20 August, 2024

Gemma’s Trans Canada Trail: Wine Tasting Along the Trail

A man rides a bike along a scenic path by a lake, with a picturesque wine vineyard in the background. Un homme fait du vélo sur un sentier pittoresque au bord d'un lac, avec un vignoble pittoresque en arrière-plan.

Written by Gemma Taylor

With the Trans Canada Trail passing the doorstep of my Penticton home, I am truly spoiled for choice for walking opportunities. If asked about my favourite section of the Trail, however, I would not hesitate.

The 5-kilometre stretch of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, from Riddle Road to Vancouver Place, is my top pick for reasons I will soon share. I often run this section, stroll it at sunset or share it with visiting friends. My preferred activity, however, is wine tasting. Yes, wine tasting on the Trans Canada Trail!

A unique Canadian wine region

This part of the Trail traverses the Naramata Bench, a narrow-sloped plateau of land on the eastern side of Okanagan Lake between the village of Naramata and the city of Penticton. It was built on the former Kettle Valley Railway route.

The Naramata Bench is a particularly unique Canadian wine region with more than 40 wineries concentrated along a 12-kilometre-long stretch of land. The mostly family-owned wineries are small, sometimes only growing 3-4 acres of grapes on site. This means that it is possible to walk between them. Of course, cycling is practical too.

Iconic Penticton wineries and sweeping vineyard landscapes

A Trans Canada Trail sign on a fence beside a dirt road in a winery located in Penticton, British Columbia. Un panneau du sentier Transcanadien sur une clôture à côté d'un chemin de terre dans un vignoble situé à Penticton, en Colombie-Britannique.

Slightly north of the Trail, near Riddle Road, is Origin Wines, a small family-run enterprise. The highlight of the tasting room is the sweeping views of Okanagan Lake.

Four hundred metres from there you’ll find an impressive gristmill-style building, the home of Hillside Winery, which sits directly below the Trans Canada Trail. One of the oldest and most iconic Naramata Bench wineries, Hillside’s owners successfully lobbied the BC government in 1989 to allow small vineyards to produce and sell wine at their properties. Thirty-five years later, Hillside Winery is a local landmark.

Moving south and towards Penticton, the path travels alongside tidy vineyard rows. Depending on the time of year, these may feature buds (late winter), green shoots and berries (spring), many leaves (summer) or even ripened grape clusters (late summer). During the harvest in early fall, buckets of grapes sometimes sit next to the Trail.

Where the Trans Canada Trail meets Davenport Avenue, a crosswalk leads to Abandoned Rail Brewing. This farm-based brewery grows its own barley and is a popular destination for young families exploring the Trans Canada Trail. Games and playground equipment are scattered underneath the fruit trees in the garden.

Wine lovers welcome

A person raises a glass of wine, wine tasting, with a scenic view of a lake and Penticton vineyard in the background. Une personne lève un verre de vin, la dégustation de vins, avec une vue panoramique sur un lac et le vignoble de Penticton en arrière-plan.

Wine lovers should continue south to the Lochore Road junction, just 350 m farther. Turn right for D’Angelo Estate Winery or left for the Red Rooster Winery and Ruby Blues Winery. All three are within 400 m of the Trans Canada Trail.

D’Angelo is a great choice for fans of red wine, with the friendly family-run winery being home to the largest block of Tempranillo grapes on the Bench. Salvatore D’Angelo, the Italian-born owner was the first individual grower-vintner to produce wine in both BC and Ontario.

Established in 1990, Red Rooster is another Naramata Bench institution. While now owned by a wine giant, the winery retains a distinctively independent identity. It is modern, yet quirky and approachable — a favourite for many visiting the Bench.

Ruby Blues’ painted VW Westfalia van has drawn in many thousands of visitors over the years, with the funky, laid-back vibe extending to the wine-tasting experience as well.

Gorgeous lake views from the McCulloch Trestle

A scenic view of a wine vineyard, featuring rows of grapevines with a stunning mountain rising in the background. Une vue panoramique d'un vignoble viticole, avec des rangées de vignes avec une magnifique montagne s'élevant en arrière-plan.

Back on the Trans Canada Trail, orchards line the way to the McCulloch Trestle. This wooden trestle showcases gorgeous views of Okanagan Lake and surrounding vineyards.

The route back to Penticton is somehow even more scenic, with the path winding through yet more vineyards and then along the top of steep cliffs, with the lake to one side and Munson Mountain (home of the Penticton sign) on the other.

This Trail section engages all senses, with the air heady with the scent of native sagebrush shrubs. It is an invigorating end to an already one-of-a-kind section of the Trans Canada Trail.

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Gemma Taylor is an outdoor adventure travel blogger based in Penticton, British Columbia. Happiest on the trail or with a canoe paddle in her hand, Gemma simply loves to be outside, the further off the beaten path the better! Visit Off Track Travel for detailed adventure guides and road trip itineraries, and follow her on Facebook.