The Naramata Bench is a narrow strip of benchland north of Penticton, clinging to the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake between the water and a line of cliffs. Fifteen kilometres of road. Over 40 licensed wineries. Views across the lake that make it impossible to drive without stopping. It is the most concentrated wine-tasting experience in BC and one of the best in Canada.
This guide covers the wineries worth prioritising, how to structure your day, and the practical details that make the difference between a good Naramata day and a great one.
What Makes the Naramata Bench Different
The Naramata Bench is geologically distinct from the South Okanagan sub-appellations around Oliver. The soils here are a mix of glacial till, clay, and gravel on a steep east-facing slope. The bench elevation (roughly 400–500m) and the moderating influence of Okanagan Lake produce a cooler mesoclimate than the desert floor around Osoyoos — the nights are cooler, the growing season slightly longer, and the wines tend to have more acidity and aromatic complexity. Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Chardonnay thrive here. Big tannic reds are less the point.
The Best Wineries on the Naramata Bench
There are over 40 tasting rooms on the bench road. You cannot visit them all in a day. Here are the ones worth prioritising, loosely in order from south (Penticton end) to north.
Poplar Grove Winery
One of the anchor wineries of the bench, about 5 km north of Penticton. The Pinot Gris is consistently one of the best in BC — aromatic, textured, and dry in a way that cheap Pinot Gris rarely manages. The Monster Red is a crowd-pleasing blend worth picking up. Good tasting room setup, knowledgeable staff, and a cheese shop on-site that makes for an excellent pairing stop.
Don’t miss: Pinot Gris, Monster Red
Lake Breeze Vineyards
One of the most beloved lunch destinations on the bench. The patio at Lake Breeze looks directly across Okanagan Lake to the western mountains and is one of the finest outdoor dining settings in the Okanagan. The Pinot Blanc is exceptional — crisp, mineral, and a perfect match for the view. Book the patio restaurant for lunch; walk-ins are possible on weekdays but summer weekends fill fast.
Don’t miss: Pinot Blanc, patio lunch
Laughing Stock Vineyards
Produces two wines and does both exceptionally well: Portfolio (a Bordeaux-style red blend) and Blind Trust (white blend). The portfolio red is one of the most consistently awarded wines on the bench — structured, age-worthy, and the kind of wine that makes you reconsider what BC Bordeaux blends can achieve. The tasting room is deliberately small and appointment-recommended in peak summer.
Don’t miss: Portfolio red blend, Blind Trust white
Therapy Vineyards
Named with tongue firmly in cheek — the labels reference therapy concepts and the wines are named accordingly (Freudian Sip, Prose & Cons). Don’t let the playfulness fool you: the Pinot Noir and the premium Naramata Bench Pinot Gris are serious wines. Good value across the range. One of the more fun tasting room experiences on the bench for groups who want to enjoy themselves.
Don’t miss: Pinot Noir, Naramata Bench Pinot Gris
Elephant Island Orchard Wines
The only dedicated fruit winery on the bench — Elephant Island makes wine entirely from orchard fruit: pear, cherry, apricot, blackcurrant, and more. This is not sweet novelty wine; it is serious, dry, and complex fruit wine that is genuinely unlike anything else you will taste on the bench. The cherry wine in particular is extraordinary. Worth visiting specifically for the tasting experience — it resets your assumptions about what wine can be made from.
Don’t miss: Cherry wine, pear wine, any dry fruit wine
Kettle Valley Winery
A small family estate near the north end of the bench road with a long track record of excellent Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Old Main Red is a perennially solid Bordeaux blend. The tasting room is unpretentious and the owners are often present — the kind of winery experience that reminds you why small family estates matter.
Don’t miss: Pinot Noir, Old Main Red
Serendipity Winery
Near the top of the bench road, Serendipity produces good Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Rosé. The hillside setting at this end of the bench gives views in multiple directions. Less crowded than the wineries closer to Penticton. A good end-of-day stop where you can take your time.
How to Plan Your Naramata Day
The Route
Naramata Road leaves Penticton heading northeast along the lake. The road is one lane in each direction — no overtaking issues, but it is not a highway. It winds along the bench with the lake on your left and the vineyards rising on your right. The drive from Penticton to the end of the formal bench road at Naramata village is about 15 km and takes 25 minutes without stops. Allow a full day.
Suggested Half-Day (South Bench)
- 10am: Poplar Grove — tasting, pick up cheese
- 11:30am: Therapy Vineyards
- 1pm: Lake Breeze — lunch on the patio (book ahead)
- 3pm: Laughing Stock — afternoon tasting, buy a Portfolio
Suggested Full Day (Full Bench)
- 10am: Poplar Grove
- 11am: Elephant Island — the fruit wine experience
- 12:30pm: Lake Breeze patio lunch
- 2pm: Laughing Stock
- 3pm: Therapy Vineyards
- 4:30pm: Kettle Valley or Serendipity — end of bench
- 6pm: Drive back to Penticton for dinner
Rather Not Drive the Bench?
Guided wine tours from Penticton cover the Naramata Bench with transport so everyone can taste freely.
Practical Tips
- Start early. Tasting rooms open at 10am — arrive then and you will have the place to yourself. By 1pm in summer the bench road is busy and popular tasting rooms have queues.
- Three to four wineries is the right number for a day. You can technically visit more, but quality of experience drops sharply after four tastings. Choose your four and give each proper time.
- Book Lake Breeze patio ahead. The most popular lunch spot on the bench fills on summer weekends. Call ahead or check their website.
- Designated driver or guided tour. The Naramata Road is winding and narrow. BC’s impaired driving laws are strict and the RCMP knows the bench. Sort out transport before you start.
- Buy what you love on the spot. Several Naramata producers sell out of top wines before the end of the season. If you taste something you love, buy it — it likely won’t be available later.
- Naramata village at the end of the road is a tiny, charming community worth a brief stop — a heritage hotel, a local pub, and lake access.
Where to Stay Near the Naramata Bench
Most visitors base themselves in Penticton and day-trip the bench. Penticton is 15 km south and has the best hotel and restaurant options. The Penticton guide covers accommodation in detail. For a true bench experience, a VRBO vacation rental on or near Naramata Road puts you within walking distance of several tasting rooms — a genuinely different trip.
Stay on the Naramata Bench
Vacation rentals on or near the bench road — wake up surrounded by vineyards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many wineries are on the Naramata Bench?
Over 40 licensed wineries operate on or immediately adjacent to the Naramata Bench Road — the highest concentration of wineries per kilometre of road in BC.
Do Naramata Bench wineries require reservations?
Most tasting rooms accept walk-ins on weekdays. Weekend mornings in summer can be busy at the most popular producers; Laughing Stock recommends appointments in peak season. The Lake Breeze patio restaurant absolutely requires reservations on summer weekends.
How far is Naramata from Penticton?
Naramata village is 15 km north of Penticton along Naramata Road — about 25 minutes by car. The bench wineries start about 5 km from Penticton and continue north to the village.
What wines is Naramata Bench known for?
Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and Riesling are the bench’s strongest suits. The cooler mesoclimate and longer growing season produce wines with more acidity and aromatic complexity than the hotter South Okanagan floor. Bordeaux blends (particularly at Laughing Stock) are also excellent.