Southern Exposure: Osoyoos to OK Falls

Discovering wines and wine destinations in the South Okanagan, June 2007

The weather on the coast during the past 6 months has been downright dreary. Getting out to the radiant warmth of the South Okanagan, with temperatures tipping into the high 30s (around 100 degrees Fahrenheit) in Osoyoos was precisely what the doctor ordered.

We’ve tagged this little long weekend trip our Southern Exposure. Two full days of visiting wineries, topped off with dinner at Burrowing Owl on our last night, and a pit stop in the Similkameen wine country on our way home to Vancouver.

Our objective is simple. Feel the dry heat, visit places we’ve never been before like Silver Sage and Fairview Cellars, and check in at some of our favourite regular stops like Wild Goose Vineyards.

We left Vancouver early on June 1st and drove up to our motel in Osoyoos. We would return Monday, June 4th. We made some new discoveries which we’re excited to share here on BC Wine Lover in the entries that follow.

Author

  • Mike Klassen is a Vancouver city councillor, communications professional, and long-time advocate for British Columbia’s wine industry. He co‑founded BC Wine Lover in 2007 with his wife Stacey, sharing stories from their travels through the province’s wine regions and spotlighting the people and places that make B.C. wine distinctive.

    In 2015, Mike led the BC Wine Appellation Task Group, guiding a province‑wide consultation that produced recommendations—later endorsed by industry plebiscite—that strengthened B.C.’s appellation standards and helped establish today’s sub‑GIs.

    His writing has appeared in the Vancouver Sun, Huffington Post, and Daily Hive, blending history, policy insight, and personal experience. Alongside his work on Vancouver City Council, Mike continues to explore vineyards across the province, champion local producers, and celebrate the evolving culture of B.C. wine.