Okanagan Wineries: the beginning

Father Charles Pandosy from France planted the first vines in the region for the Church sacramental reasons in 1859.

The word spread of the exceptional fertile soil, and the climate which produced  high quality wine.  Other followed. The biggest was in 1925 when Charles Casorso planted vines in Rutland in 1925. That winery is called Sperling Vineyards, still in existence.  Soon after, he realized the wine making potential here, and founded Calona Vineyards, the oldest continuously operating winery in BC.

Then in 1966 Mission Hill Winery opened and began testing different grapes for winemaking. Eventually those lead to the production of some best quality wines in the region, putting Okanagan Valley on the map. The discovery of vinifera grapes in particular produced some excellent quality and by 1980s the vinifera varieties began making their mark on the world stage.

Many other wine makers set up shop on the next few decades here, producing a wide variety of excellent, world renowned and awarded vintage.