On the eastern shore of British Columbia’s Okanagan Lake, a gently sloping stretch of vineyards, orchards, and narrow backroads forms one of Canada’s most beloved wine regions.
This is the Naramata Bench: a sun-kissed pocket of the Okanagan Valley where grapes ripen slowly in warm days and cool nights, and where the pace of life feels designed for lingering.
A short drive from Kelowna, the terrain here features a long, west-facing slope that is perfectly angled toward the lake. Glacial soils and moderating breezes create ideal conditions for varietals like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and aromatic whites. More than fifty wine and craft beverage producers operate along a route barely twenty-five kilometres long, many of them family-run. The result is a patchwork of tasting rooms that range from sleek modern spaces to rustic farmyards with picnic tables under fruit trees.
Photo: Destination BC/Grant Harder
Photo: Destination BC/Grant Harder
Visitors to the Naramata Bench can chart their own course — by car, bicycle, or on local tours. Tastings often come with sweeping views of the lake and the distant, hazy hills of the South Okanagan.
Just a short trip from Vancouver or Kelowna, the Naramata Bench offers an easy weekend escape where a welcoming, close-knit community makes you want to linger and come back again.
Photo: Jon Adrian/Naramata Wines
Photo: Jon Adrian/Naramata Wines
Photo: Tania Veitch
Photo: Tania Veitch
The Naramata Bench Wineries Association, a collective of artisan wine and beverage producers, creates an annual passport that guides visitors through the region.
Behind each producer are not only distinct (and many award-winning) products, but also stories of family, connection to land and a deep respect for the region.
Take Black Widow Winery, for example. The Lancaster family purchased this 7-acre vineyard in 2000 and built the Black Widow Winery in 2006. It is still a family-run operation that welcomes visitors in a family-friendly environment.
Or Scott and Nicole Breier, who opened the doors of their farm brewery, the Abandoned Rail Brewing Co., in early 2022. Located along the Kettle Valley Rail trail, the brewery is a comfortable, all-inclusive space that celebrates family, friendship and good beer.
Each property and producer on the Bench adds its own bright thread to the region’s patchwork of stories.
Photo: Destination BC/Kari Medig
Photo: Destination BC/Kari Medig
Beyond its wineries, breweries, and distilleries, the Naramata Bench brims with restaurants, cafés, and small shops that round out a day’s exploring, many of them celebrating the valley’s own bounty: stone-fruit orchards, heirloom vegetables, and cheeses from nearby creameries so every bite tastes unmistakably of the Okanagan.
The Naramata Bench rewards unhurried exploration, offering excellent access to nature.
Hiking or cycling on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, which winds high above the lake through vineyards and orchards with expansive views, is a great way to balance out the food and wine sampling. There are artisan shops and art studios in the village, and historic railway features like the Little Tunnel that hint at the region’s past.
Getting There
The Naramata Bench is about an hour’s drive south of Kelowna or a quick 15 minutes from Penticton Regional Airport. The drive from Vancouver takes roughly four and a half hours through the scenic Coquihalla and Okanagan corridors.
Where to Stay
Vineyard guesthouses, boutique inns, and lakefront cottages abound. Penticton is nearby with additional accommodation options.
Book early for summer weekends.
Best Time to Visit
Late spring through early fall showcases the region’s bounty: apple blossoms in May, sun-soaked vineyard patios in July, golden vines and harvest celebrations in September and October. Winter brings a quieter pace and cozy fireside tastings.
Getting Around
A car is convenient, but much of the Bench can be explored by bike. The Kettle Valley Rail Trail offers a gentle, scenic route above the vineyards, and local outfitters rent e-bikes or lead guided tastings and tours.
Step into Canada's Golden Hour
