Big winery estates can be impressive, but there’s something special about visiting a place where the family name is tied to the land, the bottles and sometimes the person pouring your wine.
The Okanagan Valley has plenty of these family owned wineries. Some have been passed through several generations, while others began with a family making a rather bold career change. Each has its own personality, from picnic-friendly Lake Country properties to polished estates in West Kelowna and red-wine hideouts near Osoyoos.
If you’d like your next trip through British Columbia wine country to feel a little more personal, these six family owned wineries belong on your list.
Quails’ Gate Estate Winery
Few Okanagan wineries have family roots as deep as Quails’ Gate Estate Winery. The Stewart family has farmed in the valley for more than a century, with the story beginning when Richard Stewart Sr. settled in the area in 1908. The family planted its first vines in 1961 and founded Quails’ Gate Winery in 1989.
Today, this West Kelowna estate farms 160 acres of vineyards and remains closely connected to the Stewart family. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are two of its best-known wines, and visitors can explore them through several tasting options.
Quails’ Gate is a larger family estate winery experience, so you can make a full afternoon of it. Book a wine tasting, wander the grounds or stay for lunch at Old Vines Restaurant. The lake views are no slouch either.
Arrowleaf Cellars
Arrowleaf Cellars has been owned and operated by the Zuppiger family since it was founded in 2001. The family immigrated to Canada from Switzerland, where they had operated an organic orchard and dairy farm. After eventually settling in Lake Country, they began growing grapes before opening Arrowleaf in 2003.
Several members of the family still work across winemaking, accounting, events, marketing and the tasting room. That family-run approach gives Arrowleaf a relaxed feel without taking attention away from the wine.
Its portfolio includes Okanagan favourites such as Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, along with blends and smaller experimental releases. After your tasting, grab a bottle and find a spot in the picnic area overlooking Okanagan Lake. If you visit on the right weekend, you may also encounter the winery’s popular house-made cream puffs. Wine and cream puffs? No argument here.
Poplar Grove Winery
Founded in 1993, Poplar Grove Winery was one of the first five wineries established on the Naramata Bench. Tony and Barb Holler purchased it in 2007, and their four sons now help farm more than 160 acres of estate vineyards.
The winery is especially well known for Cabernet Franc, Pinot Gris and The Legacy, its flagship red blend. Its position above Penticton also provides one of those sweeping Okanagan views that can make a quick tasting turn into a much longer visit.
Guests can choose a classic tasting in the main tasting room or book a more detailed library experience. There’s also an on-site restaurant serving lunch and dinner, which makes Poplar Grove an easy anchor for a day on the Naramata Bench.
Meyer Family Vineyards
JAK Meyer and Janice Stevens-Meyer changed careers to build Meyer Family Vineyards, and they remain actively involved in everything from sales and administration to vineyard and winery work.
The winery has produced wine in the Okanagan Valley since 2006 and opened its Okanagan Falls tasting room in 2010. Its focus is refreshingly specific: small-lot Chardonnay and Pinot Noir made in a Burgundian style. Rather than trying to produce a little of everything, Meyer leans into the varieties that suit its vineyard sites.
The covered outdoor cabana is open during the summer for wine by the glass, and guests can bring a picnic. Families and leashed dogs are welcome, making it one of the more easygoing stops on this list.
Moon Curser Vineyards
Moon Curser Vineyards sits on the East Bench of Osoyoos, not far from the Canada–U.S. border. The winery was founded by Chris and Beata Tolley in 2004 before being passed to the Dhaliwal family, a family of South Okanagan grape growers, in late 2024.
Moon Curser has always been willing to wander off the usual wine list. Its portfolio includes less-common varieties such as Touriga Nacional and Carménère alongside Syrah and Bordeaux-style blends.
The branding leans into Osoyoos gold-smuggling history, so expect a bit of mystery with your Merlot. Visitors can stop at the main tasting bar or reserve the seated Smuggler’s Sitting, which features a red-heavy selection and views over the vineyard and Osoyoos Lake.
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery
Located between Oliver and Osoyoos, Burrowing Owl Estate Winery has remained family-owned since 1993. The estate is surrounded by vineyards and feels like its own little wine country retreat.
There’s more here than a tasting counter. Visitors can reserve a tasting, dine at the Sonora Room Restaurant or stay overnight at the winery’s Guest House. That makes Burrowing Owl a strong choice for anyone who wants to slow the day down rather than rush between stops.
Its South Okanagan setting also gives red-wine drinkers plenty to enjoy, with a portfolio that includes varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
Plan a Family Owned Winery Tour
These family owned wineries are spread from Lake Country to Osoyoos, so trying to visit all six in one day would be ambitious. Pick one region, give yourself time at each stop and let someone else handle the driving.
Vivid Tours offers wine tours throughout the Okanagan, including Lake Country, West Kelowna, Naramata, Okanagan Falls, Oliver and Osoyoos. Winery stops depend on the route, availability and the plans for the day, but you can always share your wish list when booking. We’ll do our best to build you a day filled with great wines, friendly wineries and plenty of family stories along the way.
