Oliver is located near the south end of the Okanagan Valley, in south-central British Columbia. Just 15 miles north of the U.S. border, Oliver sits in the only desert area of Canada.
Planning a visit? Stay at Desert Gem RV Resort.
The “Wine Capital of Canada,” Oliver is home to nearly half of British Columbia’s vines. Fruit production has always been a driving force in the local economy. Roadside stands, u-pick orchards, and the Oliver Country Market continue to be favorite stops for summer visitors. The orchards remain, but today, vineyards climb the arid hillsides. The main attractions are now the award-winning reds, whites, fruit wines and Icewines of the burgeoning South Okanagan wine industry.
More than two dozen wineries are located within a 20-minute drive of Oliver, on the Golden Mile, Black Sage Bench, in Osoyoos and the Corkscrew Drive of Okanagan Falls. Oliver is ideally situated for country drives through Okanagan wine country.
Outdoor recreation opportunities abound in the South Okanagan. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved
To the west, the Golden Mile soaks up the morning sun, making it ideal for white wines such as Pinot Gris and Chardonnay, and bright fruity reds like Cabernet Franc. To the east lies the Black Sage Bench which basks in the afternoon sun, and cultivates powerful red wines and full-flavored whites. The combination of hot days and cool night’s produces fruit with the perfect BC balance―exceptional flavors as well as vibrant acidity.
In Oliver there’s no denying the lure of the outdoors. With Vaseux Lake to the north and Tuc-el-Nuit Lake right in town, beaches attract sun-soakers and the no-powerboat lakes are ideal for canoeing, kayaking and fishing. Beyond the fertile agricultural lands of the valley floor and benches that border the town, the terrain rises steeply in dry grasslands and pine studded ridges with spectacular rock outcroppings and granite bluffs. In the highlands small lakes are filled with trout and campers can pitch a tent at forestry recreation sites.